is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
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Elevation Lab has announced a smaller version of its TimeCapsule battery-boosting case for the Apple AirTag. It’s about half the size of the original and uses a pair of smaller AAA batteries instead of AAs so the AirTag’s battery life is extended to five years instead of 10. It’s available now through the company’s website for $19.99, but discounted by half if you buy a four-pack for $39.99.
As with the original, the new Time Capsule replaces the AirTag’s CR2032 coin cell battery with an electrical contact that delivers power from the AAA batteries. The company specifically recommends using Energizer Ultimate Lithium AAAs to maximize battery life and to avoid corrosive leaks given the device potentially won’t be touched for up to five years.
The case makes the AirTag a little bulkier and heavier, but doesn’t inhibit wireless communications. Image: Elevation Lab
The smaller version of the Time Capsule also carries forward the original’s robust IP69 rating protecting it against water and dirt ingress, and it’s made from the same fiber reinforced polycarbonate material that won’t reduce the range of Bluetooth or UWB signals. It does make the AirTag a little heavier — 1.9 ounces with batteries installed compared to .39 ounces for the AirTag alone —and it could be a little harder to find the tracker by ear as its audible chirps will be muffled by about a third.
Installing an AirTag in the Time Capsule case is a simple process. Image: Elevation Lab