Technologies
Best Phone Under $500 for 2023: New Features at Lower Prices
Our latest best phone under $500 is so close to its more expensive sibling, there’s no reason to pay more for it.
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The best phones under $500 include so many features that you want to see in an excellent phone, with sacrifices that you might not even notice. These are phones that include displays with high refresh rates, modern chips, good cameras and 5G. They even get several years of software and security updates.
These phones do make cuts that justify why they’re cheaper than phones that cost more than $500, but those cuts are increasingly in areas that might not raise any particular flag when you just want a reliable device. Apple’s iPhone SE along with Google’s Pixel 6A and 7A phones, for instance, have a smaller screen, but all run on newer processors and software. Samsung’s Galaxy A series of phones often look just like the Galaxy S line, but instead run on a less powerful processor. And the Moto G Stylus 5G takes nice photos, provides a roomy 256GB of space and throws in a stylus, but Motorola doesn’t provide software support for as long as its competitors.
Photography and video in particular are areas where the phones in this price bracket take a noticeable hit in comparison to their more expensive counterparts. However, photo-processing software should help pick up some of the slack. For instance, while the iPhone SE has a single 12-megapixel camera that doesn’t support night photography, its A15 Bionic chip does allow for Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. It’s a similar situation for the Pixel 6A, which uses a 12-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, yet can enhance those photos with processing powered by the phone’s Tensor chip. However the new Pixel 7A offers a 64-megapixel main camera, which some might consider an upgrade from the Pixel 7’s 50-megapixel main camera.
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You can see the pros and cons of each of these phones below, with more details available in our full reviews.
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What is the best phone under $500?
Google’s $499 Pixel 7A compares so closely to the $599 Pixel 7, that it’s now tough to recommend the more expensive option. The Pixel 7A includes the same Tensor G2 processor that powers Google’s Pixel-exclusive features, gets wireless charging, a 90Hz refresh rate and a 64-megapixel main camera paired up with a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera. My colleague Lisa Eadicicco said that the Pixel 7A does miss out on the Pixel 7’s battery share feature, the camera’s Action Pan mode and slightly faster charging, but none of those features feel like a major omission.
And if you want to save even more money, last year’s Pixel 6A has received a permanent price drop to $349 and still has a lot to offer. It runs on the Tensor chip, includes many of the same Pixel features like Real Tone for photography and Hold for Me for phone calls and takes crisp and colorful photos for a phone of its price. This is especially true when it gets discounted to $299, which it often is, making it the best phone for under $300 as long as it’s on sale.
Best phones under $500
Google’s budget phone took a leap forward in 2023 with the Pixel 7A, which offers many of the same benefits as the Pixel 7 but at a cheaper price. Like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7A runs on Google’s Tensor G2 processor, meaning it has many of the same photo editing and language translation features as its pricier sibling. The Pixel 7A’s 64-megapixel camera also takes excellent photos that rival the Pixel 7’s in quality.
While we still like the Pixel 7, the Pixel 7A’s lower price makes it a better deal for most people. Only opt for the Pixel 7 if you really want a slightly larger screen and are willing to pay the extra $100 for it. Otherwise, the main differences between the Pixel 7 and 7A come down to the former’s more durable build, slightly faster charging and its ability to wirelessly charge compatible accessories. The Pixel 7 also has a larger camera sensor that’s more sensitive to light, according to Google, but CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco didn’t notice much of a difference.
The Pixel 6A is still available, and at its permanently discounted price of $349, it still has a lot to offer. CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco said in her Pixel 6A review that the phone includes many of the Pixel 6’s best features, and that remains the case even as the Pixel 7A hits the market at $499.
The phone is slightly smaller than the Pixel 6, featuring a 6.1-inch OLED display and a refresh rate of 60Hz. And while it has a 12.2-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, photos taken look quite good using Google’s photo processing software. Pictures can benefit from its Real Tone skin tone feature, Face Unblur, Night Sight for darker photography and the Magic Eraser for removing unwanted elements from a photo.
