It was rumoured that a new AirTag tracker was on the way, and sure enough, Apple has now made it official.
Apple, in true Apple fashion, calls it the ‘new AirTag’ rather than the AirTag 2, but whatever you want to call it, it looks the same as the original, although it comes with a range of upgrades.
In fact, there are three key reasons to upgrade from the first AirTag , which launched in 2021 – especially for those who travel a lot.
Increased precision & range
The new AirTag makes it easier to find your items, whether it’s a set of keys, a bag or something else.
This is thanks to the Ultra Wideband chip found in devices like the iPhone 17 range and Apple Watch Ultra 3, as well as an upgraded Bluetooth chip.
The firm says this means you can find items from up to 50% further away than before.
Apple
Precision Finding guides help you locate the item with a combination of haptic, visual and audio feedback.
And for the first time, Precision Finding in the Find My app is available on the Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Ultra 2 or later.
Twice as loud
Speaking of audio, the AirTag 2 is twice as loud as the first generation, meaning you’ll be able to hear where one is much more easily.
With a “distinctive new chime”, Apple says you can hear it from up to twice as far as before.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Greater security
Apple says this year’s new AirTag tracker comes with “a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently”.
It’s also designed from the ground up to keep location data private.
That’s all a bit vague, but Apple will want to keep it that way to ensure it’s much harder for the system to be hacked.
How much does the AirTag 2 cost?
The new AirTag (2026) is available now for the same price as its predecessor.
That means it costs £29/$29 for a single AirTag and £99/$99 for a four-pack, with the usual free, personalised engraving.
Author: Chris Martin, Managing Editor, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor Managing Editor Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been with us for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.
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