Apple's AirTag 2: Why No Keyring Hole Yet? [2025]

Introduction: The Feature Apple Still Won't Add

Let's just say it right out of the gate: Apple released a new Air Tag in 2025, packed it with meaningful upgrades, and somehow still decided that a keyring hole was too much to ask. According to MacRumors, this decision continues to frustrate users who expected a simple attachment solution.

It's one of those decisions that frustrates everyone. You'd think adding a small metal loop to a device literally designed to prevent you from losing things would be, you know, the obvious choice. But here we are, year four of Air Tag, and you're still buying a separate case or stuffing it in a pocket like some kind of tech caveman.

But before you write off the second-generation Air Tag entirely, there's actually more going on here than just Apple being stubborn. The new model brings legitimate upgrades that make it materially better at doing the one job it's designed for: finding your stuff. The range improvements alone could actually save you hours of searching, which isn't nothing, as highlighted by Apple's official newsroom.

So what's actually different? Why is Apple still being weird about the keyring hole? And most importantly, should you upgrade from the original Air Tag or pick one up for the first time?

We're going to walk through all of it—the hardware changes, the real-world performance differences, how it compares to competing trackers, and honestly, some of the head-scratching design choices that make you wonder who's making decisions at Apple Park.

Here's what you need to know before you spend $29 on finding your lost keys.

TL; DR

• Second-Gen Chip: New Ultra Wideband 2 chip provides 50% better range for Precision Finding, as reported by TechBuzz.
• Louder Alert: Device is 50% louder with a distinctive new chime for easier location, according to AppleInsider.
• Still No Keyring Hole: You'll need a case or creative pocket solutions—a baffling design omission.
• Better Watch Integration: Works with Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2, or later for improved tracking.
• Price Unchanged: Still costs $29, making it an easy upgrade if you already own the original.
• Bottom Line: Better at finding things, but the design frustration remains.

The Second-Generation Hardware: What Actually Changed

Apple didn't redesign the Air Tag for the new version—it's still that same flat, white hockey puck that looks like it was borrowed from a minimalist design museum. But underneath that familiar exterior, there's new silicon doing some heavy lifting.

The new Air Tag runs Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. If that sounds familiar, it's because the iPhone 17 lineup and Apple Watch Ultra 3 use the exact same processor. This matters more than it sounds because UWB technology is what enables the insane precision that the Find My app can achieve.

Ultra Wideband is fundamentally different from regular Bluetooth. Where Bluetooth gives you a general direction and approximate distance, UWB measures signal travel time in nanoseconds to pinpoint location within centimeters. It's the difference between "your keys are somewhere in the living room" and "your keys are under the couch cushion at 2 o'clock."

The first-generation Air Tag had UWB, but this new chip is refined. Apple claims it delivers Precision Finding up to 50% further away than before. Translate that: if your original Air Tag could guide you to something 30 feet away with visual and audio cues, the new one can manage it at 45 feet. For apartment dwellers, that's the difference between pinpointing your Air Tag in your own home versus potentially catching it from a neighbor's unit.

The improved chip also enables better integration with Apple's broader ecosystem. That matters because the actual signal bouncing off other Apple devices is what makes the Find My network work at all. When you lose your Air Tag in a crowded place, it's not calling home to Apple directly—it's using encrypted messages bounced through thousands of other iPhones, iPads, and Macs to triangulate its position.

Apple says this new chipset handles that crowdsourced location data faster. You'll see faster location updates when you're actively looking for something, which matters way more than you'd think when you're frantically searching for your keys before leaving for work.

The 50% Louder Speaker: A Bigger Deal Than You'd Think

The Air Tag has always made noise when you activate it in Find My, but it was... quiet. Not whisper-quiet, but definitely "annoying cat noise" quiet rather than "oh crap, there it is" loud.

Apple's addressed this with a new speaker that's 50% louder. The company also claims it has a "distinctive new chime," which is Apple's way of saying it sounds different from the original. This improvement is highlighted in Bloomberg's report.

Why does this matter? Because sound is your last-resort tool for tracking something you can't see. You're in your bedroom, you activate the Air Tag, and if you can hear it chirping from inside a drawer or under a pile of laundry, that saves you the entire visual search process. A 50% volume increase is legitimately useful.