The Samsung Galaxy A53 includes many of the best features seen in the Galaxy S22 line, with a few tradeoffs to hit that lower price. The phone includes a 6.5-inch AMOLED screen with a 2,400×1,080-pixel resolution, 5G support and a long-lasting 5,000-mAh battery. The phone also comes with a 64-megapixel main camera, 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, 5-megapixel macro camera and 5-megapixel depth camera.
But a particular high point for this phone is Samsung’s pledge to provide four years of software support, in addition to shipping with Android 12 with Samsung’s One UI 4.1. However, Samsung just announced a new version of this phone, called the Galaxy A54 5G, which we’re looking forward to testing soon.
The $429 iPhone SE is a mix of an older design with the latest smartphone features, including Apple’s A15 Bionic chip and 5G support. It’s also one of the few phones on the market that includes a smaller, 4.7-inch screen.
It’s that throwback design, which continues the general shape that Apple has used since 2014, that could be what you love or dislike most about this phone. If you want a larger iPhone in this price range, you can also consider the iPhone 11, and get a bigger screen and Face ID. But that phone does not include 5G connectivity.
The phone also only includes one 12-megapixel main camera, which does not support night mode. Most other phones in this roundup include multiple cameras and features like night mode, making the omission noticeable. However, photos make up for this by including the Deep Fusion photo-processing technique to enhance medium-to-low light photos, and Smart HDR4 processing for improving color and contrast. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland did find that video shot in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second is particularly good on the iPhone SE, but it will not include the Cinematic Mode seen on the iPhone 13.
The $500 Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) is one of the best stylus-equipped phones you can get right now, especially for the price. You get Android 12, 5G connectivity, a large 6.8-inch screen and a spacious 256GB of storage. Unfortunately, the phone is only promised one software update and three years of security updates, which is a much shorter timeline than the four years promised by Samsung for the Galaxy A53.
Yet if you want a stylus-equipped phone, the next step-up option is the substantially more expensive Galaxy S22 Ultra at $1,200.
With the launch of the iPhone 14 series, Apple discontinued the $500 iPhone 11, but it’s still widely available. It might be a few generations old, but this phone is still more than capable, handling gaming well and equipped with two superb rear cameras. It is missing 5G support, which is increasingly improving as wireless carriers invest in the network, but the phone will work fine on LTE and Wi-Fi. The iPhone 11 also does not support MagSafe accessories, which were introduced alongside the iPhone 12.
Just note that some places may be selling refurbished versions of the phone since Apple itself is no longer selling new iPhone 11 models. Best Buy does not carry any unlocked models, so you’ll have to sign up for a service plan through either AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint.
The Nothing Phone 1 is technically available in the US for $299, but only through a beta program that is selling an international model with limited US carrier compatibility. While the company does plan to officially launch a future phone for the North American market, this phone is still worth a look in countries where it’s available. It offers a striking design and decent specs for the money, even at its higher £399 UK price (which converts to roughly AU$700).
The Nothing Phone 1 is adorned with LED strips on the back, each of which is called a «glyph,» that light up for alerts and notifications. That design is accompanied by two 50-megapixel cameras: a wide angle and an ultrawide. Around the front is a 6.55-inch 120Hz display with a 2,400-by-1,080-pixel resolution and a 16-megapixel selfie camera. The phone runs on a Snapdragon 778G Plus chip, with models that start with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage.
All that amounts to a phone that compares well within the price range, especially given its camera quality and looks.
How we test phones
Every phone on this list has been thoroughly tested by CNET’s expert reviews team. We actually use the phone, test the features, play games and take photos. We assess any marketing promises that a company makes about its phones. And if we find something we don’t like, be it battery life or build quality, we tell you all about it.
We examine every aspect of a phone during testing:
- Display
- Design and feel
- Processor performance
- Battery life
- Camera quality
- Features
We test all of a phone’s cameras (both front and back) in a variety of conditions: from outdoors under sunlight to dimmer indoor locales and night time scenes (for any available night modes). We also compare our findings against similarly priced models. We have a series of real world battery tests to see how long a phone lasts under everyday use.
