After 5 Years, Apple Finally Upgrades the AirTag | WIREDSkip to main contentMenuSECURITYPOLITICSTHE BIG STORYBUSINESSSCIENCECULTUREREVIEWSMenuAccountAccountNewslettersBest Office ChairsBone Conduction HeadphonesBest Digital NotebooksBest Motorola PhonesTCL DealDeals DeliveredSecurityPoliticsThe Big StoryBusinessScienceCultureReviewsChevronMoreExpandThe Big InterviewMagazineEventsWIRED InsiderWIRED ConsultingNewslettersPodcastsVideoMerchSearchSearchSign InSign InJulian ChokkattuGearJan 26, 2026 9:50 AMAfter 5 Years, Apple Finally Upgrades the AirTagThe second-generation AirTag features Apple’s newer Ultra Wideband chip and has a louder speaker and better range.Photograph: Courtesy of AppleCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyApple’s AirTag has become the de facto “Bluetooth tracker” since its 2021 debut, upending established players like Tile. Now, Apple is finally upgrading the hardware. The second-generation AirTag still costs $29 for one and $99 for a four-pack, and it's available today.It's powered by the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (U2), which Apple has employed in recent iPhone and Apple Watch models. It improves the ability to find the tag's exact location when using Apple's Precision Finding mode, with up to 1.5 times greater range. You can lift your iPhone, and you'll receive visual, audio, and haptic feedback as the device guides you to your AirTag. For the first time, Apple says Precision Finding is now available on the Apple Watch Series 9 or later and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer.The second-gen AirTag is 50 percent louder than its predecessor, and Apple says it can be heard from twice as far away as before; there's a new chime, too. Apple has also upgraded the Bluetooth chip for better overall range. There's no notable upgrade to battery life, as Apple still cites “more than a year," though the battery remains user-replaceable.Photograph: Courtesy of AppleApple requires new owners of the second-gen AirTag to have an iPhone or iPad running the latest iOS 26 version (you also need an Apple Account and have to be signed into iCloud). The software features remain the same—everything is powered by Apple’s Find My feature, which leverages a network of Apple devices to help you locate and track your AirTag. Also available is Apple's Share Item Location feature, which lets you share the location of a missing item with an airline so they can find it on your behalf. Right now, this feature is available with 36 airlines, but that number will jump to 50, though Apple didn't provide a specific timeline.After the original AirTags were used to unknowingly track people, Apple updated the timeframe of when the AirTags would deliver tracking alerts (and also worked with Google to enable these alerts on Android); those same safety features are here in the second generation. If someone places an AirTag in your bag, for example, your iPhone or Android will deliver a notification about an “unknown tracker” on your person.Apple says the second-gen AirTag is made from 85 percent recycled plastic in its enclosure, with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements in the magnets and 100 percent recycled gold plating in the printed circuit boards, not to mention 100 percent fiber-based paper packaging.The AirTag retains the same shape as its predecessor, meaning you won’t have trouble stuffing it into the same AirTag cases, key rings, and other accessories. Apple even has a new version of its official Key Ring accessory made from its FineWoven material to match your FineWoven iPhone 17 case.Correction: An earlier version of this story implied that the original AirTags did not launch with tracking alerts, but it did. We've clarified this sentence.CommentsBack to topTriangleYou Might Also LikeIn your inbox: WIRED's most ambitious, future-defining storiesDoes the “war on protein” exist?Big Story: China’s renewable energy revolution might save the worldThe race to build the DeepSeek of Europe is onWatch our livestream replay: Welcome to the Chinese centuryJulian Chokkattu is a senior reviews editor at WIRED, and has been covering personal technology and reviewing consumer products for a decade. He specializes in smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches, and covers augmented and virtual reality devices, office chairs, electric scooters, home office equipment, and more. This is his sixth year ... 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Apple has finally delivered a significant upgrade to its widely adopted AirTag after five years of development. The second-generation AirTag, available today for $29 (solo) or $99 (four-pack), incorporates Apple’s newer Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, resulting in improved location accuracy and a range increase of up to 1.5 times compared to the original. This enhancement prioritizes precision finding, leveraging Apple’s Precision Finding mode – now also accessible on the Apple Watch Series 9 or later, alongside the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

A key differentiator of this iteration is a 50% increase in volume, coupled with a revised chime, designed to amplify the AirTag’s audible signal, facilitating easier retrieval. Alongside the UWB chip, Apple has integrated a new Bluetooth chip, further refining the AirTag’s overall range. Battery replacement remains possible, though Apple maintains a lifespan of “more than a year.”

The AirTag’s operation remains rooted in Apple’s Find My feature, utilizing a network of connected Apple devices to aid in locating lost items. The previously criticized timeframe for tracking alerts – initially a point of concern regarding unknown trackers – has been addressed, reflecting Apple's commitment to user safety. The second generation builds upon this functionality. The Share Item Location feature continues to support 36 airlines, with an anticipated expansion to 50, although details regarding the timeline remain forthcoming.

From a materials perspective, Apple emphasizes a commitment to sustainability, incorporating 85% recycled plastic into the AirTag’s enclosure and 100% recycled rare earth elements within the magnets, along with 100% recycled gold plating in the printed circuit boards. Packaging is entirely fiber-based. The physical design—retaining the familiar shape—ensures compatibility with existing AirTag cases and accessories, including the newly released FineWoven Key Ring accessory, designed to complement the FineWoven iPhone 17 case.

The operational requirements for the second-generation AirTag are stringent, mandating an iPhone or iPad running iOS 26 or later, along with an active Apple Account and signed-in iCloud. Despite this, the underlying technology and features remain consistent with the original AirTag, focusing on a robust network-based tracking solution. This upgrade represents a significant refinement in Apple’s tracking hardware, driven by advancements in its Ultra Wideband technology and a continued dedication to user safety.