The Elevation Labs TimeCapsule will keep an AirTag alive for a decade

The TimeCapsule is a candy bar-sized case that replaces the AirTag’s CR2032 bonded battery and has electrical contacts and slots for a pair of AA batteries. According to Elevation Lab’s Casey Hopkins, it’s made of “fiber-reinforced polycarbonate” and won’t block or reduce the range of Bluetooth or UWB signals. The case also has an IP69 rating, providing the highest protection against water, dust and dirt. There’s no point in having a decade tracker that can’t handle puddles.

Of course, there are trade-offs. TimeCapsule weighs 3.5 ounces compared to TimeCapsule with battery installed Standard AirTag is 0.39 ounces. And the casing does reduce the volume of the AirTag’s chirp by about a third, possibly making it harder to locate through the ear. But that seems like a small price to pay if you really don’t want to replace your AirTag battery every year.

The company recommends using Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA to maximize battery life and avoid the leakage and corrosion that alkaline batteries are known for. You can also use NiMH batteries, but they won’t last long before needing to be recharged.