We take into account additional phone features like 5G, fingerprint and face readers, styluses, fast charging, foldable displays and other useful extras. And we, of course, weigh all of our experiences and testing against the price so you know whether a phone represents good value or not.
Read more: How we test phones
Phones under $500 comparison
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G vs. Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G vs. Google Pixel 6A vs. Apple iPhone SE (2022) vs. Nothing Phone 1 vs. Apple iPhone 11
| Samsung Galaxy A53 5G | Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G (2022) | Google Pixel 6A | Apple iPhone SE (2022) | Nothing Phone 1 | iPhone 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display size, resolution | 6.5-inch AMOLED (2,400×1,080 pixels); 120 Hz | 6.8-inch LTPS LCD FHD+; 2,460 x1,080 pixels; 120 Hz | 6.1-inch OLED; (1080 x 2400); 60Hz | 4.7-inch LCD; (1,334×750 pixels); 60 Hz | 6.55-inch OLED display,2,400 x1080 pixels; | 6.1-inch LCD Liquid Retina; 1,792×828 pixels |
| Pixel density | 405ppi | TBD | 429 ppi | 326ppi | 402ppi | 326ppi |
| Dimensions (inches) | 6.28 x 2.94 x 0.32 in. | 6.65 x 2.98 x 0.37 in. | 6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 in. | 5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in. | 5.94×2.98×0.33 in. | |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 159.6 x 74.8 x 8.1 mm | 168.9 x 75.8 x 9.3 mm | 152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mm | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 159.2 x 75.8 x 8.3 mm | 150.9×75.7×8.3 mm |
| Weight (ounces, grams) | 6.67 oz.; 189g | 7.58 oz.; 215 g | 6.3 oz.; 178g | 5.09 oz.; 144g | 193.5g | 6.84 oz.; 194g |
| Mobile software | Android 12 | Android 12 | Android 12 | iOS 15 | Android 13 | iOS 13 |
| Camera | 64-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide), 5-megapixel (macro), 5-megapixel (depth) | 50-megapixel (wide), 8-megapixel (ultrawide/macro), 2-megapixel (depth) | 12.2-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel ultra wide) | 12-megapixel (wide) | 50-megapixel (main), 50-megapixel (ultra-wide) | 12-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultra-wide) |
| Front-facing camera | 32-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 8-megapixel | 7-megapixel | 16-megapixel | 12-megapixel with Face ID |
| Video capture | 4K | 1,080p | 4K | 4K | 4K at 60fps | 4K |
| Processor | Exynos 1280 | Snapdragon 695 5G | Google Tensor | Apple A15 Bionic | Snapdragon 778G+ | Apple A13 Bionic |
| RAM/Storage | 6GB/128GB | 8GB/256GB | 6GB RAM/128GB storage | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB | 8GB + 128GB, 8GB + 256 GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB |
| Expandable storage | Up to 1TB | Up to 1TB | None | NA | None | None |
| Battery/Charger | 5,000 mAh (charger not included, does not support wireless charging) | 5,000 mAh (10W wired charger included) | 4,410 mAh capacity; 18-watt fast charging (adapter sold separately) | Battery NA (20W wired charging — charger not included), 7.5W wireless charging) | 4,500 mAh (33W wired charging, 15W wireless charging, 5W reverse charging) | Not disclosed, but Apple claims it will last 1 hour longer than iPhone XR |
| Fingerprint sensor | In-display | Side | Under display | Home button | In-display | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C | USB-C | USB C | Lightning | USB-C | Lightning |
| Headphone jack | None | Yes | None | None | None | No |
| Special features | 5G-enabled; IP67 rating; supports 25W wired fast charging, Samsung Pay | 5G-enabled; OIS for main camera; NFC for Google Pay; | 5G-enabled, 18W fast charging, Wi-Fi 6E, security updates for 5 years, Android OS updates for 3 years, dual SIM, IP67 water resistance | 5G-enabled; supports 25W wired fast charging; Water resistant (IP67); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging | 5G, IP53, Three years of Android updates, Dual Sim, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate | Water resistant (IP68); dual-SIM capabilities (nano-SIM and e-SIM); wireless charging |
| Price off-contract (USD) | $450 | $500 | $449 | $399 (64GB), $449 (128GB), $549 (256GB) | N/A | $499 |
| Price (GBP) | £399 | NA but converts to £405 | £399 | £419 (64GB), £469 (128GB), £569 (256GB) | £399 | £489 |
| Price (AUD) | AU$699 | NA but converts to AU$715 | A$749 | AU$749 (64GB), AU$829 (128GB), AU$999 (256GB) | N/A | AU$849 |
Phones under $500 FAQs
Are cheaper phones worth it?
