An AirTag 2 teardown video reveals Apple’s second-gen AirTag packs major internal changes. From the outside, though, the tracking tag looks identical to its predecessor.
Internally, Apple has used a thinner PCB and revamped the speaker assembly to make it louder. The latter will also help avoid unwanted tampering with the tag.
AirTag 2’s hidden and important hardware changes
After its release, and as the original AirTag gained popularity, bad actors started tampering with it to remove its speaker. While Apple rolled out software updates to curb silent tracking, it became a constant cat-and-mouse game.
With the second-gen AirTag, Apple has redesigned the internals to make this more difficult. A teardown of the tracking tag by YouTuber Joseph Taylor highlights this. While the AirTag 2′s outer design and dimensions remain unchanged, it features a notably thinner PCB.
Apple also appears to have used a larger plastic shell. More importantly, to avoid tampering, it has used more glue to secure the internal speaker magnet in place. While it is still removable, it requires a lot more effort than before. That should help deter unwanted tampering with the second-gen model.
Unfortunately, the AirTag remained fully functional even after the YouTuber removed the speaker. Apple will likely need additional safeguards to address this limitation in future updates.
Despite no major increase in the speaker size, Apple claims the second-gen AirTag’s speaker can get 50% louder.
Otherwise, the internals remain largely unchanged, with the tracker still using a CR2032 battery for power, just like the original model. Other minor changes include slightly angled battery contacts and a QR code inside the battery compartment.
Rajesh has been writing about consumer technology for over a decade, with a strong focus on iPhones, Macs and Apple’s ecosystem. He enjoys digging into Apple software updates, hardware changes, and discovering new Mac apps that make work faster and more enjoyable.
