Apple unveils the redesigned AirTag 2 with an improved Ultra Wideband chip. Here are the latest updates in personal tracking technology.
Apple has officially ended the era of lost for good. Five years after the original item tracker changed the way we keep tabs on our keys and luggage, Apple has unveiled the second-generation AirTag. While it retains the iconic, coin-like design of its predecessor, the internals have been completely overhauled to deliver a tracking experience that is faster, louder, and significantly more precise.
iOS 26.2.1: The Key to Unlocking New Power
Coinciding with the hardware launch, Apple has released iOS 26.2.1, a critical software update required to unlock the full potential of the new AirTag. This latest version of iOS introduces the firmware hooks necessary for the second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, ensuring seamless handshakes between your iPhone and the tracker.
Find It from Blocks Away
The headline feature of the new AirTag is its massive jump in connectivity. Equipped with Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, the new tracker offers Precision Finding from 50% farther away. This is the same powerhouse found in the iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Ultra 3
Whether your wallet is buried deep in a couch cushion or left behind at a bustling café, the haptic and visual ‘hot-and-cold’ guidance on your iPhone is now more responsive than ever. Complementing this is an upgraded Bluetooth chip that extends the overall detection range, ensuring your items ‘ping’ the Find My network even in remote areas.
Louder, Smarter, and Wearable
Apple hasn't just improved the ‘vision’ of the AirTag; they’ve boosted its voice. The internal speaker is now 50% louder, allowing you to hear the distinctive chime from up to twice the distance.
In a move for convenience, Apple has also brought precision finding to the wrist. For the first time, users with an Apple Watch Series 9 or later (including Ultra 2 and 3) can get turn-by-turn haptic directions to their lost items directly from their watch, no iPhone required.
Pricing and Sustainability
True to Apple’s 2030 climate goals, the new AirTag is built with 85% recycled plastic and 100% recycled gold plating. Despite the tech upgrades, Apple is maintaining its accessible pricing:
Single Pack: $29
Four-Pack: $99
By combining a 2x louder speaker with a 50% range boost, Apple has ensured that if you love it, you’ll never lose it again.
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