Apple announced the second-generation AirTag, and it builds on the original tracker with better range, louder sound, and new ways to find lost items. While it looks the same, AirTag 2 adds several useful upgrades that make daily tracking faster and more reliable, especially if you use an Apple Watch.
Apple revealed AirTag 2 after a five-year wait while keeping the same familiar design.
What is new in AirTag 2
Apple added a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, also called UWB 2. This change improves how far and how accurately your device can locate an AirTag.
Here are the main upgrades in simple terms:
- Longer Precision Finding range
Apple says the new UWB chip lets Precision Finding work from about 1.5 times farther away than before. That means you can start locating your keys or bag sooner, even from another room. - Precision Finding on Apple Watch
For the first time, you can find an AirTag on your wrist. Precision Finding now works on Apple Watch Series 9 and later, and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later. The watch shows direction and distance using haptics, visuals, and sound, just like on the iPhone. - Louder speaker
The AirTag 2 speaker is up to 50 percent louder. This makes it easier to hear when you play a sound. It also adds another layer of safety since the sound is harder to block. - Better Bluetooth
Apple uses a newer Bluetooth standard with a longer range, which helps the AirTag stay connected more reliably. - New internal design
Apple changed the inside layout to fit the louder speaker. Rumors say it also makes tampering harder, though we need a teardown to confirm that. - Slightly heavier
AirTag 2 weighs 11.8 grams, which is about seven percent heavier than the original. - Updated back text
The text on the back now appears in capital letters and lists features like IP67 water and dust resistance, NFC, and Find My. These features already existed, but Apple now prints them on the device.
What stays the same
Even with these upgrades, Apple kept several things unchanged, so current users do not need to buy new accessories.
- It still uses a CR2032 coin battery
- Apple says the battery “works for more than a year.”
- The physical size is the same, so all old AirTag accessories still fit
- It still works with the Find My network, Lost Mode, and NFC for contact details
- It still supports location sharing with others, which helps when you track luggage with airlines
Not meant for people or pets
Apple again states that AirTag is for tracking objects only. The product page and announcement say it is not for tracking people or pets, even though many users do this in real life.
How to reset AirTag 2
Apple changed the reset process, and it now takes more time.
To reset AirTag 2:
- Remove the battery
- Wait at least five seconds
- Put the battery back
- Repeat this process four times
- Wait for the final tone, which Apple says can take up to 12 seconds
This is different from the first AirTag, where you did not need to wait between battery removals.
Software you need
AirTag 2 requires iOS 26.2.1 or later. If your device cannot run iOS 26, the new AirTag will not work with it.
Price and availability
AirTag 2 costs the same as before.
- $29 for one AirTag
- $99 for a four-pack
- Free engraving included
You can order AirTag 2 today. Apple says deliveries start on Wednesday, January 28.
After five years, Apple kept the AirTag design simple but added upgrades that matter. With longer range, Watch support, and a louder speaker, AirTag 2 makes it easier to find the things you lose every day.
