I’m Replacing the Trackers for These 4 Items With Apple’s ‘AirTags 2’

When Apple released its second generation AirTag trackersI was intrigued by the new features, but mostly shrugged my shoulders at the news. The AirTags I use regularly work great, so why upgrade?

It was partly financial: first generation tags are still available for around $60 in pack of foura 40% savings from their regular price of $99, as retailers and Apple process inventory. The new second generation beacons are sold for this Retail price $99or $29 for a single AirTag.

Mostly, I wondered if the improvements were worth replacing perfectly good trackers with new ones. After reading CNET’s chief content officer Patrick Holland’s experience test second generation featuresI decided the extended range, louder speaker, and ability to locate beacons using my Apple Watch were worth the cost. I already rely on old AirTags enough to know this would be a solid investment.

Since AirTags come in packs of four, I had to figure out which four items were worth the AirTag 2 upgrade. I prioritized the things I reach for most of the time, which may vary for you. If you travel often, for example, a carry-on bag might be at the top of your list.

Keychain

I like the idea of ​​living in a future where I can unlock my house and car using my Apple Watch or iPhone, but it’s not quite My the future again. My old house didn’t care much about door frames aligning perfectly, and my car just wishes it had “new” technology like a backup camera.

My keys must accompany me everywhere. Being able to use Precision Search on my iPhone or Apple Watch means I can walk right up to them, thanks to the second-generation ultra-wideband chip inside the AirTag. And since the tags are the same size and shape as previous versions, I didn’t need to buy a new key case.

Main bag or handbag

The second AirTag went straight into my everyday backpack. It holds my laptop, sometimes a second smartphone for testing, and at least one camera, depending on where I’m going (often a coffee shop).

If you carry a purse or other constant companion bag containing your wallet or credit cards, throwing an AirTag inside is a no-brainer.

Glasses case

This one is less common. A few years ago, I realized that it was better to have two pairs of glasses: one pair with progressive lenses for most situations, and a second pair with a single vision prescription for when I work at the computer. This is why my glasses case now comes with me everywhere. I’ve caught myself driving to the grocery store with the computer glasses on, and it’s not fun (or entirely safe).

So my third new AirTag went into the glasses case. This isn’t the best solution – the label is basically in the unused pair of glasses, but I also keep a few lens cleaning cloths in there so it doesn’t bounce around much. You can buy cases with AirTag slots, and Satechi makes a case with integrated Apple Find My electronics This sounds interesting, but so far my inexpensive solution is working.

Camera bag

When I go for a photoshoot or a scenic weekend, I bring more camera gear – expensive gear that I definitely don’t want to lose. So, my fourth new AirTag went straight into my dedicated camera bag (a Shimoda Explore v2).

For this, the additional Bluetooth and Precision Finding range is particularly practical. If I’m photographing a sunrise, I might not carry my entire bag to every location I’ve set up to take photos. I don’t go too far hiking – I’m not crazy. But sometimes the bag is not always easy to see in tall grass or among rocks.

Honorable mentions

My main rolling bag for travel has a first-generation AirTag in it, and if I traveled more often I’d swap it for the newer model. As it stands, the upgrade features don’t give me much advantage over what I have, especially since more the airports are now installed to detect AirTags when the bag is buried deep in the recesses of baggage handling systems.

A wallet is also a good candidate, since it holds my driver’s license, credit cards, and cash. However, the AirTag is too bulbous to fit in my traditional leather wallet, so it doesn’t fit. For this I would look to something like Peak Design Beacon Finder Map or the AirCard Pro by Lululookboth of which are closer in shape and thickness to a credit card.

Finally, a good AirTag target is the pocket of your favorite coat or jacket. (I’m sure my mom wished AirTags existed when I was in elementary school and losing jackets pretty regularly.)

In fact, because my second-generation AirTags replaced four first-generation tags, which still work great, I put two of them in coats so I wouldn’t leave them in a cafe or restaurant. Now I have to find a place for the other two.

Watch this: Testing the new AirTag, as Tim Cook’s visit to the White House sparks calls to boycott Apple

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