Apple introduces new AirTag with better range and a louder speaker

This is the first major upgrade since Apple introduced AirTags five years ago.

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[mpat]

So, Apple product launch on a Monday. Does that mean one minor product launch every day this week? They have done that before.

 

[ktmglen]

I've thought it would be cool if something like the Ridge wallet or its many knock-offs integrated the hardware and battery for a Find My-compatible tracker right into the exterior plates. It's already there, it's already 2-3mm thick, and it's already stiff and protective.

I've thought the same for the SRAM AXS and Transmission derailleurs and seat posts. Everything except for the UWB chip for precise location is already there.

 

[Cobalt Jacket]

I had to look up if it works with SE3 phones. No precision tracking so no sale.

Are you new to this industry? You bought an SE series, which is intentionally feature-light and based upon a year-old model (the iPhone 13). Your device is already almost 5 years past its prime.

To be sure, the original Airtags supported precision tracking starting with iPhone 14 (which still had newer tech than the iPhone SE3/14). The new feature is a higher-fidelity version that is only available on phones that have been out a few months.

 

[Chuckstar]

I'm not saying rechargeable ones don't exist, just that going for replaceable batteries impose some hard limits on the form factor. And clearly they want to keep the price point where it's at, so rechargeable AirTags may simply be too expensive.

Or it's Apple, and this is a low-margin sideline product they're just not all that interested in doing any more work on than they already have.

Especially having opened up the ecosystem, so that other from factors can be supplied by third-parties.

 

[Chuckstar]

Question: Does Apple provide a way for third parties to use UWB tracking, or are third parties limited to simpler Bluetooth-only functionality? Not trying to make a point… just curious.

 

[danan]

I had no issues with mine when it came time to replacing their batteries. The hard part wasn't replacing the batteries - it was digging into the bowels of my bicycles to extract them from where they'd been placed (and that was an explicit choice to make it hard for thieves to find and remove them.)

At least I can honestly say that the hiding places chosen were good ones in that respect, though I did end up having to add another tool to my arsenal to get the job done.

The most secure hiding places seem to be the ones where you won't be able to find the item either.

 

[evan_s]

I had to look up if it works with SE3 phones. No precision tracking so no sale.

That's a phone hardware limitation not something that can ever be solved on the AirTag side of things. If you want precision tracking upgrade your phone. Unfortunately, as I noted earlier the 16e has the same limitation.

 

[dmsilev]

So, Apple product launch on a Monday. Does that mean one minor product launch every day this week? They have done that before.

They have a "creators" event running tomorrow through Thursday. The launch of their new subscription "creator suite" is part of that, and rumor has it that updated MacBook Pros will also happen then.

 

[Maltz]

A lot of the card-shaped devices - some of which are compatible with Find My - are not rechargeable or replaceable, and become e-waste as soon as they run out of battery. Apple has been working hard enough to reduce waste streams and improve climate performance that I'd assume a slimmer, card/tile/sticker form factor got nixed on that basis alone.

A card-style with a little flex and dual CR2016 batteries (half as thick as 2032) would be fantastic, though. Even a single CR2016 and a 4-6 month life would probably be fine in a wallet.

Though my wallet is RFID-blocking, so I'd have to choose which I like more - that or the ability to track it...

 

[RunUpHill]

I'm partial to leather wallets. Took a while, but finally found a decently slim one without zippers which has a secure Airtag design. Amazon has a decent selection of alternatives.

Trusador Toscana Leather Wallet

 

[Wandering Monk]

If you want a cheaper option, Best Buy makes a Bluetooth tracker uses Apple’s Find My app and network. The four pack is $30 MSRP, and I’ve been able to get it on sale for $20 at two different times in the last year. Yes, that’s the four pack for less than the price of one Apple tracker. They show up in the Apple Find My app next to my AirTags. Oh, and they already have a small hole in them, so you don’t need to buy a “case” just to attach them to something. And they still have replaceable CR2032 batteries.

They are probably missing a feature or two compared to the AirTag, but there’s a lot of places I’ll gladly use a $5 “basic” tracker that I can’t justify a $25 Apple tracker.

https://www.bestbuy.com/product/ins...ith-apple-find-my-app-4-pack-white/J2FPJK98Q5

 

[Chuckstar]

A card-style with a little flex and dual CR2016 batteries (half as thick as 2032) would be fantastic, though. Even a single CR2016 and a 4-6 month life would probably be fine in a wallet.

Though my wallet is RFID-blocking, so I'd have to choose which I like more - that or the ability to track it...

My wallet is RFID blocking, but has a money clip (actually more like an elastic band) on the outside that can also fit a couple credit cards in addition to bills. That kind of thing might make a good compromise.

