Apple launched ‘AirTag’ its Bluetooth tracker in April. Users can place the compact tracker in their wallets, bag’s pockets, or hang it with items in a keychain, to locate their frequently lost or valuable belongings. The 1.2-inch AirTag is powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery that will up to 12 months and can be easily replaced by the owner by pushing down and twisting the back cover.
However, on the AirTag battery replacement support page, Apple instructs users not to opt for a battery with bitter coating because the coating my hamper
Insert a new CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery (available at most electronic and drug stores) with the positive side facing up. You’ll hear a sound indicating that the battery is connected.
CR2032 batteries with bitterant coatings might not work with AirTag or other battery-powered products, depending on the alignment of the coating in relation to the battery contacts.
The tracker’s teardown revealed that AirTag’s body is used very strategically; there is a magnet “inside the donut-shaped logic board, nested into a coil of copper to form a speaker” and the tracker’s body as a speaker driver. As every bit of space in the device is important, an extra coating can affect the battery contacts. iFixit wrote:
Power is sent to the voice coil, which drives the magnet mounted to the diaphragm—in this case, the plastic cover where the battery lives—which makes the sounds that lead you to your lost luggage.
Apple warning against bitter coating replacement batteries for AirTag might irk regulators concerned for children’s safety
Coin battery used in Apple’s AirTag is considered a major hazard for children because it can be easily swallowed and can cause serious or sometimes fatal injuries. Therefore, some coin batteries manufacturer offer non-toxic bitter coating variants, so children spit them out.
So, Apple’s warning against a preventative measure might upset health authorities. The Australian Competiton and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned parents to keep young children away from AirTags. The regulatory body is also concerned that Apple did not include a warning label of coin (as called ‘button’) batteries.