For many people, a phone that costs less than $500 will likely have everything you need for communication, photography and entertainment. In some cases, the phones even provide some of the latest features seen on higher-end phones like smooth 120Hz refresh rates and multiple cameras.
However, you should be aware of — and OK with — the limitations a phone may have compared to its more expensive counterparts. For instance, if you want an iPhone with a bigger screen than the iPhone SE and iPhone 11’s screens, your next best option is the $899 iPhone 14 Plus. That’s far outside the $500 price range, but you also get additional benefits like an improved camera.
On the other hand, if you want a phone with a bigger screen and if running Android is fine, you’ll have plenty of options that are under $500.
Can you get a good camera on a cheaper phone?
Yes, you can find several cheaper phones that take great photos, whether it’s through the camera available on the device, photo processing software on the phone or — is most often the case — a combination of both.
Apple’s iPhone SE includes the A15 Bionic chip, which supports Smart HDR4 processing and Apple’s Deep Fusion processing. Smart HDR4 helps with improving color and contrast, while the Deep Fusion processing helps with medium- to low-light environments. CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland put together a sampling of photos and videos taken on the phone during his review, which can be watched on the CNET Highlights YouTube channel. However, the iPhone SE also has only one 12-megapixel camera, and that camera does not support night photography.
Over on the Android side, the Google Pixel 6A includes the company’s Tensor chip, which brings photography features like Real Tone for capturing more accurate skin tones, Face Unblur for fixing a person’s face and Magic Eraser for removing unwanted objects. But it has a 12-megapixel main camera paired up with a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, which takes good photos but is a clear step down from the 50-megapixel main camera seen on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7.
Samsung’s Galaxy A53 is an interesting case: Iit has a main 64-megapixel camera alongside a 12-megapixel ultrawide, 5-megapixel macro camera and 5-megapixel depth camera. While that’s more megapixels than the 50-megapixel main camera on the Galaxy S22, the image detail is a step down with the S22 able to produce photos with better contrast and sharpness.
What makes these phones cheaper?
Each company takes a different approach toward cheaper phones.
The iPhone SE, for example, has a recent Apple processor packed inside an otherwise dated phone design. Google’s Pixel 6A likewise includes the new Tensor processor, but uses an older 12.2-megapixel main camera instead of the 50-megapixel main camera found on the $599 Pixel 6.
Samsung’s Galaxy A53 takes the opposite approach. It includes a processor that’s slower than the Galaxy S22’s but includes other modern features like a screen with a high refresh rate.
More phone advice
- Best Android Phone for 2023
- Best MagSafe Accessories for the iPhone
- Best Prepaid Phones for 2023
- Samsung’s Galaxy Phones: Which Should You Buy?
- SIM Card Swap Fraud: What It Is and How to Prevent It
- Best Cheap Phones Under $200: Top Picks and New Budget Phones
- Best iPhone Fast Charger for 2023
- Best iPhone for 2023: Which of Apple’s 8 Phones is Right for You?
Technologies
Today’s Wordle Hints, Answer and Help for Feb. 1, #1688
Here are hints and the answer for today’s Wordle for Sunday, Feb. 1, No. 1,688.
Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.
Today’s Wordle puzzle is a tough one, with some unusual letters. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.
