AirTag vs AirTag 2: How to identify Apple’s latest tracker at a glance

Apple AirTag

• Apple launched a new AirTag, often called AirTag 2 by retailers and buyers
• Check back text: all caps for new AirTag, mixed case for original.
• Both versions are sold under similar names, so verify before buying

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Apple has launched a new version of the AirTag, but you would be forgiven for not noticing. The company has avoided using a clear product name like AirTag 2 in most places, instead referring to it as “the new AirTag” or “AirTag (2nd Generation)”. This subtle naming approach can make it confusing for buyers, especially when both versions are still available through various retailers.

To keep things simple, many people are informally calling the latest model AirTag 2. Retailers such as Amazon have also stepped in to reduce confusion by labelling the older model as “Apple AirTag (1st Generation)”. Still, if you already own an AirTag or are buying one in person, the packaging name alone may not be enough to confirm which version you have.

Fortunately, Apple has left a clear physical clue on the product itself. The most reliable way to tell the difference between the original AirTag and the newer version is by checking the text etched on the back. Apple prominently features the AirTag’s back on the front of its retail packaging, so you do not even need to open the box to inspect it. If the AirTag is already out of the packaging, simply flip it over and look closely at the stainless steel surface.

On the original AirTag, the rear text reads:

AirTag

Designed by Apple in California

Assembled in China

Bluetooth LE

Ultra Wideband

This text uses a mix of standard capitalisation and is relatively minimal in terms of technical markings.

By contrast, the newer AirTag uses a much denser block of text, and everything is written in capital letters. An AirTag 2 will read:

AirTag

FIND MY

NFC

BLUETOOTH LE

ULTRA WIDEBAND

IP67

APPLE INC.

The visual difference is immediate once you know what to look for. If the text on the back is written entirely in capital letters, you are looking at the new AirTag. If it is not, then it is the original model. It really is that simple.

This distinction matters because Apple is now selling both versions under very similar names, and pricing can vary widely depending on the seller. The newer AirTag carries a retail price of $29, while the original model should ideally be discounted. If you are paying close to full price, you should make sure you are getting the second-generation version.