Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

Post by vostrocity » Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 4:48 AM UTC

pompidoo wrote: post #514

pnw wrote: post #318

Unfortunately the anti-stalking features have made Airtag mostly useless for theft prevention. You have less than an hour to retrieve your item before the tag alerts the thief they are being tracked. I've seen it trigger as quickly as 30 minutes.

I developed a device that turns an Airtag on and off at specific intervals (roughly 80% off 20% on). While the AirTag is off, it can’t be detected, and when it turns on again, you can locate it and with it your stolen item: https://undetectag.com I'm about to order the new version to check whether it works on it too

Post by vostrocity » Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 5:19 AM UTC

chasil wrote: post #389

dotancohen wrote: post #371

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do these tags need to be configured on both networks to support both protocols? If I own an Android device and configure it there, will Apple devices still find the tag? How does that work?

The Chipolos that I have purchased appear on my phone when first presented, then do not offer to pair to other users' Find Hubs unless I deregister. I imagine that Airtag functionality is disabled when Find Hub configures these tags. I have heard in the commentary here that Chipolo is now making dual-network devices, but only one can be active at a time. Apple has a larger and more sensitive network, so uses requirin…

Post by vostrocity » Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 5:34 AM UTC

valzam wrote: post #598

storus wrote: post #308

So they made it impossible to remove speaker, destroying its usability as a theft tracking device. One could add an airtag with a removed speaker on a bike/scooter/car and then localize it in case of theft. With the new airtag any thief will be quickly notified they are tracked.

We have an airtag in our cargo bike, connected to our ipad (neither my wife nor I have an Iphone). It never actually makes a sound and we can reliably track on the ipad. what gives? I never thought about this.

Post by adastra22 » Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 7:48 AM UTC

dlcarrier wrote: post #260

logicalfails wrote: post #6

> The new AirTag is designed with the environment in mind, with 85 percent recycled plastic in the enclosure, 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in all magnets, and 100 percent recycled gold plating in all Apple-designed printed circuit boards. The paper packaging is 100 percent fiber-based and can be easily recycled. I'm no material scientist, but this seems pretty impressive to me that Apple's economy of scal…

Recycled metals have always been cost effective. Recycled plastic is much more expensive than virgin plastic, but it's a very small materials cost to start with, likely totaling only a few cents.

Post by adastra22 » Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 7:51 AM UTC

thiht wrote: post #620

GoatInGrey wrote: post #408

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ironically, it's worse. I just wrote another comment about this. Recycled plastics carry more toxic load and shed more (and more fragmented) microplastics into the environment. Recycled plastics only win out on carbon emissions. Moral of the story: plastic is just not good. Avoid buying things made out of ANY kind plastic if you are going to regularly wash and mechanically agitate them. You won't eliminate 100% of wa…

That's good to know. My understanding though is that they don't use 100% recycled plastic to prevent that? I thought the ~20% non recycled plastic was kinda "stabilizing" the whole thing but maybe that's not true