There's actual physics at work here. Decibel levels work logarithmically, not linearly. When something gets twice as loud (which isn't what's happening here, but bear with me), it's about 3 decibels louder. A 50% volume increase probably puts us somewhere around 3-5 additional decibels. That might sound incremental until you're desperately searching for your Air Tag at 7 AM and that extra volume makes the difference between hearing it or not.

The new chime is a nice touch too, even if it seems cosmetic. A distinctive sound is actually easier for humans to locate in three-dimensional space because your brain gets better at filtering out background noise when it's something unique. Your generic beep sounds like everything else. A unique chime stands out.

Precision Finding: How Far Can It Actually Reach?

Precision Finding is the headline feature of Air Tag 2, and it's worth understanding how it actually works because the marketing can be confusing.

When Apple says Precision Finding reaches 50% further, they're talking about the distance at which you get visual and audio cues guiding you toward the device. This isn't about the Find My network—that's a different system entirely.

Here's the breakdown: Precision Finding only works when you have a direct line of sight (or nearly direct) with the Air Tag, and you have an Apple Watch Series 9 or later (or an iPhone 14 Pro and later, though watch is better). It uses the Ultra Wideband chip to measure exact distance and direction, then guides you with arrows and distance readouts on your watch face.

The range improvement is significant for real-world use. Say you left your bag at a coffee shop and you drive back from a mile away. With the original Air Tag, Precision Finding might activate when you're 50-100 feet from the building. With version 2, you might get directional guidance from 150 feet out. That's the difference between pulling over and walking around versus being able to locate it from your car.

But—and this is crucial—Precision Finding has hard limitations. It requires Ultra Wideband in your device (not all iPhones have it, and not all Apple Watches). It won't work through walls reliably. It definitely won't work if your Air Tag is in a metal case or a Faraday-lined wallet (which defeats the purpose anyway).

The regular Find My network, the one that uses other devices to locate your Air Tag, works differently and isn't limited by range in the same way. That's how people find lost Air Tags thousands of miles away—they're relying on the encrypted handoff between devices, not direct connection.

The Keyring Hole Question: Why Apple Won't Commit

Okay, let's address the elephant in the room because it's actually important and tells you something about Apple's design philosophy.

The original Air Tag doesn't have a keyring hole. Neither does version 2. This is wildly frustrating because you're buying a tracking device specifically to prevent losing things, and Apple is forcing you to buy additional accessories to actually attach it to the things you want to track.

What's really baffling is that this problem was immediately obvious. Air Tag launched in April 2021, and within weeks, Apple released an official leather keychain case for an additional $39. The fact that Apple sells a separate case for more than a third of the original device's cost tells you something profound: even Apple knew the keyring hole was necessary.

So why no hole? There are a few theories floating around the tech community:

Theory 1: Industrial Design Purity Apple's design language favors clean, uninterrupted surfaces. A keyring hole breaks the visual simplicity of that white disc. This matters to Apple's leadership in a way it clearly doesn't matter to users.

Theory 2: Durability Concerns A hole creates a stress point. If you're yanking your keys out of a pocket repeatedly, a metal ring could apply pressure that damages the device. Apple might genuinely believe that a protected environment (like a case) extends the Air Tag's lifespan.

Theory 3: Ecosystem Lock-In When you need a case, Apple profits. The Leather Keychain case is a $39 premium accessory. Over millions of devices, that's real money. This is cynical, but Apple's track record with accessories suggests it's not unreasonable.

Theory 4: They're Waiting for Something Better Maybe Apple is planning a future hardware redesign—something modular or with a spring-loaded mechanism—and they don't want to commit to a hole design that limits options.

Honestly, I think it's probably a combination of theories 1 and 2, with a little 3 mixed in. Apple cares about design purity, and they're not wrong that a hole creates a stress point. But the fact that they've had four years to solve this and still haven't? That's a choice.

Air Tag 2 vs. Original Air Tag: Is the Upgrade Worth It?

If you own an original Air Tag, the question becomes: do these improvements justify repurchasing?

The answer depends on your actual use case.

