Nearly five years after its debut, Apple’s bestselling tracker just got louder and smarter.
Apple rolled out its second-generation AirTag on Monday, packing improved tracking range and a significantly louder speaker into the same familiar disc-shaped design. The upgrade arrives nearly five years after the original AirTag launched in April 2021, maintaining the same $29 price tag for a single unit and $99 for a four-pack.
According to Apple, the new AirTag is powered by the company’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the same technology used in its latest iPhones and Apple Watches. Apple says this allows Precision Finding to guide users to lost items from much farther away.
“Using haptic, visual, and audio feedback, Precision Finding guides users to their lost items from up to 50% farther away than the previous generation,” Apple wrote in its announcement.
An upgraded Bluetooth chip also extends the distance at which nearby devices can help locate an AirTag through the Find My network.
Louder sounds, easier finds
Another noticeable change is the sound. Apple says the new AirTag is significantly louder than before, making it easier to locate items tucked under cushions or buried in bags.
“With its updated internal design, the new AirTag is 50% louder than the previous generation, enabling users to hear their AirTag from up to 2x farther than before,” Apple said.
The company also introduced a new chime designed to stand out more clearly as users approach a misplaced item.
Helping travelers at the airport
Apple is also leaning into the “Share Item Location” feature to help with the nightmare of lost luggage. By partnering with more than 50 airlines, Apple allows users to share a secure link of their AirTag’s location directly with airline staff.
The results are already showing promise. Apple cited data from SITA, an aviation IT provider, stating: “Carriers report that using Share Item Location has reduced baggage delays by 26% and reduced incidences of ‘truly lost’ or unrecoverable luggage by 90%.”
These links are temporary and automatically expire after seven days, or as soon as the owner is reunited with their bag.
Privacy remains a central pillar of the device. The new AirTag is built to track objects — not people or pets — and features “industry-leading protections against unwanted tracking.” To keep data safe, the device does not store location history locally, and all communication on the Find My network is end-to-end encrypted.
Availability and requirements
The new AirTag is available to order now through Apple.com and the Apple Store app, with Apple Store locations set to receive stock later this week. Free personalized engraving remains available during online checkout.
To use the new AirTag, you’ll need an iPhone running iOS 26 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 26 or later. Users must have an Apple Account and be signed into iCloud with Find My enabled.
Also read: Lost-device scams are evolving, with fake Find My messages now used to steal Apple ID credentials.
