Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Phones
  3. Mobile
  4. News

Sorry, folks, the AirTag 2 won’t have rechargeable batteries

Add as a preferred source on Google
Person holding an Apple AirTag.
Apple

Apple’s AirTag is a fantastic device for keeping track of your possessions, but most of us don’t have a stockpile of CR2032 batteries lying around for when your tracker goes kaput. Fans have hoped the next iteration of the AirTag would come with a rechargeable battery, but Mark Gurman said in his Power On newsletter (via MacRumors) that the AirTag 2 would still use a coin cell battery.

That’s disappointing news, but it’s not a deal breaker. Replacing an AirTag battery isn’t hard to do, and the batteries are able to last more than a year, depending on usage. With the supposed upgrades coming to the AirTag 2, this gadget will be one you don’t want to miss.

Recommended Videos

Due to the instances of stalking, Apple plans to upgrade the AirTags and make them less susceptible to tampering. The upcoming second model has repositioned internals that make it harder to remove the built-in speaker. They will also have an improved tracking range compared to the original AirTag’s range of 30 feet. While we aren’t sure exactly what the range of the AirTag 2 will be, we hope it will be similar to the Galaxy Smart Tag 2’s 120 meters, which is close to 400 feet.

An Apple AirTag in a black wallet.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

There’s no word on when the AirTag 2 will launch, but all expectations put it in 2025. Pricing is also a mystery, although it’s safe to assume the new version will be slightly more expensive than the original model — perhaps $30, based on Apple’s history.

AirTags are some of the handiest tech you can buy, especially if you’re prone to forgetting where things are. An upgraded model is a welcome addition to Apple’s lineup as long as the company makes the new features worthwhile.

Patrick Hearn
Former Technology Writer
Patrick has written about tech for more than 15 years and isn't slowing down anytime soon. With previous clients ranging from…
Apple raises iPhone prices by up to 11% in Japan
Apple adjusts Japanese iPhone pricing after the yen hits a 40-year low
Apple iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange next to the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Deep Blue

Apple has raised the price of every iPhone currently sold through its online store in Japan. The increase covers the iPhone 16, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, with prices climbing by as much as 11.3%.

The change arrives only a month after Apple raised Mac and iPad prices worldwide due to the ongoing memory crunch. This increase, however, appears to have more to do with the falling value of the Japanese yen.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8: Everything we know about the upcoming clamshell folding phone
Of the three phones expected to arrive at Galaxy Unpacked, the Flip 8 is shaping up to be the most underwhelming.
Three Galaxy Z Flip 7 models next to each other

The Fold 8 Ultra could get a sharper display, a more powerful chipset, a new camera, and a larger battery. Samsung’s purported wider foldable, the Fold 8, is expected to solve the most common problem with tall-body, narrow cover screens by adopting a new aspect ratio. The Flip 8, on the other hand, could only debut with a new chip, and not a Snapdragon one. 

The Flip 7 wasn’t a bad clamshell by any measure. However, it's been one year, and the memory crisis has already hit the smartphone market hard. In a tricky cost-to-margin situation, the Flip 8 could end up getting a price hike without any major improvements, and that might not sit well with potential buyers.

Read more
Google Contacts borrows a handy iPhone trick to make sharing your number easier
google-contacts-app

Google is rolling out a small but useful update to the Contacts app on Android that makes it much easier to find and share your own contact details. Instead of digging through settings or creating a separate contact for yourself, you'll now see a dedicated 'Your Info' card at the very top of your contacts list.

The feature gives you quick access to your phone number, email addresses, and other personal details while also adding a faster way to share them with others. The update is arriving with Google Contacts version 4.83.13.940538822 and is rolling out widely (via 9to5Google).

Read more