You Should Upgrade If:

You frequently lose things in large spaces (parking lots, outdoor events, unfamiliar buildings). The 50% range improvement for Precision Finding is meaningful in these scenarios. You go from occasional search help to actual reliable navigation guidance.

You have an Apple Watch Ultra or Series 9 (or newer). The integration with these devices is where Precision Finding shines. If you don't have a compatible watch, the benefits diminish significantly.

You use Air Tag for high-stakes items. Wallet, keys, or something genuinely important that you want maximum findability for. The improved speaker alone helps in these cases.

Your original Air Tag has degraded battery performance. Air Tags last about a year on a single CR2032 battery, and if yours is flaking out, a new device makes sense.

You Can Skip It If:

You have an original Air Tag and it's working fine for your needs. The improvements are incremental, not revolutionary. If you've never used Precision Finding or don't have a compatible Apple Watch, you're not getting the main benefit.

You mainly use Air Tag for close-range tracking (keys in your home, bag in your car). The range improvement doesn't help much when you're searching within 50 feet anyway.

You're not paying for it yourself. If this is a gift or a work-provided device, sure, take the upgrade. But for your own money, the original still works.

The Honest Take: If you're buying your first Air Tag in 2025, obviously get version 2. The improvements are real, and you're not paying more ($29 for both). If you already have the original and it's working, upgrading is optional. The features are better, but they're not "completely changes the game" better.

Apple Watch Integration: How It Actually Works

The new Air Tag works with Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2, or any newer iteration. If you have an older watch, you won't get Precision Finding, but you'll still be able to trigger the sound and see your Air Tag on the map.

When you open Find My on your compatible Apple Watch, you get a clear distance readout and direction arrow pointing toward your Air Tag. This is the killer feature. Your watch is always on your wrist (usually), so you have instant access to navigation without pulling out your phone.

The watch integration also makes sense from a practical standpoint. You're already looking at your wrist for time and notifications. Adding a "find my thing" feature to the same place you check everything else is obvious UX.

Here's where the integration gets clever: if you have multiple Air Tags, you can search for them sequentially right from your watch. Lost your keys and wallet? Your watch shows you which is closest, you grab one, it guides you to the second. It's not flashy, but it's genuinely useful.

The downside is that you need a relatively recent Apple Watch. Series 9 launched in 2023, Ultra 2 in 2024. If you're rocking a Series 6 or Series 7, you're out of luck. This creates a weird situation where the best Air Tag features require buying a $400+ watch.

The Find My Network: How It Actually Locates Your Lost Air Tag

When you lose your Air Tag somewhere public—your bag at an airport, your keys at a coffee shop—the Find My network is what actually helps you find it. This is different from Precision Finding and it's important to understand.

Here's what's happening behind the scenes:

Your Air Tag broadcasts its location to nearby Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Macs) that have Bluetooth enabled. These devices send that location data to Apple's servers, encrypted and anonymized. You get a map showing where your Air Tag was last detected.

The genius part is scale. Apple says there are over 1 billion devices in the Find My network. That means your lost Air Tag is probably near someone's iPhone. Even in a low-population area, if your Air Tag is on someone's commute, it might ping their device and report its location.

This system works because it's encrypted and privacy-respecting. Your Air Tag reports to devices that have your account associated with it, and those devices report to you. Apple can't see the location data themselves. It's actually a surprisingly elegant solution to a hard problem.

The new Air Tag probably gets picked up by the network faster than version 1 because of the improved chipset, but the system is already incredibly effective. The range improvement matters more for Precision Finding (the close-range guided search) than for the Find My network.

Comparing to Alternatives: Tile, Samsung Smart Tag, and Others

Air Tag isn't the only game in town, though it's definitely the market leader. There are several alternatives worth considering, and interestingly, some of them actually have keyring holes.

Tile Slim Tile's Slim is essentially Tile's answer to the keyring problem. It's a flat, credit-card-sized device that comes with a split ring keychain attachment. Price is around $25. The catch? Range isn't great (Tile relies on Bluetooth only, no UWB), and it only works with Android and iOS from Tile's app, not deeply integrated into iOS like Air Tag.

Tile works well if you're in the Android ecosystem, but if you're an Apple user, the integration gap is real. You're not getting native Find My support, which means constant app switching.

