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iFixit Teardown Finds AirTag 2 Speaker Can Be Silenced Without Disabling Tracking

The teardown highlights unresolved privacy concerns despite Apple’s louder hardware.

Overview

  • iFixit cut or desoldered the two speaker wires on AirTag 2, then confirmed the tag still paired and reported location normally.
  • The tracker retains a user‑replaceable CR2032 battery, an unchanged exterior and stainless steel cover, and is difficult to open without cosmetic damage due to fragile clips.
  • Internals include an upgraded Nordic Bluetooth/NFC system‑on‑chip and Apple’s U2 Ultra Wideband chip that enable expanded Precision Finding.
  • Apple says the redesigned speaker is up to 50% louder and touts cross‑platform alerts with frequently changing Bluetooth identifiers to deter unwanted tracking.
  • The extended Precision Finding range requires newer Apple devices such as iPhone 15 or later, and pricing remains $29 for one or $99 for a four‑pack.