somewhat controversially vergecast In the episode, I declared that the AirTags are a better product than the iPad. iPad lovers criticized me fiercely on social media. I have listened to his opinions and respect them. But, I’m sorry — the second-generation AirTags have deepened my belief that the simple $29 item tracker is one of Apple’s most useful devices.
The new updates focus more on making a good thing better. It has advanced ultra-wideband and Bluetooth chips that help increase the range by about 1.5 times. The chime has a new, higher tone and is 50 percent louder due to the redesigned speaker. And you can now use Precision Finding for AirTags on the Apple Watch, provided you have at least a Series 9 or Ultra 2.
Before Apple announced the refresh last week, my spouse had seven AirTags and we were planning to buy a few more. We both struggle with ADHD. We have smart cats who Love Putting things under sofas and beds and behind cabinets. Without AirTag, we’d probably spend an hour a day climbing up and down the 42 stairs of our four-story townhome to find our essentials. There are AirTags on our key fobs, TV remotes, wallets, car glove boxes, and the inside of our Canada Goose jackets. (They were and are expensive arctically It’s cold on the East Coast right now, okay?)
But we also have a lot of complaints about our AirTags. The other day, my spouse lost her keys in a car and it took her 90 minutes to find them. The chime was very slow, And The AirTag was struggling to connect over Bluetooth. The pudgy disc’s shape is annoying to the wallet, unless you buy a disc made specifically to fit it. (and they are wallets ugly.) They grapple easily. If your cat trips and falls down the stairs, chances are it will go flying, and you’ll have to race the scamp without stopping so it doesn’t eat the battery.
Second generation AirTags do not fit most of Out of that. They are still the same shape, size and design. (And, thankfully, the price.) My review unit came apart two seconds after I stuck it in the accompanying key ring. But the louder bell and extended range made a huge difference in testing.
I pitted the second-generation AirTags against the original AirTags with a freshly replaced battery. I immediately noticed how the extended range improved connectivity. Connecting to my phone was always much faster than the original, regardless of distance. That speed meant that the bell rang quickly and the signal for precision finding appeared quickly.
Vertical range also improved. AirTags are best if you’re looking for things in horizontal space. They In fact Struggle if you’re on a different floor – a constant problem in our townhouse. The original AirTag was fine if I was one floor above or below what I wanted. But two or more floors? forget it. The best I could hope for was the Precision Finding screen telling me the tag was “far away” or, more likely, not accessible.
This is not the case for the second generation AirTag. I stuck it on the ground floor of my house and ran up to the fourth floor. Not only could I get a quick connection to Precision Finding reliably, to my surprise, I could also hear the ringing easily. (If everything were absolutely quiet on my street, I could Perhaps Listen to the original AirTags from the same position, but not as often.) This was true even when I stuffed the AirTags under a blanket and between couch cushions.
However, my favorite new feature was the ability to use Precision Finding from the Apple Watch. It is not easy to install it. Instead of using the Find Items app, you’ll need to add a button to the Apple Watch Control Panel. it works well. When I’m working around the house, I often leave my phone behind. If something with the original AirTag is missing, I have to first find my phone and then use Precision Finding on it to find the lost item. I Never Lose my Apple Watch because it’s always with me. (Honestly, the most used function on my Apple Watch is finding my phone.)
Like the original AirTags, the newer versions still have unwanted tracker alerts. Apple’s announcement post for the new model argues that the louder sound makes AirTags less attractive for nefarious purposes. Apple makes a point of saying during setup that these devices are not meant to track people or pets – unlike Tile – but bad actors won’t listen. I haven’t had this unit long enough to see how the louder sound and extended range systematically affect this feature in a trigger scenario. I will report back as soon as I get it.
I now want to upgrade all my good original AirTags. At the very least, this will set us back $200. Although you can recycle old AirTags for free, you don’t get store credit, and I hate the idea of e-waste when coin cell batteries are economical to replace. My father-in-law has announced that he has no such concerns and plans to update all eight of his AirTags immediately. If you’re an AirTag power user like me I suggest a more reasonable compromise. Be patient, identify the four items you lose most often, get a four-pack when they’re on sale, and then repurpose the basic items for items you use (or lose) less frequently but still want to track.
Ultimately, iPad lovers have loudly reminded me that AirTags aren’t for everyone. I naturally envy you talented people who always know where your things are. But if you’re like me, plagued by goldfish executive laxity, the second-generation AirTags are a worthwhile update — even if it’s not as flashy.
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