AirTag 2 vs AirTag: Here’s everything new

Apple’s AirTag successor launched earlier this year, arriving five years after the original model. Here’s every feature that’s new and improved with AirTag 2.

Precision Finding upgrades with new Ultra Wideband chip

Precision Finding is a feature that uses your iPhone to help you easily, precisely find your lost AirTag with the aid of haptic, visual, and audio feedback.

With AirTag 2, Apple has added a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that makes Precision Finding available from up to 1.5x farther away than what the first AirTag offered. Make sure you have an iPhone that supports the extended range.

Additionally, owners of compatible Apple Watch models can now use Precision Finding to track down the new AirTag. Apple Watch support is not available with the original AirTag.

Upgraded Bluetooth for better range

Apple says AirTag 2 has an upgraded Bluetooth chip that “expands the range at which items can be located.”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t specify exactly how much improvement to expect in this area.

Louder speaker

AirTag 2 comes with a speaker that Apple says is up to 50% louder than the original.

If you’ve ever pinged your AirTag and couldn’t hear its sound playing, this upgrade is for you.

The improved speaker means you’ll hear AirTag 2 “from up to twice as far away,” per Apple. And hopefully it will result in much easier finding of lost objects.

New privacy protections

The first AirTag quickly became used by bad actors for unwanted tracking. Though Apple has sought to mitigate this problem via software updates over the years, it also has some new privacy protections with AirTag 2.

From the announcement:

Designed exclusively for tracking objects, and not people or pets, the new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently.

Apple doesn’t say whether the “suite of industry-first protections” ends with the two specific items mentioned, or if there are other changes too.

What hasn’t changed: Battery life, design, size, and price

For all that’s different about the new AirTag, there’s also plenty that remains the same.

Battery life is the same with the new AirTag, with Apple quoting “more than a year” of use before the battery needs replacing.

The basic design and size of AirTag 2 also match its predecessor. That’s why you’ll need to read the fine print to tell which model you’re holding.

One benefit of this continuity is that existing AirTag accessories will work with the new AirTag. That includes one of my personal favorites: the Elevation Lab TimeCapsule, which lets you get either 10 years of battery with the larger model, or 5 years with the smaller model.

Pricing for the new AirTag is the same as before:

Have you upgraded to AirTag 2, and if so, which features motivated you? Let us know in the comments.