Apple has unveiled a new version of the AirTag, and while it looks identical to the original, the changes focus squarely on one thing: making lost items easier to find.
The headline upgrade is significantly improved findability. The new AirTag uses Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. The same one found in recent iPhones and Apple Watches that enables Precision Finding from up to 50 percent farther away than before.
In addition, with an upgraded Bluetooth chip, items can now be detected from farther away, even before Precision Finding kicks in.
Apple has also addressed one of the most common complaints about the original AirTag: volume. Thanks to a redesigned internal layout, the new model is 50 percent louder, making it easier to hear when it’s buried in a bag, wedged between sofa cushions or lost somewhere at home. Moreover, Apple says the sound can now be heard from up to twice as far away as before.
For the first time, Precision Finding also extends to the wrist. Owners of an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, can now use their watch to track down an AirTag using haptic, visual and audio cues. This is a small but useful upgrade for people who don’t always have their phone to hand.
Beyond raw tracking performance, Apple continues to lean heavily on the Find My network, which anonymously crowdsources location data from nearby Apple devices when an AirTag is out of Bluetooth range.
The new AirTag also supports Share Item Location. This allows users to temporarily share the location of a lost item with trusted third parties such as airlines. Apple says more than 50 airlines now support the feature. Additionally, industry data suggests it has significantly reduced baggage delays and permanently lost luggage.
Security and privacy remain unchanged in principle, with Apple once again emphasising that AirTag is designed for tracking objects, not people. Location data is end-to-end encrypted, identifiers rotate frequently, and cross-platform alerts are in place to reduce the risk of unwanted tracking.
There’s no change to pricing. The second-generation AirTag is available to buy today, starting at £29/$29 for a single tag or £99/$99 for a four-pack, with free personalised engraving still available.
It keeps the same physical design as the original too, meaning all existing AirTag accessories remain compatible. The new model does, however, require iOS 26 or later.
For anyone already using AirTags, this isn’t a radical rethink, but the improved range and volume address two of the biggest limitations of the original. As a result, Apple’s tracker is more practical in everyday use without changing how it works.
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