Apple has officially kicked off 2026 with the launch of its new AirTag . The latest AirTag features a similar design to that of the original; however, the company has upgraded it from the inside. Speaking of which, the new AirTag comes with Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which is found in the latest iPhone 17 series and the newer Apple Watch models.
The new Apple AirTag comes with an expanded Precision Finding range, louder sound, and more
Thanks to the Ultra-Wideband chip upgrade, Precision Finding now allows you to find lost items from up to 50 percent farther away than the previous-generation AirTag. On top of that, Apple has also upgraded the Bluetooth chip, which expands the range at which AirTag can detect lost items.
Apple also confirms that, for the first time, you can use Precision Finding on Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, with watchOS 26.2.1. Additionally, it requires a compatible iPhone with iOS 26 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 26 or later. Besides upgrading the range, Apple has also upgraded the internal design of the new AirTag. As a result, the new ones are 50 percent louder than the previous generation. It helps you hear the AirTag from double the distance than before. With Precision Finding combined with louder sound, the lost objects attached to the AirTag can easily be spotted.
Let’s not forget that the new AirTag continues to use the Find My Network. It’s a crowdsourced network of Apple devices that helps locate items when they are far away from your iPhone. In the announcement post, Apple has also confirmed that the new AirTag is compatible with all existing accessories. More importantly, Apple has explicitly noted that “AirTag doesn’t physically store location data or history on device.” Additionally, end-to-end encryption helps protect all communication with the Find My network so that you. Therefore, as an owner, you can only access its location data.
Apple is keeping the same price for the new model
Apple has also focused on sustainability with the new AirTag. The company claims that it built the new AirTag using mostly recycled materials while keeping the same design. Not to forget, the updated model also works seamlessly with Share Item Location, which allows users to temporarily share an AirTag’s location with trusted third parties, including airlines, to help recover delayed luggage . The new AirTag is available to order today for $29 for a single unit. If you want a four-pack, it’ll set you back by $99. The tech giant is also offering free personalized engraving, which is only available via the Apple Store or the official website.
