I’m replacing the trackers for these four items with Apple’s “AirTags 2”.

When Apple released 2nd generation AirTag trackersI was intrigued by the new features, but mostly I didn’t ignore the news. The AirTags I use regularly work well, so why upgrade?

It was partly financial: first-generation markers were still available for a long time $60 for a four-packa savings of 40% off its regular price of $99, as retailers and Apple review their inventories. New second generation tags are being sold for this purpose Retail price $99Or $29 for a single AirTag.

Mostly, I wondered if the improvements were worth replacing perfectly good trackers with new ones. After reading CNET Content Director Patrick Holland’s experience Testing second generation featuresI decided that the extended range, louder speaker, and ability to locate tags with my Apple Watch were worth the cost. I already relied on my old AirTags enough that I knew they would be a solid investment.

Since AirTags come in sets of four, I needed to know which four items were worth the AirTag 2 upgrade. I prioritized the things I reach for most days — which may be different for you. If you travel a lot, for example, a carry-on might be at the top of your list.

key ring

I like the idea of ​​living in a future where I can unlock my house and car using an Apple Watch or iPhone, but that’s not quite true for me The future yet. My old house couldn’t care less about perfectly lined up door frames, and my car only wishes it had “new” technology like a backup camera.

My keys have to go with me everywhere. Being able to use Precision Finding on my iPhone or Apple Watch means I can access them directly, thanks to the second-generation ultra-wideband chip inside the AirTag. And because the tags are the same size and shape as previous versions, I didn’t need to buy a new keychain case.

Main bag or wallet

The second AirTag went straight into my everyday bag. It carries my laptop, sometimes a second smartphone for testing and at least one camera, depending on where I go (mostly a coffee shop).

If you carry a wallet or other companion bag that holds your wallet or credit cards, putting an AirTag inside is a no-brainer.

Glasses case

This one is less common. A few years ago, I realized I was better off with two sets of glasses: a pair with progressive lenses for most situations, and a second pair with a monovision prescription when I’m working at the computer. Because of this, my glasses case is now with me everywhere. I’ve found myself driving to the grocery store with computer glasses on, which isn’t exactly fun (or safe).

So, my third new AirTag went into the glasses case. It’s not a perfect fit – the tag is mainly there with an unused pair of glasses, but I also keep a lens cleaning cloth in there so it doesn’t bounce around as much. You can buy cases that have AirTag slots, and Satechi will create a case with them All-in-one Apple Find My Electronics device Sounds interesting, but so far the inexpensive solution is working.

Camera bag

When I go out for a photo shoot or a scenic weekend getaway, I carry more camera gear with me – expensive gear that I definitely don’t want to lose. So, my new fourth AirTag went straight into my camera bag (a.k.a.). Explore Shimoda v2).

For this reason, the additional Bluetooth range and Precision Finding are especially useful. If I go out to shoot a sunrise, I may not move my entire bag to every location I set up to take photos. I’m not going away – I’m not crazy. But sometimes it’s not always easy to see the cyst in tall grass or among rocks.

Honorable mentions

My main travel spinner bag has a first-generation AirTag, and if I travel a lot, I’ll replace it with the new model. As it stands, the upgrade features don’t give me much of an advantage over what I have, especially since there are more Airports have now been established To detect AirTags when the bag is deep in the recesses of baggage handling systems.

A wallet is also a good candidate, because it holds your driver’s license, credit cards, and cash. However, the AirTag is too bulging to fit in my traditional leather wallet, so it’s not a convenient fit. So, I would look to something like Peak Design Lighthouse finder card or AirCard Pro from LululookBoth are closer in shape and thickness to a credit card.

Finally, a good AirTag target is a favorite coat or jacket pocket. (I’m sure my mom wished AirTags existed when I was in elementary school and lost jackets on a fairly regular basis.)

In fact, since the second-generation AirTags replaced four of the first-generation ones, which still work well, I put two of them in coats so I wouldn’t leave them behind at a café or restaurant. Now I need to find places for the other two.