Apple introduces new AirTag with longer range and improved findability

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Ecosystems, Standardization, and Android Support

  • Several comments lament that tracking networks are fragmented: Apple Find My vs Google/Android vs Samsung vs Tile.
  • Some see this as avoidable e‑waste and missed opportunity for a unified crowd-sourced network.
  • Others note dual‑network third‑party tags now exist (Apple + Google), though usually not simultaneously and often without UWB.
  • A recurring frustration: Android users can’t “trust” or register known AirTags (e.g., spouse’s), so they get constant harassment alerts with no way to whitelist.

Stalking, Safety, and Theft Recovery Tension

  • Big thread around whether AirTags remain “too stalkable.”
  • Apple/Google unwanted-tracking alerts, beeping, and now harder‑to‑remove speakers are seen by some as sufficient; others argue it’s still trivial to build or modify stealth tags that evade detection.
  • Anti‑stalking features clearly weaken theft-recovery: thieves are alerted within 30–60 minutes (or after hours via chirping) and can remove the tag.
  • Some want a “theft mode” where only law enforcement can see location after the owner flags an item as stolen; others distrust police or doubt they’d act anyway.

Hardware, UX, and Comparisons to Alternatives

  • Many praise AirTags as one of Apple’s best recent products: cheap (by Apple standards), reliable, and with user‑replaceable CR2032 batteries; multiple stories of them “just working” vs flaky Tile/Chipolo/other clones.
  • Some report the opposite: false “left behind” alerts, incessant beeping on owned items, or tags silently dying.
  • Debate over Apple’s broader quality: some see AirTags/AirPods as “magical” UX amid otherwise inconsistent software; others complain AirPods are temperamental.

Form Factor, Attachments, and Accessories

  • Strong criticism that the puck design lacks even a tiny lanyard hole, forcing extra accessories (often more expensive than the tag). Many see this as intentional upsell and design-over-function.
  • Others argue modularity is good: different users want different attachment methods, and integrated holes can be flimsy or harm acoustics.
  • Multiple users rely on third‑party card‑shaped Find My tags for wallets; these usually lack UWB and may be disposable or proprietary‑charged. Some instead buy wallets designed to hold a standard AirTag.

Environment and “Green” Claims

  • Apple’s high recycled-content numbers impress some (gold, magnets, plastics, packaging) given the sub‑$30 price.
  • Others dismiss this as marketing/greenwashing, noting:
    • Recycled plastics can shed more microplastics and be energy‑intensive.
    • Mass-balance accounting can overstate recycled content.
  • A few argue the truly green choice is not buying gadgets you didn’t need before they existed.

Use Cases, Effectiveness, and Police Response

  • Popular use cases: luggage, bikes, keys, wallets, kids, elderly relatives, pets (despite Apple’s “not for pets” line).
  • AirTags work best in dense urban areas where lots of iPhones pass by; several note they’re much less useful for pets or hikes in the woods.
  • Multiple anecdotes:
    • Successful recovery of stolen luggage and gear in Switzerland, Spain, and parts of the US when police engaged.
    • Many other jurisdictions (US, UK, Spain) reportedly ignore AirTag/GPS evidence for petty theft; users either give up or attempt DIY recovery.
  • One story mentions GPS jamming in Russia causing wildly wrong locations, undermining AirTag utility there.

Technical Details, Behavior, and Limitations

  • Discussion of battery behavior (Duracell bitter coating causing failures), speaker removal hacks, and new louder speaker (50% louder → ~2× distance due to logarithmic loudness).
  • Some want far more precise 6DoF tracking for VR/AR use; others note that’s unrealistic at AirTag’s size and scale.
  • Users worry extended range may delay “left behind” alerts (e.g., only after leaving a station, not when stepping off a train).
  • Complaints about notification logic: iPhones sometimes show detailed stalker routes, but owners only see vague last‑seen circles for their own lost items.

Platform Requirements and Lock-In

  • New AirTags require iOS/iPadOS 26, which some refuse to install due to dislike of the new UI, turning this from an “insta-buy” into a “maybe later.”
  • A few Android users say lack of native support is enough to avoid AirTags entirely and stick to Google Find My Device-compatible trackers.