Samsung Smart Tag 2 Samsung's tracker includes a keyring attachment and costs about $30. It integrates with Samsung's Smart Things Find, which works with Galaxy phones and tablets. Similar problem to Tile: if you have an iPhone, you're using a third-party app, not native integration.

Samsung does offer one advantage: broader ecosystem support. If you have a Samsung TV, watch, or other device, Smart Tag integrates with that system. For iPhone users, this is less relevant.

Air Tag 2 vs. The Competition Honestly, if you're in the Apple ecosystem (which, let's face it, most people reading this are), Air Tag 2 is still the best option despite the missing keyring hole. The Find My network integration, the Precision Finding capability, and the native iOS integration all give it advantages that Tile and Smart Tag can't match.

The keyring hole thing isn't a fatal flaw, it's just a stupid design choice. You solve it with a

Battery Life, Durability, and Real-World Longevity

Apple rates the Air Tag for approximately one year of battery life using a standard CR2032 coin cell battery. Both version 1 and version 2 use the same battery format.

What's impressive is that the battery life estimate remains the same despite the improved speaker and processing. The new Ultra Wideband chip is probably more efficient than the original, which might offset the increased speaker power consumption.

One year of battery life sounds great until you actually own one and realize it expires just when you've really gotten into the habit of using it. A CR2032 is cheap ($1-2), and replacing it is straightforward, but the ritual of checking battery status and eventually swapping it out is just part of the ownership experience.

Durability-wise, both versions are solid. The Air Tag is sealed (though not waterproof), so it survives pocket junk, light rain, and the general rough treatment that keys endure. People have dunked them in water, left them in washing machines, and run them over with cars. They're tougher than you'd expect.

The stress point issue that Apple supposedly cares about—the keyring hole weakness—is real but overstated. Every keychain on earth has a hole, and they don't regularly snap off. Apple's design paranoia here seems disproportionate to the actual risk.

Real-World Performance: How Well Does It Actually Work?

Specs are nice, but real-world performance is what matters. Here's what happens when you actually use Air Tag 2 in the situations where you need it most.

Scenario 1: Keys Lost at Home You set your keys down somewhere when you get home and can't remember where. Open Find My, tap Air Tag, activate the sound. The new 50% louder speaker makes a noticeable difference here. With the original, you'd strain to hear it from another room. With version 2, you hear it clearly. Time to find: 30 seconds instead of 2 minutes.

Scenario 2: Bag Left at Restaurant You leave your work bag at a coffee shop (this happens to basically everyone eventually). You realize it 10 minutes later. Open Find My, see the last location pinned on the map. You call the restaurant, they describe exactly where it is. The map location is accurate within about 10 feet. Air Tag 2's improved range doesn't matter here because the Find My network already works incredibly well.

Scenario 3: Lost in a Large Parking Lot You're at a major shopping center and can't find your car (or in this case, your Air Tag-equipped car keys). If you have an Apple Watch, Precision Finding is the killer feature. The distance readout and direction arrow give you clear guidance. The 50% range improvement means you get navigation help from farther away, which is genuinely helpful in a sprawling parking lot.

Without an Apple Watch, you just get a map pin, which is helpful but less intuitive. Phone battery also factors in because you're actively looking at your phone to navigate.

Design Language and Aesthetic Choices

Let's talk about why Apple designed this thing the way they did, because the industrial design tells a story about Apple's priorities.

The Air Tag is purposefully minimal. It's white, it's flat, it's simple. This is peak Apple: a perfect circle of featurelessness that somehow ends up being more beautiful than something with actual utility features.

There's a philosophy here that matters. Apple believes that a beautiful object is easier to own and carry. A keyring hole would disrupt the visual purity of the design. From a certain perspective, that's valid. You don't want your tracking device to be ugly.

But the philosophy breaks down when the "pure" design actively prevents the device from functioning as intended. You have to buy additional accessories to use it as designed. That's not minimalism, that's artificial scarcity wrapped in design language.

Compare this to how Apple designed the iPhone or the watch. Both devices have clear visual elements that serve functional purposes. The speaker slot on an iPhone isn't hidden for design purity—it's visible because it has to be. Apple learned that lesson years ago.

