Watch As an Apple AirTag Gets Remodeled into a Thin Card

When new products enter the market, it doesn't take long for someone out there in the world to get their hands on the item, dismantle it, and rebuild it in a way they believe is better. 

Even if a product is still in its early stages, DIY-lovers don't hesitate to try and create their own version of the idea. Take for instance the guy who took it upon himself to build his own foldable iPhone screen at home.

Keeping with the Apple name, a new contender has entered the market, so to speak, who turned one of the company's latest products, the AirTag, into a thinner, card version that can now easily slip into a wallet. 

What is the AirTag and how did it end up as a card?

First things first, what's an AirTag? Apple introduced it to the market on April 30, so it's brand-spanking-new. It's a small circular device that builds upon the company's Find My system, and joins the list of iPhone accessories.

It offers a secure and private way to find an iPhone owner's items and can be personalized by being engraved, or by adding emojis to its back. It can be added to a small keychain so that it's easily transported along with the owner. It requires a Bluetooth connection to work, and the cost starts from $29.

Even though it's cute as a button, some people may not want to transport an AirTag as a keychain, attached to bags, and other items. Some might want to put it into their wallet, for example. 

However, in its current design, the AirTag wouldn't easily fit into a regular wallet as it's approximately 0.3 inches (8 mm) thick, and round — compare that with a cent coin that's 0.059 inches (1.52 mm) thick.

So Andrew Ngai used his DIY expertise to meticulously take apart an AirTag, and turn it into a thinner card version. 

In the video Ngai posted on YouTube (embedded below), he removed the back of the AirTag, separated the CR2032 battery from the shell structure, then re-wired it side by side with the AirTag, before finally 3D-printing a card that could fit the entire newly assembled system.

In the end, the card is only 0.15 inches (3.8 mm) thick, which yes, is still thicker than a regular bank card that's 0.029 inches (0.76 mm) thick, but it's still manageable, and significantly thinner than the original AirTag.

That's the quick rundown of what Ngai did, but a lot more patience and work went into creating a small, thin AirTag card that could easily slip into a wallet's pockets.