Read more: New Study Reveals Wordle’s Top 10 Toughest Words of 2025
Today’s Wordle hints
Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.
Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats
Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.
Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels
Today’s Wordle answer has one vowel and one sometimes vowel.
Wordle hint No. 3: First letter
Today’s Wordle answer begins with S.
Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter
Today’s Wordle answer ends with Y.
Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning
Today’s Wordle answer means full of prickles.
TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER
Today’s Wordle answer is SPINY.
Yesterday’s Wordle answer
Yesterday’s Wordle answer, Jan. 31, No. 1,687, was ALLOT.
Recent Wordle answers
Jan. 27, No. 1,683: DUSKY
Jan. 28, No. 1,684: CRUEL
Jan. 29, No. 1,685: FLAKY
Jan. 30, No. 1,686: JUMBO
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Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Feb. 1 #700
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Sunday, Feb. 1, No. 700.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a bit of a challenge. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, and a couple are kind of long, so if you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: It’s a gift.
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: For me, really?
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- BONE, GONE, BONNET, NOTE, PRIDE, RING, TING, SENT, RENT, WARD, DRAW, SEEN, SEER, TORE, RANT, TRYING, DONATE, SIRE
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- AWARD, BONUS, GRANT, PRESENT, DONATION, OFFERING
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is GENEROSITY. To find it, start with the G that’s three letters to the right on the top row, and wind down.
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Technologies
I Tested the New AirTag and Found That Apple More Than Doubled Its Range
Review: Apple’s «AirTag 2» gets better at its job. The familiar white and chrome disc is a little louder, higher-pitched and easier to find.
While nearly everyone I know has been freezing and shoveling snow, I spent the past few days under San Francisco’s sunny skies, hiding and finding Apple’s new AirTag. I’m happy to report that it succeeded at its main job: I was able to locate it every time. The second-generation Bluetooth tracker looks and acts identical to the original AirTag, which debuted in 2021, but internal upgrades make it even easier to find.
Over the past five years, the AirTag has become a popular way to track your luggage, keys, car, bike, pets (though you really shouldn’t clip one to Mr. Cupcakes) and nearly anything else you can attach the tiny white and silver disc to. The AirTag also sparked a conversation about privacy, specifically around Apple’s built-in safeguards that prevent it from being used to track someone unwillingly. Apple later expanded those features to protect both iPhone and Android phone owners.
Do we really need a new AirTag? No. But its new features are nice.
This isn’t your typical yearly tech upgrade, like a new phone with a faster processor. The first AirTag is already great. Yeah, it has shortcomings, like not having a hole for a key ring, which forces you to buy a holder to attach it to things. But its best feature is Apple’s Find My network, an encrypted, invisible service connecting over 1 billion devices, including iPhones, Macs and trackers. The AirTag is your key to the Find My kingdom.
In my time testing the second-gen AirTag, I discovered that the latest iteration is also great. It has shortcomings like that missing key ring hole, but the Find My network is still the star. Apple improved the tracker’s ability to be found. The chime is higher-pitched and louder.
When trying to locate it in the Find My app, Precision Finding picked up the new AirTag over twice as far away as it did the old AirTag. The AirTag 2, as we’ve nicknamed it, also supports Precision Finding on my Apple Watch, though setting it up isn’t straightforward.
The second-gen AirTag is on sale now: $29 for one and $99 for a four-pack. And just like the OG version, if you order online directly from Apple, you can get it engraved.
AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2
When I first unboxed the second-gen AirTag, I was surprised to see that it had the same bulbous Mento design as the original. This allows the new AirTag to be used with the gazillion accessories people already have. But there are differences. The white shell’s resin is now made of 85% recycled plastic. I’m curious to see whether the white casing scuffs as easily as the original.
(That fine print etched on the back? That’s how you can identify a second-gen AirTag from an original: The new one has its text printed in ALL CAPS — except «AirTag,» because Apple presumably wants to keep the intercap.)