With Air Tag, they seem to have unlearned it. The result is a device that's nice to look at but frustrating to use without accessories.

Setting Up Air Tag 2: How Easy Is It Really?

Setup is where Apple really shines. Get a new Air Tag, open Find My, and you're done in about 15 seconds. Seriously, it's not an exaggeration.

Unlike other trackers that require app account creation, pairing processes, and configuration steps, Air Tag uses your Apple ID and integrates immediately with your device. There's no password to create, no setup wizard to click through.

You can name it ("Keys," "Wallet," "Bag," whatever), customize its sound if you want, and choose which people in your Family Sharing circle can locate it. All of this is optional. Most people just name it and move on.

The ease of setup is actually a significant advantage over Android trackers. That first 15-second experience sets the tone for the entire product relationship.

Privacy and Security Considerations

Apple has made privacy a selling point for Air Tag, and it's worth understanding what that actually means.

When your Air Tag broadcasts its location to other devices, that data is encrypted and sent to Apple's servers using your device. Other users can't see your data—they're just helping to relay it. Your Apple ID is associated with your Air Tag, so only you can locate it.

There's a potential misuse scenario: someone could put an Air Tag in someone else's bag or car to track them without consent. This is a real problem, and Apple has implemented anti-stalking features. If a foreign Air Tag is traveling with you for an extended period, iOS will notify you.

But here's the thing: this is a feature of the Air Tag ecosystem, not specific to version 2. The security model hasn't changed.

One thing that improved with the new chip: faster detection of foreign devices. The better processing might catch unwanted tracking scenarios slightly faster. It's not a headline feature, but it's worth noting.

Overall, Air Tag's privacy approach is legitimate and better than many alternatives. You're not giving Apple real-time location data on your personal devices. The Find My network is intentionally designed so that Apple can't see your location data.

Pricing Strategy and Value Proposition

Apple is keeping the Air Tag at $29, unchanged from the original launch. For a device with a new processor and improved performance, that's actually reasonable pricing.

When you factor in the ecosystem—the Find My network, the Apple Watch integration, the iOS native support—$29 is genuinely good value. You're not paying a premium for newer technology; you're paying for access to the best tracking ecosystem on the market.

The catch is the case situation. If you want the official Leather Keychain case, that's another

Compare that to Tile Slim at

Future of Tracking: What's Coming Next

Apple is clearly investing in spatial computing and location technology. The improved Ultra Wideband chip in Air Tag 2 is part of a broader strategy.

Looking forward, there are a few possibilities:

Apple might release an Air Tag with built-in keyring hardware in the future. They've already sold enough accessory cases that they're clearly comfortable with the idea that Air Tag needs a form factor adjustment.

The company could integrate Air Tag functionality more deeply into other hardware—imagine an Air Tag-capable wallet or keychain that Apple develops. That would be a logical next step.

Ultra Wideband adoption across the entire device ecosystem would enable stronger location features. As more devices get UWB, the Find My network becomes more powerful.

None of this is confirmed, but the trajectory suggests Apple isn't done evolving this product.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

People use Air Tag in ways it's not designed for, then complain when it doesn't work. Let's clarify some common misconceptions.

Mistake 1: Expecting Air Tag to Work Without Other Devices Air Tag doesn't call home to Apple. It broadcasts to nearby devices. If you lose your Air Tag in a remote location with no people around, the Find My network won't help you. This is a feature (privacy), not a bug, but it's a limitation to understand.

Mistake 2: Assuming Precision Finding Works Everywhere Precision Finding requires a compatible Apple Watch or iPhone and line-of-sight range. It won't work through walls reliably, and it definitely won't work across a city block. This feature is designed for close-range navigation, not long-distance finding.

Mistake 3: Treating Air Tag as a Real-Time Tracker Air Tag isn't meant for tracking moving objects. The location data comes from when other devices detected your Air Tag, not continuous location reporting. Using it to track a person or vehicle is not what it's designed for.

Mistake 4: Putting Air Tag in a Faraday Cage Some wallets and cases are designed to block RFID signals, which also blocks Bluetooth. If your Air Tag is shielded from signal, it can't report its location. Check your case specifications.

