Apple has made a sequence of notable inside adjustments with the second-generation AirTag, in line with a teardown video by Joseph Taylor.
Externally, the second-generation AirTag itself is successfully indistinguishable from the unique and continues to make use of an ordinary CR2032 coin cell. The one visible variations are slight adjustments to the textual content on the again, which is now all in capital letters and lists IP67 water and dirt resistance, in addition to NFC and Discover My help.
The principle PCB contained in the second-generation AirTag is visibly thinner than that of the unique mannequin. The battery connectors are positioned at a special angle and the brand new board contains extra take a look at pads which are possible associated to manufacturing or diagnostics. Taylor additionally famous new markings contained in the battery compartment, together with a QR-code-like graphic.
The speaker meeting additionally sees adjustments. The speaker coil embedded within the plastic shell seems barely bigger than within the first-generation AirTag, whereas the speaker magnet is extra firmly secured. Within the unique AirTag, the magnet may very well be eliminated comparatively simply, which enabled comparatively straightforward modifications. Within the second-generation mannequin, the magnet is extra firmly safe and requires noticeably extra effort to take away.
Taylor speculated that the elevated use of adhesive may very well be associated to anti-tampering efforts. Regardless of the elimination of the speaker coil and magnet, the system was nonetheless in a position to hook up with his iPhone, indicating that Apple has not launched a firmware-level lockout or alert triggered by bodily modifications.
After pairing the system to an iPhone, the sound the AirTag emits is a “barely greater pitch” in comparison with the unique. A consumer on X has famous that the chime has modified from the notice “F” to the notice “G.”
Apple has additionally up to date the AirTag’s packaging, utilizing a redesigned field with a narrower general form and up to date entrance paintings. The printed textual content on the brand new field seems barely raised by way of UV printing, and it now options paper adhesive pull tabs. Contained in the field, the cardboard insert containing the AirTags is now easier, with a single paper latch holding a lid over the tray of AirTags, which now sit as a row of 4. Within the unique packaging, the AirTags sat in a doubled over folio in rows of two.