Apple explains why the new Apple TV remote doesn't have an AirTag — and that's not great

Apple explains why the new Apple TV remote doesn't have an AirTag — and that's not great

The Apple TV 4K 2021 comes with an all-new Siri Remote with a much improved design, but with one notable weakness.

If you've ever owned a remote of any kind, you know that losing your remote behind the couch cushions is an occupational hazard.

But according to Tim Twerdahl, Apple's vice president of home and audio product marketing, there is a very good reason why the U1 chip is not included.

"That [Find My feature] is the most powerful outside the home," Twerdahl told Mobile Syrup when asked why technology like AirTag was not on the remote.

"With the changes we've made to the Siri remote (including making it a little thicker so it doesn't fall onto the couch cushions), it seems a little less necessary to have all the other networked devices find it.

The Siri remote is slightly larger than its predecessor at 5.4 x 1.4 x 0.36 inches, but it still seems to easily blend in behind the cushions; Twerdahl says only that this "shouldn't happen that much," but it is possible that users will We expect users to spend at least some hours looking for the Siri remote control. For us, the more likely explanations for the U1 chip not being included are a major hit to battery life or additional costs.

Fortunately, Apple TV 4K owners with a habit of losing things can take the initiative to add AirTag to their remotes themselves, thanks to a clever 3D-printed case for sale on Etsy. The cost to add it is $12.99. This is an attractively low price, but must be added to the price of the AirTag itself ($29).

Alternatively, Tile Stickers, which as the name suggests can be applied to any surface, are available in packs of four for $58. While not as accurate as the UWB sensor on the AirTag, they should work fine, given that there is nowhere the remote control can be hidden.

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