Particle.news
Download on the App Store

iFixit Teardown Finds AirTag 2’s Louder Speaker Can Still Be Silenced Without Disabling Tracking

The finding shows a muted tag still pairs with iPhone devices, challenging the impact of Apple’s louder alert.

Overview

  • iFixit cut the two wires feeding the AirTag 2 speaker and the device continued to pair with an iPhone and report its location.
  • The teardown says the speaker can be disabled non‑destructively with a soldering iron by removing the fine leads from the coil.
  • Apple promoted a roughly 50% louder chime and new anti‑tracking measures such as cross‑platform alerts and frequently changing Bluetooth identifiers.
  • Inside, iFixit identified an upgraded Nordic Semiconductor SoC plus Apple’s U2 Ultra Wideband chip that enables extended Precision Finding on iPhone 15 or newer.
  • The tracker retains the user‑replaceable CR2032 battery and unchanged exterior dimensions, though opening the housing risks cosmetic damage due to fragile clips.