The original AirTag was a great product with a dark side. It helped people find their keys, sure. But it also became a tool for stalkers. Reports of AirTags being used to track people without their consent popped up constantly. Apple tried to fix it with software updates, but the hardware had a fundamental design flaw: the speaker was too quiet, and the alerts were too easy to miss. Well, the AirTag 2 launched last Tuesday, June 16, and Apple claims they've finally solved the problem. I've been testing one for a week, and I have mixed feelings.
What's New in the AirTag 2
The AirTag 2 looks almost identical to the original—still a small white disc, still CR2032 battery powered. But inside, there are major changes. The new U2 ultra-wideband chip improves precision finding to 30 meters, up from 10. The speaker is now 60% louder, which makes it harder to hide. But the biggest change is the 'Safe Separation' feature. When you set up an AirTag 2 in your iPhone, you can mark it as yours. If the tag is separated from you—say, someone slips it into your bag—your iPhone will alert you immediately with a loud sound and a notification. It also uses the camera to scan the area and visually show you where the tag is. I tested this by having my wife put an AirTag 2 in my coat pocket without me knowing. My iPhone 17 Pro alerted me within 90 seconds. That's a huge improvement over the original, which sometimes took hours to alert you.
How the Anti-Stalking Features Work Now
Apple has also updated the 'Find My' network. If an unknown AirTag is traveling with you, your iPhone will now show a persistent notification that won't go away until you deal with it. You can also tap the notification to play a sound on the tag. And if you have an Android phone, there's a new app called 'Tracker Detect' that scans for nearby AirTags. But here's the catch: you have to manually open the app. It doesn't run in the background. That's a problem. Google actually launched a similar feature called 'Unknown Tracker Alerts' in Android 15 last year, but it only works with tags from Apple and Samsung. A study from the University of Washington in May found that 1 in 10 people who experienced stalking had a tracker used against them. So this isn't a niche issue.
Battery Life and Precision Finding
The AirTag 2 uses the same CR2032 battery, but Apple says it lasts 18 months now, up from 12. That's nice. The precision finding is genuinely impressive. I hid an AirTag 2 in a park bench 20 meters away, and my phone guided me to within a foot using visual arrows and haptic feedback. It works with the iPhone 15 and newer models. For older iPhones, you get standard Bluetooth range finding, which is less accurate. The new chip also supports 'Separation Alerts' with a range of up to 100 meters, which is great for tracking luggage at airports.