In summary:
- Apple’s second-generation AirTag launches nearly five years after the original, featuring a louder speaker, stronger Bluetooth, and the new U2 Ultra Wideband chip for enhanced tracking.
- Macworld reports the upgraded tracker offers 50% farther item location range and enables Precision Finding on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models.
- The new AirTag maintains the same design, price, and replaceable battery as its predecessor, with existing accessories remaining fully compatible.
Apple on Monday finally introduced its 2nd-gen AirTag, nearly five years after the original version debuted in April 2021. It looks the same, costs the same, and is only slightly upgraded compared to its predecessor.
The main internal upgrade is a louder speaker (Apple claims it’s 50 percent louder than the previous generation), stronger Bluetooth, and the 2nd-gen U2 Ultra Wideband chip. Apple introduced the U2 chip with the iPhone 15 as a more efficient and accurate way to precisely locate lost items. Apple says the new chip locates lost items “from up to 50 percent farther away than the previous generation.” Apple Watch users can also use Precision Finding on Series 9 or Ultra 2 models or later for the first time.
It was previously reported that the AirTag 2’s speaker would be harder to remove as a privacy measure, but it’s unclear whether that’s the case here. However, Apple does note that the 2nd-gen AirTag has a new internal design, though the replaceable battery appears to be the same.
Otherwise, the new AirTag is the same as the old one, down to its need for a separate accessory to attach it to its most logical item, a set of keys. The design appears to be identical, while the integration with the Find My app works as before. Apple says its new AirTag is “designed from the ground up to keep location data private and secure,” though it doesn’t appear to have any new security features. Apple does note, as before, that the AirTag is meant for tracking objects rather than people or pets.
Since the AirTag is the same size and shape as the original model, all existing AirTag accessories will work with both models. There are new colors of the FineWoven key ring, including fox orange, midnight purple, navy, moss, and black. You still need an iPhone or iPad to pair it, and Apple notes they must be running iOS 26.
You can order the new AirTag now through Apple.com for delivery beginning later this week.
Author: Michael Simon, Executive Editor, Macworld
Michael Simon has been covering Apple for more than 20 years. He started covering rumors with Spymac when the iPod was the iWalk, and has owned nearly every iPhone Apple has ever made. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, son, and far too many gadgets.