Mistake 5: Not Customizing Your Setup You can adjust notification settings, change the sound, and set up Family Sharing for your Air Tag. Most people just activate it and leave it at defaults. Taking 5 minutes to customize makes a real difference.

FAQ

What is the main difference between Air Tag 2 and the original Air Tag?

Air Tag 2 uses Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which provides 50% better range for Precision Finding and is more efficient. The new model is also 50% louder with a distinctive new chime for easier audio location. Both models remain $29 and work with the same Find My network and ecosystem.

Does Air Tag 2 finally have a keyring hole?

No. Air Tag 2 retains the same design as the original, with no built-in keyring attachment. You'll need to purchase a separate case, keychain accessory, or leather keychain (official cases start at $39). This is a significant frustration for users who want to attach it directly to keys without additional purchases.

How does Precision Finding work and when should I use it?

Precision Finding uses Ultra Wideband technology to guide you toward your Air Tag with visual and audio cues on your Apple Watch or iPhone. It works best for close-range searches (up to 45 feet with version 2) and provides distance readouts and direction arrows. This feature requires Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or iPhone 14 Pro and later, making it less universally available than the Find My network.

How long does the battery last on Air Tag 2?

Apple rates Air Tag 2 for approximately one year of battery life using a standard CR2032 coin cell battery. The actual battery life depends on how frequently you trigger the sound and use Precision Finding features. The battery is user-replaceable and typically costs $1-2.

Is Air Tag 2 worth upgrading from the original Air Tag?

If you already own an original Air Tag that's working properly, upgrading is optional. The improvements (better range, louder speaker) are meaningful but incremental. If you frequently search for items in large spaces or have a compatible Apple Watch Series 9 or later, the upgrade becomes more worthwhile. For first-time buyers in 2025, Air Tag 2 is the obvious choice since pricing is identical.

How does Air Tag 2 compare to Tile and Samsung Smart Tag?

Air Tag 2 offers superior integration with iOS and access to the 1 billion+ device Find My network. Tile and Samsung Smart Tag are cheaper alternatives with keyring attachments included, but they require third-party apps on iOS and lack native Find My integration. For Apple ecosystem users, Air Tag 2 is the better choice despite the missing keyring hole. For Android users or budget-conscious buyers, Tile Slim remains a solid alternative.

Can I use Air Tag 2 to track someone without their knowledge?

Apple has built anti-stalking features into iOS. If a foreign Air Tag travels with you for an extended period, your device will notify you. Additionally, users can enable notifications when an unknown Air Tag is nearby. While the system isn't perfect, Apple has made genuine efforts to prevent unauthorized tracking, though no solution is foolproof.

What's the difference between the Find My network and Precision Finding?

The Find My network is a crowdsourced system using your Apple devices and others' devices to report your Air Tag's location through encrypted channels. It works at any distance but depends on device density in an area. Precision Finding is a close-range guidance system using Ultra Wideband to provide visual and audio direction arrows on your watch or phone, working up to 45 feet with line-of-sight. Both systems serve different purposes in helping you locate lost items.

Conclusion: The Air Tag We Have vs. The Air Tag We Want

Apple's second-generation Air Tag is better than the original in measurable ways. The new Ultra Wideband chip delivers real improvements in range and speed. The louder speaker actually helps. The watch integration gets tighter. At $29, it's fair pricing for what you're getting.

But it's also true that Apple still won't add a keyring hole, and that limitation hasn't gotten any less frustrating over four years of waiting.

Here's the thing: you can criticize Apple's design stubbornness while simultaneously acknowledging that Air Tag 2 is the best tracking option for iPhone users. Both things are true. You can want them to do better while also appreciating what they've done.

The upgrade decision comes down to your actual usage patterns. If you have an Apple Watch and frequently search for things in large spaces, Air Tag 2 is worth $29. If you're buying your first tracker, it's obviously the model to get. If you have an original that's working fine, you're not missing out on critical functionality by waiting.

What really matters is that this is a category where Apple has the upper hand, and they could be even more dominant if they solved the keyring hole problem. Until they do, we're all buying cases or finding creative ways to carry them.

The product is good. The design decision is maddening. Welcome to Apple's design philosophy in 2025.