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AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2 Buyer's Guide: All 15+ Differences Compared
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roncron
macrumors 65816
A comparison of the thickness would be helpful, if the new model is a little thinner, then some folks might stick one in their wallet instead of getting a credit-card styled Airtag substitute.
Would be nice to know if the new model fits in the same cases/keychains/accessories as the previous model.
I can look those things up, but would be nice to see them in a comparison review.
Would be nice to know if the new model fits in the same cases/keychains/accessories as the previous model.
I can look those things up, but would be nice to see them in a comparison review.
Costco has a pretty decent deal on the new version, FIVE for $99, so ~ $20 each.. not too shabby
I have no idea if the post your were responding to was snark or not--Poe's law applies as well to the forums on this site as just about anywhere on the internet--but we're not technologically that far from it being possible even today, and one assumes that some day there will be either an AirTag that uses the cell network or a competing product of the same size with shorter battery life that does.
But given that Apple can rely on the pervasive existence of iPhones for the Find My Network, the tradeoffs in cost and battery life for a true cellular AirTag are just not worth it for most legitimate use cases.
Cellular+GPS trackers on the market today are quite a bit larger than the AirTag, but the smallest of them are not that much bigger than an Apple Watch (and vastly cheaper), and the watch is a good guide for the limits of modern consumer technology: The smaller Cell+GPS watch weighs under 30g and is volume-wise similarly on the order of 3x the size of an AirTag. Except the watch also includes a powerful CPU, screen, biometric sensors, a bunch of other sensors, controls, a large enough battery to drive all that stuff, and much more structural material necessary to attach the band.
I would wager based on that it would be possible for Apple or a similarly large company to make a cell+GPS tracker only a little larger and heavier than an AirTag today, but the compromise would be it would be significantly more expensive and have drastically shorter battery life.
Some of the GPS trackers on the market are surprisingly cheap, but I'm nearly certain they're subsidizing themselves with the monthly cell plan fees--Tracki, for example, is one of the smaller options, and you can get one marked down from $60 to $15... but with a required subscription that costs $90-180/year depending on length of contract, I would guess their profit is not coming from the up-front cost. Battery life there claims 2-3 days of minute-update tracking and 3 months of once/day position updates. So an AirTag can last about 100-200 times longer on the same duty-cycle, with presumably a much smaller battery, and costs $15 without any subsidy or monthly subscription cost.
Since the global density of iPhones is such that the Find My Network limitations are tolerable anywhere outside rural areas, the year of battery life on a coin cell is hard to give up. By definition a cell tracker will always have shorter battery life, and I think we're a way from long enough battery life to be similarly "set it and forget it" useful.
Is there any noticeable difference in the map view experience? Specifically, is it more accurate when locating other iPhones at a distance? UWB 2 sounds great, but I’m trying to understand whether it actually improves performance at longer ranges.
Stupid question
Hit do they sell singles too or just in bulk for AirTags too. I don’t have Costco membership anymore.
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PBG4 Dude
macrumors 601
My big question is does AirTag 2 accept the "standard" CR2032 battery (i.e., with the bitterant?) The AirTag 1 required one without the bitterant - it was very hard to find, and I threw mine out when the battery died. Would be great if AirTag 2 accepted the most common version of that battery.
Apple's new AirTag introduces a series of small improvements, so how does it compare to the original model from 2021?
The second-generation AirTag arrives five years after the original, bringing improvements to tracking range, speaker output, and internal design while retaining the same outward design and accessory compatibility. At the same time, first-generation AirTags remain available from some retailers at reduced prices, raising the question of whether the newer model is worth choosing over the original, or whether the earlier AirTag still makes sense as a lower-cost option.
