Lost AirPod Location Feature Arrives But Next-Gen Earbuds Still on Back-Order

Losing AirPods remains a hot topic, four months after the wireless earbuds were announced by Apple and two months after they began selling in limited quantities at Apple.com, Target and Walmart. With the $159-per-pair Bluetooth headphones still on six-week back-order at Apple.com, AirPod watchers were relieved and amused Tuesday when reports surfaced about a new Find My AirPods feature inside Apple’s Find my iPhone app. The feature was reported just over a week after Apple advertisements highlighted by Marian Hill’s “Down” began running on TV and YouTube showing a street dancer with AirPods in various positions -- including horizontal -- to convey the message that Pods will stay in the ear, even during exercise. “Apple admits you might misplace AirPods, so now it’ll help you find them,” quipped Twitter user lakipank. Social media comments appeared as far back as the September iPhone 7 announcement predicting such an app (see 1609070057). But “Find my AirPod” will only go so far toward recovery of the 1.6-inch-long AirPods, noted 9To5Mac, since AirPods rely on Bluetooth connectivity, not Wi-Fi, as iPhones do. The feature “will only be able to locate the AirPods if they are in range of your other Apple devices,” since users who lose an AirPod will have to be in range of their Apple device to have the lost earbud register on the app’s map. Replacement cost of a single AirPod is $69, says the Apple website. Meanwhile, starting price for a pair of AirPods from third-party sellers on Amazon Wednesday was $290.50.