 

[Spaceman Spliff]

Just ordered one. After spending half an hour tonight trying to figure out where in the snow I dropped my keys, somewhere between the parking lot and my door. Timely product release and article

 

[zogus]

Wouldn't one for the wallet be thick? Say double the thickness of a CC? That alone would keep it out of my wallet. None of the slots for cards are large enough to hold that. (Note: this is not meant to be a criticism. I'm just thinking through the idea.)

I suppose if it was just a battery + plus an antenna, it could be slightly thicker than a card. That might be doable, but seems technically challenging based on modern battery tech. Maybe someone else here has a better idea.

That would be too thick for a credit card slot of my wallet, but it would be thin enough to fit in the billfold section. I'd be on board with that.

 

[johnsonwax]

I am, actually.

My wallet includes my Driver’s license, a backup credit card, and a wallet finder (there’s a picture up-thread). It fits in that tiny jeans pocket that nothing else fits in.

If you're carrying that little, consider the MagSafe wallet that just attaches to your phone. It'll warn you when you detach it and walk away, no AirTag needed really. The Apple ones can hold a drivers license, a credit card, and a number of bills. Stays on the phone really well - never had it come off accidentally.

 

[johnsonwax]

So, Apple product launch on a Monday. Does that mean one minor product launch every day this week? They have done that before.

Earnings is tomorrow. Unlikely they'll announce any other products this week.

 

[Chai T. Rex]

I had to look up if it works with SE3 phones. No precision tracking so no sale.

Unfortunately, Apple hasn't yet figured out how to have an AirTag autoinstall a U1 or U2 chip into your phone.

 

[Langdon]

i really wish the Airtags were bidirectional. I use Tile simply because it works in two directions. My phone can find my keys and my keys can find my phone.

 

[aup]

AirTags are great for cat tracking. A cat is perfectly happy to watch you walking around calling it while sitting invisibly in a hidden-hole wondering what the fuss is about. We also have a cat who regularly gets locked in cabinets/closets. AirTags allow us to track the little monsters down as needed.

Off-topic, but I can say from experience that the sound of a bag of cat treats being shook, seems to travel for miles and miles

 

[graylshaped]

I have a number of AirTags, one for each key ring, one for my wallet, one for my AppleTV remote and one for my Leatherman. I also keep a few spares for luggage, etc. They really are very useful to have around. I’ll hold off buying any more until Black Friday or beyond, when they’re on sale.

On the off chance anyone who can whisper to a friend who can whisper to a friend who can whisper to Someone at Apple might read this: It would be really cool if the next AppleTV update included a remote with a speaker/finder built into it.

 

[Shiunbird]

That’s what I do too but I have to launder them sometimes.

Water-proof wallet + one wallet per pair of trousers. =))))))))))

 

[close]

Allow me to blow your mind: There are several other form factors of batteries. They don't necessarily have to use a CR2032 across an entire line of different form factors.

There's no standard size for a replaceable battery that fits a credit card sized device. So they'd have to make it built in (a thin film battery), which may or may not be fine long term for buyers. Or design a new format just for this. Not very hard but would certainly raise the price and it would most likely still be a proprietary format somehow.

 

[close]

If you're carrying that little, consider the MagSafe wallet that just attaches to your phone. It'll warn you when you detach it and walk away, no AirTag needed really. The Apple ones can hold a drivers license, a credit card, and a number of bills. Stays on the phone really well - never had it come off accidentally.

I played with one and my experience was different. With a pair of regular jeans, putting the phone in the front pocket or taking it out often left the wallet behind (it slid). Or I had to explicitly "cup" the wallet to shield it from touching the sides of the pocket while sliding. Overall it gave me the impression that I'm setting myself up for losing the wallet the first time I'm not very careful with how I maneuver the phone in and out of the pocket.

I have a pair of airpods in that pocket too, and they tend to slip out for example when I take the phone out while sitting down. So I do have a reflex to keep other things in the pocket. The magnet pull just didn't feel that strong and I'm not changing phones just for the wallet to stick better (assuming the latest iPhones have "the new and improved magnets").

 

[callumshell1]

Insane to me that they didn't add a spot for a keyring. The #1 use case for these things is it to add it to your keys and you have to buy an overpriced accessory for it. Just Apple things.

 

[iim]

I would also recommend ElevationLab's AirTag accessories for people looking to do more with their AirTags. Most of mine are in a Keychain case, but this reminds me to get the ten year battery model for the car.

I have one it’s great, but like all of their products, they’re kind of muffled inside their weatherproof case. It can be hard to hear them.

