AirTag is an incredibly useful tool for those embedded in the Apple ecosystem, but it has its drawbacks. That is that the CR2032 coin cell battery needs to be replaced every 12 months.

Even though the “Find My” app notifies you when the AirTag's battery is running low (a year is a pretty good number to use as a baseline for battery life!) ), I still find myself looking for keys attached to AirTags with dead batteries. Battery replacement is my biggest problem with AirTag trackers, especially if I have many AirTag trackers.

That's where the $20 gadget called TimeCapsule by ElevationLab comes in. It's a simple solution that extends the life of your AirTag up to 10 years with a single AA battery.

With strong rumors that AirTag 2 is imminent, it's a good time for this kind of gadget to appear (h/t Android Authority). And while Apple's next version of the tracker will reportedly expand its range thanks to the addition of a new Ultra Wideband chip, it is not yet known how that will affect battery life.

The brains behind TimeCapsule claim that users can get “10 years of power” from a single AirTag when combined with high-capacity AA batteries.

Of course, the beauty of AirTag is that thanks to its small size, it can be carried anywhere. Tucked away in a purse or bag, it doesn't take up much space; TimeCapsule somewhat limits its portability.

According to ElevationLab's product page, the rectangular enclosure is completely waterproof and uses “high-grade CNC machined screws” as part of its construction. Despite this, the trade-off for longevity is that the tracker is large and bulky.

In my opinion, this is the perfect solution for adding an AirTag to, say, a camera bag or a large piece of checked luggage while traveling by plane. It could also be attached to the best e-bikes and electric scooters to position-track your preferred means of transportation.

You'll also need a few extra decent AA batteries, but if you get 10 years of support for that investment, it seems well worth it.