Apple has formally unveiled the second-generation AirTag, marking its first major update to the ground-breaking item tracker since its original launch in 2021. The new AirTag 2 combines hardware upgrades with refined connectivity to deliver greater precision, louder alerts and expanded compatibility across Apple devices — all while retaining the affordable pricing of its predecessor.
What’s New Under the Hood
At first glance, AirTag 2 looks very familiar: the same compact circular form factor that many users already sling to key rings, backpacks and luggage remains intact. But under the surface, Apple has re-engineered crucial elements to bring meaningful enhancements:
- Next-Generation Ultra Wideband Chip: AirTag 2 is powered by Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip — the same advanced UWB found in the latest iPhone 17 and recent Apple Watch models. This upgrade delivers up to 50 per cent greater range in Precision Finding mode, helping you pinpoint lost items from significantly farther away.
- Louder, Distinctive Speaker: Audio alerts — the beeps that guide you toward a misplaced item — are now about 50 per cent louder, making them easier to hear through upholstery, luggage or around the home.
- Extended Bluetooth Range: A beefed-up Bluetooth radio extends the distance at which the tracker can be detected by nearby devices, improving location reporting in crowded or remote environments.
- Broader Apple Watch Support: For the first time, Precision Finding is enabled on Apple Watch devices with UWB support — including Series 9, Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra models — letting users track items directly from their wrist without needing to pull out their iPhone.
Seamless Findability Meets Everyday Use
AirTag 2’s improvements are all about making the Find My ecosystem more reliable and intuitively helpful. Leveraging Apple’s sprawling device network, the tracker can relay location updates from millions of iPhones and other Apple devices around the globe. Despite these upgrades, Apple emphasises that privacy and security protections remain robust, with end-to-end encryption and anti-tracking safeguards designed to prevent misuse.
Apple has also expanded the Share Item Location feature, enabling trusted third parties — such as airlines — to access an AirTag’s location when coordinating lost luggage or other shared items.
Price and Availability
Apple has kept the pricing consistent with the original model, ensuring accessibility for users across markets:
- £29 / $29 for a single AirTag 2
- £99 / $99 for a four-pack
The device is available to order now through Apple’s online store and Apple Store app, with deliveries and in-store availability rolling out throughout late January 2026.
Environmental and Accessory Continuity
Echoing Apple’s broader sustainability goals, AirTag 2 incorporates recycled materials in its construction, including recycled plastics and metals. Importantly for existing Apple users, all current AirTag accessories — from key rings to luggage tags — remain fully compatible with the new generation.
Editorial Take
The AirTag 2 doesn’t reinvent Apple’s item-tracking category, but it elevates the core experience in ways that matter day-to-day: improved range, louder alerts for easier finding, and tighter integration with the Apple Watch ecosystem. For anyone already embedded in Apple’s ecosystem, the update feels like a meaningful refinement rather than a cosmetic tweak — and at the same price point, it’s hard to argue with the value proposition.
Whether you’re safeguarding keys, luggage or everyday essentials, AirTag 2 brings Apple’s hallmark polish to one of the most useful accessories in its lineup.