Apple’s new AirTag tracker is louder, better connected, but is it worth upgrading?
The next-gen AirTag does everything the original did, with a better range and a louder chime, and can be tracked with an Apple Watch
Apple’s new second-generation AirTag is basically a slightly better do-over of the original. At US$29 for a single item tracker or US$99 for a four-pack, it also costs the same. Upgraders can expect slightly better wireless range, a louder chime and the ability to pinpoint an item’s location with their Apple Watch: no iPhone necessary.
But after a few days of testing, the updated AirTag has not changed the calculus for how and where I use Apple’s tracker. And I think that is exactly the point.
The AirTag is the rare Apple item that you are never supposed to think about. Having been an early adopter of the original US$29 device, I have kept the tiny circular tracker on my keychain, tucked it away in my backpack, and hidden it in my guitar case. And for most of that time, the AirTag has dutifully – and uneventfully – served its purpose, continually pinging nearby iPhones, Macs and other devices in Apple’s vast Find My network to report its whereabouts.
That location is almost always right where I expect it to be. But as someone with an unfortunate history of losing wallets and keys, I have found the AirTag invaluable on multiple occasions.
