ConsFirst / Bluetooth item trackers / Compare
Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) vs Motorola Moto Tag
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on finding range & network, precision finding & ring, battery, app & alerts.
The biggest complaint about the Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) is iphone only, and it can't find your phone; for the Motorola Moto Tag it's quiet ringer. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) | Motorola Moto Tag | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in bluetooth item trackers | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$ |
| Type | Apple Find My | Google Find Hub |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | 8% | 22% |
| Overall score | 4.4 | 3.5 |
| Finding range & network | 5.0 | 4.0 |
| Precision finding & ring | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Battery | 4.0 | 3.5 |
| App & alerts | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Size & durability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $25 · $$ $25–40 · $$$ over $40 (per tag). Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Apple AirTag (2nd Generation)
- iPhone only, and it can't find your phone
PCMag lists no Android support and no way to use it to find your phone. Wirecutter adds that the extended Precision Finding range needs an iPhone 15 or later; older iPhones get the original AirTag's range. Amazon's summary says connectivity is mixed, with some owners saying it won't pair with their iPhone.
- Needs an accessory to attach
There's no key-ring hole or adhesive. Wirecutter says Apple's holders cost $13 to $65 (cheaper third-party ones exist), and PCMag lists this as a con.
- Coin battery and easy-to-miss low-battery warnings
Tom's Guide's only con is the disposable CR2032 battery, and its reviewer kept missing Find My's low-battery notifications. Amazon's summary says battery life gets mixed reviews, and some owners say it isn't worth the price.
Motorola Moto Tag
- Quiet ringer
Wirecutter couldn't hear it on a windy day until it was about 30 feet away. Amazon's summary says owners find it not very loud.
- Unreliable for some owners
Amazon's summary reports mixed accuracy, connections that don't always work, frequent location-update failures and battery failures. Wirecutter, by contrast, got several updates a day when it shipped the tag across the country.
- Few phones use its precision finding; needs a holder
Wirecutter says the list of Android phones with ultra-wideband is short. How-To Geek notes no way to attach it without an accessory and two apps needed for all features.
Who should pick which
Pick the Apple AirTag (2nd Generation) if
iPhone owners tracking keys, bags and luggage
Pinpointing a lost item nearby with on-screen arrows
Sharing a tracked item with family or an airline
Skip it if: You or your family use Android phones; You want a key-ring hole without buying a holder; You want to press the tag to ring your phone
Pick the Motorola Moto Tag if
Android phone owners (any brand)
Luggage and bags that travel
Pressing the tag to ring a lost phone
Skip it if: You use an iPhone; You need a loud alarm in noisy places; You'd rather get the newer Moto Tag 2 (not yet tested by Wirecutter)
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