Apple has announced the second generation of its popular item tracker, featuring extended range, louder speakers, and improved precision finding. Here’s all you need to know about the new AirTags 2.

The same look and design

AirTag (2nd generation) looks the same as its predecessor and still comes in just one color (white). It has the same design and a user-removable back cover. Your existing AirTag keyrings, covers, and accessories should fit the new model.

Slightly heavier

The 2nd iteration is every so slightly heavier by 7.2%. The old AirTag weighed 11 grams, while the new one comes in at 11.8 grams.

New Ultrawide band chip

AirTag 2 has the improved second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (U2). This is the same spatial awareness chip that’s found in iPhone 15 and later (except iPhone 16e), Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later.

Longer range

Having the improved U2 chip in place of the U1 chip boosts the Precision Finding range of these new AirTags by 1.5 times. This means you’ll have a better experience, seeing the exact distance and direction to go when looking for your missing item.

Note:

• You can use your iPhone 15 or newer (except 16e) to get better signals when looking for your AirTag 2nd generation around you.
• If you have an iPhone 11 to iPhone 14 and iPhone 16e, you’ll be limited to the same Precision Finding range as AirTag 1st generation. This is because these iPhone models have the U1 chip with lessor range.

Precision Finding now on Apple Watch

You can use Precision Finding on Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later to locate AirTags 2. In the case of AirTags 1, Precision Finding was only available on iPhone.

Louder speaker

Apple claims that the new AirTag 2nd-generation speakers are 50% louder. This ensures you can find your missing item more easily, and a thief will now have to do extra work to suppress the louder noise.

A different chime

AirTags 2 play a different sound when you locate it with the Find My app. This new chime (listen here) appears to be more ear-piercing, so you can find your missing keys or wallet even if it’s under a big pile of clothes or hiding under the cushions.

Improved Bluetooth

AirTags use Bluetooth to communicate with other Find My network devices, and the 2nd-generation tracker has an upgraded Bluetooth chip with better range, ensuring these new AirTags can relay signals to even far-off iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

A new reset process

You now need to remove the battery, wait for 5 seconds, reinsert the battery, and repeat this process 4 times to reset your AirTags 2nd generation. In comparison, you can reset the 1st-generation AirTag by removing the battery once.

Same splash, water, and dust resistance

AirTags 2 have the same IP67 water and dust resistance as AirTag 1. It can theoretically stay submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.

Still uses the same battery

The new version continues to use the same CR2032 coin cell battery, which Apple claims can last for more than a year.

Has all the functions from the previous generation

AirTags 2 retain all features of its predecessor, like location tracking, Lost Mode, sharing with family and friends, sharing its location with airlines to help track your missing bag, and more.

Same price

A single AirTag 2 costs $29 (U.S.), while the four-pack costs $99 (U.S.). This is the same as the previous generation. But note that in some countries, such as India, the price of this new model is slightly higher than AirTag 1.

You can still make it personal by engraving

You can get your AirTags 2 engraved with emoji or text when you order from Apple’s official website or Apple Store app (not in physical stores).

An easy way to differentiate between the AirTags 1st and 2nd generations

Since the size and looks of both generations are the same, and a seven percent weight difference is impossible to notice, how do you know which AirTags are the new model and which ones are old? Thankfully, there’s an easy way to know this.

Unlike AirTag 1, the text on the back of AirTag 2 is all UPPERCASE (except for the word ‘AirTag’ itself). Plus, the text on both is also different, as shown in the image below.

Will you be buying the new AirTags? And in case you decide to, make sure your iPhone or iPad is updated to iOS 26 or iPadOS 26.

Also, check out:

• 14 tips to make the most of your AirTags
• What to do if you lost your AirTag

Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2026/01/28/about-airtags-2/

Learn about the new Apple Creator Studio bundle that gives you access to several premium, professional Apple apps in a single subscription.

What is Apple’s new Creator Studio subscription?

Apple offers professional-grade creative apps like Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage, which require a one-time purchase.

Apple’s new Creator Studio subscription is a step toward simplification, bringing all these professional paid apps under a single monthly or yearly subscription. This is much like the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, which offers a host of services for video editing, image editing, and more under one bundle.

Instead of having to buy these premium Apple apps separately for a significant amount (like $300 for Final Cut Pro or $200 for Logic Pro), you now have an additional option to get a subscription to these apps on a monthly ($12.99) or yearly ($129) basis.

What’s included in Apple Creator Studio subscription?