If you have the original AirTag, there’s no reason to get rid of it and buy the new version. I can see swapping out an existing AirTag with a second-gen one if you frequently use Precision Finding for important items like keys and everyday bags — and especially if you want to access that feature on your Apple Watch.
If you can choose between the second-gen AirTag and the first-gen model at a discount, I’d go with the discounted original for most items. The first AirTag model does nearly everything the new one can do.
The new AirTag can be found farther away
The new tracker has upgraded Bluetooth connectivity, making it more discoverable to nearby iPhones, which can piggyback its location information anonymously back to its owner. A second-generation Ultra Wideband chip gives the new AirTag a longer range for Precision Finding.
CNET’s Social Media Producer Faith Chihil and I made the trek to Salesforce Park, a green space atop a San Francisco bus station, to run an AirTag test. I gave Faith my old AirTag that I use for traveling, aptly named Patrick’s Luggage, and the new one, named New AirTag. I then walked a few hundred feet away and opened the Find My app on my iPhone 17 Pro Max. I looked for the New AirTag first. I hit the Find button and then got to walking. My iPhone started picking it up 110 feet away. The green «you’re going the right way» screen with an arrow appeared 85 feet away from the new AirTag.
I repeated the test with the Patrick’s Luggage AirTag, and my iPhone started picking it up 42 feet away, and the green screen appeared 37 feet away. In this simple test, the second-gen AirTag was findable at over twice the distance away as my first-gen Apple tracker.
I should note that there are a lot of factors that come into play when trying to find your AirTag. Our range testing was done around lunchtime, so there were a lot of people with iPhones walking by to pick up the tag’s initial location so that my phone could use the Find My network to zero in on it. Also, we were outdoors along a walking path, so we didn’t have walls, rugs or furniture to contend with for the Precision Finding.
The new AirTag supports Precision Finding on the Apple Watch
The second-gen Ultra Wideband chip on the new AirTag also supports Precision Finding for the first time on certain Apple Watch models running WatchOS 26.2.1 or later:
- Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch Series 10
- Apple Watch Series 11
- Apple Watch Ultra 2
- Apple Watch Ultra 3
But getting it set up isn’t straightforward.
To use Precision Finding on the iPhone, you go to the Items tab in the Find My app and select your AirTag. But when I went to the Find Items app on the watch, I could select the new AirTag, but there wasn’t a Precision Finding option.
A quick online search later, I found an Apple Support page that explained how the Apple Watch uses the Control Center to do it. I had to add a new Find Items button, called Find AirTag, to the Control Center and then tap it to put my watch into Precision Finding mode. Indoors, it found my AirTag from 65 feet away. It might go farther, but our office isn’t that big.
My Apple Watch doesn’t have cellular data, so when I was indoors on Wi-Fi, it worked fantastic. When I was outdoors, connected to my iPhone, it worked mostly fine, but at times it took longer to update my AirTag’s location.
The new AirTag is louder
If you’ve ever used the AirTag’s Play Sound feature through the iPhone’s Find My app, you know that Apple «I’m over here» chime. The new AirTag plays the same tune but is higher-pitched and louder, making it easier to find.
I tested the second-gen AirTag’s chime against the first one using an iPhone audio meter app (not the most scientific, but I wanted to visualize the difference). The original AirTag’s chime peaked at 67.3 dBA, while the new AirTag’s hit 77.5 dBA, more than twice as loud as the old model (remember, decibels are logarithmic).
The new AirTag final thoughts
When I set out to test the AirTag, I was concerned there wouldn’t be much to talk about. But after my time with it, I’ve discovered a lot to share. Namely, I’m a fan. I was already a fan of the first one, and that’s the key. Apple kept all the best aspects of the original AirTag while adding slight improvements. There was no dramatic redesign or price increase. It’s just the familiar white and chrome disc that is a little louder, higher-pitched and easier to find from quite a bit farther away.
I know some people hoped Apple would launch a credit card-style AirTag or one in different colors. It seems that Apple is more than happy to have other companies do that and participate in its Works with Apple Find My program. And I’m OK with that, too.