Gen 2 being a bit louder should help.

 

[mpat]

i really wish the Airtags were bidirectional. I use Tile simply because it works in two directions. My phone can find my keys and my keys can find my phone.

There are finder tags that work with the Airtag system that have that feature. I have a Chipolo card that does that.

 

[henry.tennenbaum]

Are you new to this industry? You bought an SE series, which is intentionally feature-light and based upon a year-old model (the iPhone 13). Your device is already almost 5 years past its prime.

To be sure, the original Airtags supported precision tracking starting with iPhone 14 (which still had newer tech than the iPhone SE3/14). The new feature is a higher-fidelity version that is only available on phones that have been out a few months.

My iPhone 13 supports precision tracking just fine, as that feature is supported in iPhones since the iPhone 11.

Of course not this new type.

 

[bobdean]

Cool cool… how about building it into my apple remote my kids seem to misplace 10 times a day? (The “find my” they added to ios is shockingly bad around cushions or a bed)

 

[mrsilver]

Insane to me that they didn't add a spot for a keyring. The #1 use case for these things is it to add it to your keys and you have to buy an overpriced accessory for it. Just Apple things.

Whilst I don't disagree that it's annoying that there is no built in hole, we bought a set of 4 multi-coloured airtag holders from Amazon UK for £7 (~$10).

There's no need to pay 2-4x more to the Apple Store for a single holder.

 

[motales]

There’s already a third party AirTag type device like a credit card with a rechargeable battery good for six months that uses induction to recharge. Either a watch or AirPod(?) charger works, I forget which (have a three way charger) or maybe both? Can find brand if needed. Very thin and quite nice but no precision tracking, it makes noises.

 

[Maxx Floss]

Apple didn't list any information on the battery - would it be safe to assume that those specifications remain the same? (user replaceable 2032 li-ion battery and about a year life)

the battery is the same 2032 battery.

 

[IronTek]

There's no standard size for a replaceable battery that fits a credit card sized device. So they'd have to make it built in (a thin film battery), which may or may not be fine long term for buyers. Or design a new format just for this. Not very hard but would certainly raise the price and it would most likely still be a proprietary format somehow.

Yes, Apple could use an integrated, rechargeable, non-replacable Li-Ion battery. That would be a real leap for them, I know, but I think they could do it.

To follow-on, I'm actually disappointed not to see this in the AirTag 2. I would rather just stick it magnetically on a MagSafe or Apple Watch charging pad and be done with it, instead of having to go buy disposable CR2032 batteries and replace them.

 

[Tinkiewinkle]

The new feature is a higher-fidelity version that is only available on phones that have been out a few months.

The U2 chip has been available in iPhones since the iPhone 15. They don’t mention the older models, but I see no reason it wouldn’t work. It’s why the feature for finding someone nearby requires an iPhone 15 or newer.

 

[Snark218]

A card-style with a little flex and dual CR2016 batteries (half as thick as 2032) would be fantastic, though. Even a single CR2016 and a 4-6 month life would probably be fine in a wallet.

Though my wallet is RFID-blocking, so I'd have to choose which I like more - that or the ability to track it...

Oh, I’d co-sign on that idea. 4-6 months is a little dicey for a product obviously designed by and for ADHD heads and other perpetual forgetters of things, haha.

 

[Snark218]

The U2 chip has been available in iPhones since the iPhone 15. They don’t mention the older models, but I see no reason it wouldn’t work. It’s why the feature for finding someone nearby requires an iPhone 15 or newer.

U2 was on my phone automatically in 2014.

ayyyyyyyy

 

[satadru]

Glad to finally have UWB functionality. Could we please get the ability to share AirTag locations with Apple Child Accounts next please?

 

[withak]

I really wish Apple would slap a number on things when they refresh them. For a techie who pays attention they may be able to tell them apart, but you try telling your 70-year-old mother that they need to get the AirTag, not the AirTag (2020).

Same. It also makes googling tech support questions almost impossible.

 

[MagicVolcano]

I must have bought and/or carried these things for 5-6 years and never found them the least bit useful. I think when the batteries eventually die in the ones I do have I'll be disposing of them.

 

[jaberg]

I must have bought and/or carried these things for 5-6 years and never found them the least bit useful. I think when the batteries eventually die in the ones I do have I'll be disposing of them.

I hope the tags in my camera bags and edc ruck prove to be never useful. Or at least go unused. The tag stuck into my senior father’s wallet has already proven its worth. He’s prone to wandering (while I’m parking the car), hard of hearing, and doesn’t always respond his phone. The tracker saves a lot of high-and-low searching…and reduces my stress levels.

Feel free to dispose of yours in this direction.