A subscription to Apple Creator Studio gives you access to the following:

• Final Cut Pro (professional video editing)
• Logic Pro (professional music production)
• Motion (design titles, transitions, and effects in 2D, 3D, and 360° for Final Cut Pro)
• Compressor (offers additional encoding and export options for Final Cut Pro projects)
• MainStage (sound tool for live performance)
• Pixelmator Pro (photo editing app)
• Freeform (work board app)
• Keynote (presentation tool, which is an alternative to Microsoft PowerPoint)
• Pages (document creation app like Microsoft Word)
• Numbers (spreadsheet application, similar to Microsoft Excel)

Important: Freeform, Keynote, Pages, and Numbers are available for free to all Apple users. The new Creative Studio subscription will add extra features to these apps (mentioned below).

How much do you save with a Creator Studio subscription?

Here are the one-time US purchase prices of all Apple professional apps on Mac that are part of the new Creator Studio subscription:

• Final Cut Pro – $299.99
• Logic Pro – $199.99
• Motion – $49.99
• Compressor – $49.99
• MainStage – $29.99
• Pixelmator Pro – $49.99
• Freeform – Free
• iWork apps (Keynote, Pages, Numbers) – Free

If we add all the amounts, assuming you use all these apps, the total one-time purchase is $679.94. For this amount, you can subscribe to Creator Studio for a little more than 5 years (price below).

How much does it cost?

Apple Creator Studio has monthly and yearly subscription options costing the following:

• Standard monthly subscription: $12.99 per month
• Standard annual subscription: $129 per year
• Educator and student monthly subscription: $2.99 per month
• Educator and student annual subscription: $29.99 per year

How to get Apple Creator Studio for free?

There are three ways to get an Apple Creator Studio subscription for free:

• A one-month free trial is included before your subscription starts.
• A three-month free trial is given on a new Mac or iPad purchase, provided you or a family member in your Family Sharing has not already availed the free trial.
• Get it for free via Family Sharing if a family member has subscribed to it.

Does Apple Creator Studio support Family Sharing?

Yes. You can share your standard monthly or yearly Creator Studio subscription with up to five other family members (for a total of six members). Note that student and educator subscriptions are for individual use, and they can’t be shared with family members.

Which devices are Creator Studio apps available on?

Apple Creator Studio is available as a universal purchase, meaning one subscription works on all your Mac, iPad, and iPhone. However, not all apps are available for all platforms; here’s the list:

• Final Cut Pro: Mac and iPad
• Logic Pro: Mac and iPad
• Motion: Mac
• Compressor: Mac
• MainStage: Mac
• Pixelmator Pro: Mac and coming to iPad (iPhone app won’t get future updates)
• Freeform: Mac, iPad, and iPhone
• iWork apps (Keynote, Pages, Numbers): Mac, iPad, and iPhone

What if you have already purchased Final Cut Pro and other apps?

Apple has made it clear that if you have already purchased any of the above premium apps, they will continue to work and also receive future updates.

However, access to some of the premium/intelligent/AI content in Final Cut Pro and Pixelmator Pro will only be available to Apple Creator Studio subscribers.

Note that MainStage and Logic Pro will have all the same features in both Creator Studio subscription and one-time-purchase versions.

The icons for one-time-purchased applications and the same apps when subscribed via the Creator Studio subscription will be different, so you can distinguish between them if you have both (see the image below).

Can you still buy Apple’s professional apps with a one-time purchase?

Yes. You can still buy Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Motion, Compressor, MainStage, and Pixelmator Pro by paying their one-time price.

What about free iWork apps; will they become paid?

Keynote, Pages, and Numbers will remain free and continue to be preinstalled on all new iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices. These apps will also receive new updates as usual.

What premium content will be available in iWork apps?

With an Apple Creator Studio subscription, you’ll get access to the Content Hub that has high-quality, royalty-free photos, graphics, and illustrations. The subscription also provides premium templates and new AI features in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.

Premium content in Freeform will be added sometime later in 2026.

What happens to your content if you cancel your subscription?

Even if you cancel your Apple Creator Studio subscription, all your projects will be yours, along with any media in them that you have used from the Content Hub.

However, you’ll need a subscription or paid version of the app to open and edit projects in Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, and Pixelmator Pro. You can also copy or share your projects to any other Mac that has a subscription or paid version and work there.

Documents created in Keynote, Pages, Numbers, and Freeform with an active subscription can be opened and edited in the free version even if you don’t have a subscription. But edits and usage of paid features won’t be possible.

When will it become available?

Apple Creator Studio subscription will become available from 28th January 2026.

Are there any restrictions?

Yes. Some features require the latest version of macOS Tahoe 26, iPadOS 26, and iOS 26. Additionally, some of them are only available on newer hardware, usually a Mac or iPad with an Apple silicon chip. You can see all the terms and conditions at the bottom of Apple’s website.

What do you think of this new subscription bundle?

Also, check out:

• 11 tips to manage your app subscriptions and save money
• 14 tips to save money on a streaming service

Source link: https://www.idownloadblog.com/2026/01/27/apple-creator-studio/