I compared AirTag 2 to the original: All the new and improved features
Apple's AirTag 2 is finally here.
Well, the product's actual name is once again just "AirTag," but we'll call it AirTag 2 because it's a second-generation product. So what does it bring to the table? What can it bring to the table, given that it's just a silver-and-white puck that tracks its own location?
What is AirTag?
Before we dive into details, a little history. The original AirTag tracking device was launched in April 2021. It's deceivingly simple: You connect it to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch via Bluetooth, and then you can track its location through Apple's Find My app. Because the Find My network uses compatible iPhones, iPads, and other devices to help track lost items — and because there are a lot of iPhones in the world — the Find My network is famous for its reliability.
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The AirTag is, in fact, a dual tracker. It relies on Bluetooth signals from other iOS and iPadOS devices it encounters to provide a rough location. If it's close enough, then you can precisely track it, thanks to Apple's ultra-wideband U1 chip.
The AirTag also features a speaker, and you can play a sound to make finding it easier. It relies on (replaceable but not rechargeable) battery power, with an advertised one year of battery life.
Use cases are numerous. You can put it in a key ring (Apple provides several options) and use it to track your keys. You can do the same for your wallet, backpack, or bike. Or you can put it in your luggage when you fly to make sure it doesn't get lost — at least not for very long.
How is AirTag 2 better than AirTag?
The AirTag 2 doesn't bring any revolutionary new features. It's still a little puck that you can track via Find My. But it does improve a few important aspects of the original AirTag.
First, the AirTag 2 has Apple's new U2 chip and a new Bluetooth chip. Thanks to this, you'll be able to track it precisely from farther away — 50 percent farther than the old AirTag. Keep in mind that you'll need an iPhone 15 or later (the iPhone 16e is not included) as only those phones have the new U2 chip as well.
The AirTag 2 also has a louder speaker than the original AirTags. That's important for obvious reasons; if your AirTag is hanging on a keychain you've misplaced in a coat pocket, it will now be easier to hear its sound when you trigger it.
The battery inside the two devices is exactly the same, as are other specifications such as dimensions and weight.
Is the range really better?
Apple doesn't disclose the precise range for Precision Finding on the AirTag, probably because it depends on numerous factors, such as how many walls are between you and your missing item.
But the company sent me an AirTag 2 to try out, so I could test the range in my two-bedroom apartment. The results I got were pretty good. I placed the new AirTag in one bedroom, and then went to the farthest corner of the apartment. It took a second, but my iPhone 17 Pro Max was able to detect it from about 15 meters (49 feet) away, with two walls between us, and could pinpoint its location at 11 meters (36 feet) away.
On the original AirTag, the best I could get was about 30 feet; anything farther than that and the signal would be lost.
As for the sound, it is definitely louder than before, though it's hard to say by exactly how much. I placed my AirTag 2 in a backpack, and I could still easily hear it from another room.
What about the price?
The price for the new AirTag 2 is the same as for the original: $29 for one AirTag or $99 for a pack of four. They're available for sale now at Apple and Amazon. However, it is worth noting that the first-gen AirTag is often discounted. You can get the AirTag 1 for $25.99 on Amazon (or grab a 4-pack for $69.99), which is a better deal, especially if you own an older iPhone that doesn't support precision tracking.
Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.
