It is powered by the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (U2), which Apple has employed in recent iPhone and Apple Watch models. This improves the ability to find the exact location of a tag with 1.5 times greater range when using Apple’s Precision Finding Mode. You can pick up 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 Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer.
The second-generation AirTag is 50 percent louder than its predecessor, and Apple says it can be heard from twice the distance as before; There is also a new bell. Apple has also upgraded the Bluetooth chip for better overall range. There is no notable upgrade in battery life, as Apple still cites “over a year”, although the battery remains user-replaceable.
Photograph: Courtesy Apple
Apple requires new owners of the second-generation AirTag to have an iPhone or iPad running the latest iOS 26 version (you’ll also need an Apple account and signed in to iCloud). Software features remain the same – everything is powered by Apple’s Find My feature, which takes advantage of the network of Apple devices to help locate and track your AirTag. Apple’s Share Item Location feature is also available, which lets you share the location of a lost item with an airline so they can find it on your behalf. Right now, the feature is available with 36 airlines, but that number will grow to 50, though Apple hasn’t provided a specific timeline.
After the original AirTags were used to track people, Apple deployed tracking alerts (and worked with Google to enable these alerts on Android), and the same capabilities are here in the second generation. For example, if someone places an AirTag in your bag, your iPhone or Android will send a notification about an “unknown tracker” on your person.
Apple says the second-generation AirTag is made of 85 percent recycled plastic in its casing, 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 size as its predecessor, which means you won’t have trouble stuffing it into the same AirTag case, key ring, and other accessories. Apple also has a new version of its official Key Ring accessory made from its FineWoven material to match your FineWoven iPhone 17 case.
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