Same but big difference

Comparing AirTag 2 and AirTag 1 shows that the new version is superior with the UWB 2 chip searching 50% farther and the speaker being significantly louder even though the price remains the same.

The launch of AirTag 2 has officially warmed up the smart tracking accessories market. However, when placing the two generations side by side, users cannot help but wonder because their appearance is 99% identical. .

So what has Apple upgraded inside this “pebble” of technology? Are those improvements enough to convince you to upgrade from AirTag 1 or choose to buy a new AirTag 2 instead of hunting for cheap used goods?

Let’s join Minh Tuan Mobile in “dissecting” 10 core differences to find the answer.

Maintaining the original design, strongly upgrading the “heart” of Ultra Wideband

Visually, you will have a hard time distinguishing between these two product generations. AirTag 2 retains its round, compact design and uses an easily replaceable CR2032 battery.

The real change lies deep inside the circuit board with the 2nd generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip. This is the same chip equipped on blockbuster products such as the iPhone 17 Series or Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Thanks to the power of the new UWB chip, the Precision Finding ability on AirTag 2 has been greatly improved. The search range is now up to 50% wider than the first generation.

If previously you could only catch guidance signals at a distance of 10-30 meters, now that number can be up to 45-50 meters. This is extremely useful when you need to find your car in a large parking lot or find lost items in a multi-storey house.

Own iPhone 17 Pro Max to take full advantage of the 2nd generation UWB chip on the new AirTag:

Louder speakers and unlimited connectivity

One weakness of the original AirTag was that the sound emitted was quite small, easily overwhelmed by environmental noise or reduced in volume when the device was stuck under the sofa. Apple has completely overcome this on AirTag 2 with an improved speaker system, providing 50% greater volume.

The company claims that users can hear the bell twice as clearly as before, making sound positioning much more practical.

Besides, the new Bluetooth chip also helps expand the overall connection range. A valuable new feature for those who travel often is “Share Item Location”.

You can share your AirTag 2’s location with trusted third parties, such as airlines, making finding lost luggage faster and more professional.

Security and system requirements

The issue of privacy and anti-stealth tracking is always a top priority for Apple. AirTag 2 is equipped with the industry’s most advanced security features, including cross-platform alerts and constantly changing Bluetooth identifiers to prevent abuse.

However, to use AirTag 2, users need to note one mandatory requirement: Your iPhone device must be updated to iOS version 26.2.1 or higher. This is a prerequisite for the system to be able to recognize and activate the new features of this accessory.

Price unchanged, will AirTag 1 drop sharply?

The good news is that Apple still maintains the listed price for AirTag 2 at 29 USD (about more than 700,000 VND) for 1 unit and 99 USD for a package of 4 units, equivalent to the starting price of the previous generation. This means that AirTag 1 being sold at retailers will have an even deeper price reduction.

If you need the furthest search performance, loudest speakers and highest security features, AirTag 2 is the no-brainer choice. On the contrary, if the need is just to track keys within close range with maximum savings, AirTag 1 is still a technology bargain worth considering right now.