The comparison below outlines every difference between the two generations, including Apple-announced feature upgrades and hardware changes identified through teardowns. While both models perform the same core function of tracking items through the Find My network, there are some small differences worth noting:
AirTag (first-generation, 2021) AirTag (second-generation, 2026) First-generation Ultra Wideband chip Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip Shorter Precision Finding range Up to 50% farther Precision Finding range Precision Finding on iPhone only Precision Finding on iPhone and Apple Watch (Series 9 and later and Ultra 2) Earlier Bluetooth implementation Upgraded Bluetooth with increased range Bluetooth identifiers rotate at standard intervals Bluetooth identifiers rotate more frequently Standard speaker volume Up to 50% louder speaker Chime note in F Chime note in G Works on earlier supported iOS versions Requires iOS 26.2.1 or later Reset without a required wait between battery removals Reset requires battery out for at least five seconds each cycle 11g weight 11.8g weight (around 7% heavier) Back text listing "Assembled in China" and "Designed by Apple" Back text listing IP67, NFC, and Find My Thicker main PCB Thinner main PCB with revised battery connectors, and additional test pads and markings Smaller speaker coil Slightly larger speaker coil Speaker magnet more easily removable Speaker magnet more firmly secured and harder to remove Wider box with flat printed text and plastic pull tabs Redesigned narrower box with updated artwork, raised UV printed text, and paper pull tabs Folio-style inner tray holding up to two rows of two AirTags Redesigned inner tray with simpler design holding up to four AirTags
For buyers choosing between the two AirTag models, the decision depends less on basic tracking and more on how and where an AirTag is typically used. Both generations rely on the same Find My network for long-distance location updates, offer similar battery life, and work with the same accessories, so neither model is considerably better for general item tracking.
The second-generation AirTag is likely to benefit users who frequently rely on Precision Finding rather than approximate location. The extended Ultra Wideband range makes it easier to determine the specific location of items, while the louder speaker improves audibility in noisy spaces or when an AirTag is buried inside a bag or suitcase. Support for Precision Finding on compatible Apple Watch models also makes the newer AirTag more convenient for users who often leave their iPhone behind.
The first-generation AirTag remains a practical option for the overwhelming majority of use cases, such as tracking keys, backpacks, or household items that are usually misplaced within short distances. If available at a meaningful discount, it may offer better value for users who do not need Precision Finding at extended range, do not use an Apple Watch for item location, or simply want basic Find My functionality at the lowest cost.
For existing AirTag owners, there is certainly no pressing need to upgrade. For new buyers, the second-generation AirTag simply offers the most complete feature set and greater flexibility going forward, acting as a moderate specification bump over the previous model.
Article Link: AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2 Buyer's Guide: All 15+ Differences Compared
Not sure if they sell singles, probably but this deal is a four pack and a free single pack.
Yes, Costco MBS required, or 5% premium
No affiliation, other than being a shareholder and member.
As this buyers guide seems to focus on differences, anything not mentioned is presumably the same.
Also - the announcement post stated "The external design of the AirTag has not changed" and "The new AirTag is compatible with all existing AirTag accessories"
bit of hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol & a towel or a wetwipe are known to remove the coating in the spots needed.
All the 6 major differences compiled in this table:
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johnsawyercjs
macrumors 68000
johnsawyercjs
macrumors 68000
Rotation of Bluetooth identifiers, which happens about every 15 minutes with the Airtag 1, isn't the event that causes an Airtag's location to be updated. Airtags send out an "I'm here" Bluetooth beacon signal about every two seconds to try to communicate with nearby Apple devices, which can include iPads, Macs, Macbooks, Apple Watches, and even the Vision Pro, if they contain Bluetooth LE circuitry, which has been standard for Apple since about 2011, and if they have Find My network participation enabled.
My four Airtag 1's update their location far more frequently than once every hour, as long as someone with an iPhone or iPad passes through their range radius, or if the Airtag is moving and it passes by an Apple device.
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noanker
macrumors 6502
I’ll add the new AirTag to my shopping Liszt.
Not going to buy the new one. Except the longer precision finding range, there is no other real benefit in upgrading. Would have liked to see it in a new color.
Veinticinco
macrumors 68020
Veinticinco
macrumors 68020
Quite. Zero significant other real world benefits but assume they’ll EOL the 1st gen anyway.
Agree, would have liked to see a space grey/black stealth option but hey, it’s only been a 5-year development timeline 🙄