Apple just rolled out the second-generation AirTag, bringing the same Ultra Wideband chip found in the iPhone 17 lineup to its item tracker. The upgrade delivers 50% longer Precision Finding range and, for the first time, lets Apple Watch users track items directly from their wrist. Despite the hardware improvements, Apple's holding the line on pricing at $29 for a single unit and $99 for a four-pack - the same price point it launched with back in 2021.
Apple is betting that better range and wrist-based tracking will keep its item tracker competitive in a crowded field. The company unveiled the second-generation AirTag today, packing the same Ultra Wideband chip that powers the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 into the familiar coin-sized tracker.
The headline improvement: Precision Finding now works from up to 50% farther away than the original AirTag, according to Apple's official announcement. That means users can start getting haptic, visual, and audio feedback to guide them to lost items from significantly greater distances - a practical upgrade for anyone who's ever searched a parking garage or office building.
But the real shift is bringing Precision Finding to Apple Watch. Users with Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, can now track down their AirTag without pulling out their iPhone. It's a natural extension of Apple's ecosystem play, making the Find My experience more seamless across devices.
Apple's also upgraded the Bluetooth chip to extend the range at which items can be initially located, though the company didn't specify exact distances. Combined with a louder speaker, the new AirTag addresses two of the most common complaints about the original: not being able to hear it in noisy environments and losing connection too quickly in large spaces.
Since launching AirTag in 2021, Apple's accumulated a library of reunion stories - from musicians finding lost instruments hours before performances to travelers tracking down luggage containing lifesaving medication. The Find My network, powered by hundreds of millions of Apple devices anonymously relaying location data, has become one of the product's biggest advantages over competitors.
