Google Pixel Tag vs Apple AirTag (2nd generation)
Your phone makes the choice: Android owners get the Pixel Tag, iPhone owners get the AirTag. The Pixel Tag is the thinner one and fits in a wallet; the AirTag is louder and often cheaper on Amazon.
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Quick answer
Choose Google Pixel Tag ($29.99) if you use an Android phone with Bluetooth 6.0 or you want a flat tag that slips into a wallet. Choose Apple AirTag (2nd generation) ($29) if you use an iPhone, you want the louder speaker or you want Precision Finding on Apple Watch.
Last updated Prices checked Nov 2026
Check Google Pixel Tag price (opens in a new tab)Check Apple AirTag (2nd generation) price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Google Pixel Tag | Apple AirTag (2nd generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Nov 11, 2026) | $29.99 one tag (Google Store); 4-pack $99 per Google | $29 one / $99 4-pack (Apple); $23 one / $69.99 4-pack sold by Amazon |
| Works with | Android 9 or later (Google); Android Authority says Bluetooth 6.0 is also required | iPhone or iPad on iOS/iPadOS 26 or later |
| Network | Google Find Hub | Apple Find My |
| Precision finding | Ultra Wideband + Bluetooth Channel Sounding | Second-gen Ultra Wideband; up to 1.5x range vs 1st gen with iPhone Air or iPhone 15 or later (not iPhone 16e or 17e) |
| Size | 1.1 × 1.8 × 0.2 in (flat) | 1.26 in (31.9 mm) round × 0.31 in (8.0 mm) thick |
If you carry an Android phone, buy the Google Pixel Tag; at about $30 (checked Nov 2026) it's Google's first Find Hub tracker, went on sale Nov 11, 2026 and is thin enough for a wallet. If you carry an iPhone, buy the AirTag (2nd generation): it uses Apple's Find My network, has a speaker Apple says is 50% louder than the original and is frequently discounted at Amazon. Neither tag works as a full tracker with the other company's phone. For Samsung's tag and other options, see our best Bluetooth trackers.
Short answer: pick the Pixel Tag if you use Android 9 or later and want a slim 0.2-inch tag with UWB precision finding and left-behind alerts. Pick the AirTag (2nd generation) if you use an iPhone; it has a second-generation UWB chip with up to 1.5x the original's Precision Finding range. Both are IP67 and run about a year on a replaceable CR2032 coin cell.
Google Pixel Tag vs Apple AirTag (2nd generation): side-by-side
| Google Pixel Tag | Apple AirTag (2nd gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Nov 11, 2026) | $29.99 one tag (Google Store); 4-pack $99 per Google | $29 one / $99 4-pack (Apple); $23 one / $69.99 4-pack sold by Amazon |
| Works with | Android 9 or later (Google); Android Authority says Bluetooth 6.0 is also required | iPhone or iPad on iOS/iPadOS 26 or later |
| Network | Google Find Hub | Apple Find My |
| Precision finding | Ultra Wideband + Bluetooth Channel Sounding | Second-gen Ultra Wideband; up to 1.5x range vs 1st gen with iPhone Air or iPhone 15 or later (not iPhone 16e or 17e) |
| Size | 1.1 × 1.8 × 0.2 in (flat) | 1.26 in (31.9 mm) round × 0.31 in (8.0 mm) thick |
| Weight | 0.4 oz with battery | 0.42 oz (11.8 g) |
| Water/dust | IP67 (1 m, 30 min) | IP67 (1 m, 30 min) |
| Battery | Replaceable CR2032; over 1 year (Google) | Replaceable CR2032; more than 1 year (Apple) |
| Speaker | Built-in | Built-in; 50% louder than 1st gen (Apple) |
| Sharing | Share with up to 10 people (Google) | Share with up to 5 people (Macworld); temporary sharing with 50+ airlines (Amazon listing) |
| Keyring hole | No; Google sells cases from Bellroy and Spigen | No; needs a holder (Macworld) |
How much do they cost?
Google Pixel Tag plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tag | $29.99 | Google Store, Nov 11, 2026 (Google's blog and Android Authority list $29) |
| 4-pack | $99 | Google blog |
Apple AirTag (2nd generation) plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tag | $29 Apple; $23 Amazon | Amazon price sold by Amazon.com on Nov 11, 2026 |
| 4-pack | $99 Apple; $69.99 Amazon | MacRumors calls $69.99 a match of the record low |
What are the pros and cons?
