After five years of waiting, Apple has finally unveiled the next generation of AirTag. The AirTag 2 looks exactly like the original AirTag and its functionality is similar, but there are still some differences worth knowing about.
See also: Apple's AirTag 2 makes it easier to track your belongings
Let's take a look at all the new features.
** UWB 2 ** – AirTag 2 adopts Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip
**Longer Range** – Upgrades to UWB mean Precision Finding works 1.5 times further away than before. Precision Finding allows for accurate AirTag location in close indoor areas. It can guide you directly to your AirTag with a compatible device.
**Precision Finding on Watch** – Precision Finding was previously limited to iPhone, but now works on Apple Watch Series 9 and later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, as these devices have UWB chips.
**Louder Speaker** – The AirTag 2’s speaker is up to 50 percent louder than the original AirTag’s speaker. The upgrade will make it easier to hear when a sound is playing, and it’s also an added measure against surveillance, as the sound will be harder to mask.
**Better Bluetooth** – Apple uses a newer Bluetooth specification with increased range.
**New Internal Design** – To accommodate the upgraded speaker, Apple redesigned the internals. Rumors suggested that Apple would make it harder to hack the AirTag to remove the speaker, but we’ll have to wait for a teardown to confirm.
**Updated Weight** – AirTag 2 weighs 11.8 grams. It is seven percent heavier than the original AirTag.
**Updated Text** – The text on the back of the AirTag is now all capital letters, which is a good way to tell if an AirTag is the first model or the new model. The text also mentions IP67 water and dust resistance, as well as NFC and Find My support. These features are not new, but they were not mentioned on the back of the original AirTag.
See also: New AirTag feature works better for many travelers
**Not for Pets Yet** – Apple's AirTag 2 announcement and product page specifically state that the device is for tracking objects, not people or pets. Despite this, many people use AirTags to track their pets.
**Reset Process** – To reset an AirTag 2, you need to remove the battery, leave it out for at least five seconds, and then reinsert it. The process needs to be repeated four times. Apple says it can take up to 12 seconds to hear the final tone. With the first AirTag, there was no need to wait after removing the battery before reinserting it.
**Requires iOS 26.2.1** – If you want to use an AirTag 2, you will need to update your device to iOS 26.2.1. AirTag 2 requires the latest Apple software, which means it will not work with devices that cannot run iOS 26.
The AirTag 2 does everything the original AirTag does, taking advantage of the Find My. When the AirTag is not in Bluetooth range of your own device, it can send a signal to Apple devices owned by others to relay its location back to you for long-range tracking.
It also supports Lost Mode, with an NFC feature for finding out who a lost item belongs to, as well as options for sharing an item's location with someone else (useful at airports with participating airlines), and it continues to use a CR2032. Apple says the battery "works for over a year" before needing replacement.
See also: Apple's website offers 4 AirTags at an extremely low price
The AirTag 2 still costs $29, with a four-pack available for $99. Free engraving is also included in the price. The new AirTag can be purchased today, with orders scheduled to ship starting Wednesday, January 28.
