The long awaited successor to Apple’s most popular accessory is finally here. On January 26, 2026, Apple officially unveiled the second generation AirTag, bringing significant hardware improvements to a device that has become an essential for travelers and forgetful people alike. While the exterior remains identical to the original version, the internal upgrades make finding your lost items faster and more accurate than ever before. This new iteration focuses on range, audibility, and deeper integration with the Apple ecosystem.
Precision Finding Gets a Massive Range Boost
The most significant upgrade in the new AirTag is the inclusion of the second generation Ultra Wideband chip. This is the same advanced silicon found in the latest iPhone 17 and Apple Watch models. Thanks to this chip, the Precision Finding feature now works from up to 50 percent farther away.
For users, this means your iPhone can guide you with directional arrows and haptic feedback much sooner as you approach a lost item. Whether your keys are buried deep under couch cushions or your luggage is moving on a distant airport carousel, the enhanced range reduces the time spent wandering in circles.
A Louder Speaker for Difficult Environments
One common piece of feedback regarding the original AirTag was that the chime could be difficult to hear in noisy environments or when muffled inside a thick bag. Apple has addressed this by redesigning the internal speaker system.
The new AirTag speaker is 50 percent louder than its predecessor. Apple claims the updated chime can be heard from up to twice the distance. This makes a world of difference when you are trying to locate a wallet left in a different room or a backpack hidden in a crowded locker. The tone itself has also been refined to be more distinct, ensuring it stands out against background noise.
Finding Items Directly from Your Apple Watch
In a major quality of life update, Precision Finding is no longer restricted to the iPhone. Users wearing an Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, or any newer model can now use their wrist to track down an AirTag.
By utilizing the Ultra Wideband chip in the watch, the device provides haptic pulses and on screen directions to lead you straight to your belongings. This is incredibly useful for those moments when you have misplaced your keys but do not have your phone in hand. It further solidifies the Apple Watch as a standalone tool for daily tasks.
Better Airline Integration and Baggage Recovery
Apple has expanded the Share Item Location feature to help solve the global baggage crisis. Through partnerships with over 50 major airlines, users can now generate a secure, temporary link to share the live location of their AirTag with airline staff.
This transparency helps ground crews locate delayed or misplaced luggage much faster. Early reports suggest that this technology has already contributed to a significant reduction in unrecoverable luggage. The shared link is privacy focused, as it automatically expires after seven days or once the item is reunited with its owner.
Privacy and Security at the Core
Despite the increased range and volume, Apple has maintained a strict focus on privacy. The new AirTag is built exclusively for tracking objects and includes robust protections against unwanted tracking.
If an unknown AirTag is detected moving with you, your iPhone or Android device will provide a proactive alert. The Bluetooth identifiers of the AirTag rotate frequently to prevent long term tracking by unauthorized parties. Furthermore, Apple does not store location history on the device itself, and the entire Find My network is end to end encrypted.
Familiar Design with Sustainable Materials
If you were hoping for a built in keychain hole, you might be disappointed to learn that the design remains a smooth, button shaped disc. However, this consistency means that all your existing leather loops and keyrings will fit the new model perfectly.
The new AirTag is also more environmentally friendly. It is crafted from 85 percent recycled plastic, and the magnets use 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. Even the gold plating on the circuit boards is now fully recycled, aligning with the Apple 2030 goal of carbon neutrality.
Price and Availability
The best news for consumers is that the price remains unchanged. A single AirTag is priced at $29, while a four pack is available for $99. In India, these are priced at Rs 3,790 and Rs 12,900 respectively.
The new AirTag is available for order now through the Apple Store and will be appearing at retailers globally throughout the week. To use the full suite of new features, ensure your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS 26.