Google Pixel Tag: pros
- Only 0.2 in thick, so it fits in a wallet
- UWB plus Bluetooth Channel Sounding precision finding
- Share with up to 10 people
- Button on the tag rings your misplaced phone (Android Authority)
Google Pixel Tag: cons
- Android only; Android Authority says it needs Bluetooth 6.0, which rules out many budget phones
- Brand new on Nov 11, 2026, so there are no long-term reviews yet
- No discounts yet: $29.99 at Google vs AirTag deals near $23
Apple AirTag (2nd generation): pros
- 50% louder speaker than the original
- Up to 1.5x the Precision Finding range on iPhone 15 or later
- Precision Finding on Apple Watch Series 9 or later
- Often $23 at Amazon
Apple AirTag (2nd generation): cons
- iPhone/iPad only; Android phones can't use it as a tracker
- 8 mm thick round puck; too chunky for most wallets
- No keyring hole, so budget for a holder (Macworld)
- Improved range doesn't work with iPhone 16e or iPhone 17e
Which should you choose: Google Pixel Tag or Apple AirTag (2nd generation)?
This is a phone decision first. Android users should get the Pixel Tag, especially if the tag goes in a wallet. iPhone users should get the AirTag (2nd generation), ideally at Amazon's lower price. Samsung Galaxy owners can also look at the SmartTag3, which Samsung sells at the same $29.99 and says now works across operating systems.
Choose Google Pixel Tag if…
- You use an Android phone with Bluetooth 6.0
- You want a flat tag that slips into a wallet
- You share keys or bags with a larger family (up to 10 people)
- You own a Pixel Watch or Pixel Buds
Choose Apple AirTag (2nd generation) if…
- You use an iPhone
- You want the louder speaker
- You want Precision Finding on Apple Watch
- You want the lowest price via Amazon deals
Your phone decides
The Pixel Tag runs on Google's Find Hub network and requires Android 9 or later; Android Authority[3] adds that it needs a phone with Bluetooth 6.0. The AirTag needs an Apple Account and an iPhone or iPad on version 26 or later, per Apple's Amazon listing. Apple's improved Precision Finding range needs an iPhone Air or iPhone 15 or later, and excludes the iPhone 16e and iPhone 17e.
Size and attachment
Google's tag is a flat 1.1 × 1.8 × 0.2-inch rectangle made of metal and polycarbonate, designed to slide into a wallet. The AirTag is the same round 31.9 mm puck as before at 8 mm thick, and Macworld's[8] review still lists the missing keyring hole as a con. Neither has a hole of its own, so plan on a case or holder for keys.
What about the Galaxy SmartTag3?
Samsung's SmartTag3 went on sale Nov 6, 2026 at $29.99 (four-pack $99.99). Samsung says Compass View gives direction from up to 60 meters, about three times the previous generation, and that it offers cross-OS support. It's worth a look for Galaxy phones; we cover it on best Bluetooth trackers.
Who should skip this
- Skip the Pixel Tag if your Android phone is an older or budget model without Bluetooth 6.0, or if you want proven long-term reliability; it only went on sale Nov 11, 2026.
- Skip the AirTag if anyone in the household uses Android and needs to track the same item.
- Skip both for tracking a pet or a car in real time; these crowd-sourced tags update when nearby phones pass, not continuously like a cellular GPS tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Pixel Tag work with iPhone?
Does the AirTag work with Android?
How long do the batteries last?
Are they waterproof?
When did the Pixel Tag go on sale?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Google Store: Google Pixel Tag specs and price (Nov 11, 2026) (store.google.com)
- Google: Pixel Tag announcement (blog.google)
- Android Authority: You can finally buy a Pixel Tag (Nov 11, 2026) (androidauthority.com)
- Apple: AirTag (apple.com)
- Apple Store: Buy AirTag (Nov 2026) (apple.com)
- Apple Support: AirTag (2nd generation) tech specs (support.apple.com)
- Amazon: AirTag (2nd generation) listing (Nov 11, 2026) (amazon.com)
- Macworld: AirTag (2nd gen) review (Feb 2026) (macworld.com)
- MacRumors: AirTag 2 4-pack hits $69.99 (Nov 11, 2026) (macrumors.com)
- Samsung Newsroom: Galaxy SmartTag3 available now (Nov 6, 2026) (news.samsung.com)
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