Finally, a New AirTag: Apple’s Best "Invisible" Upgrade in Years

Tuesday, 27 January 2026 at 10:28

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It’s been five years since Apple tossed us the original AirTag, and honestly, I’d started to think they’d forgotten about it. The little silver pucks have been living in our bags and on our keys since 2021 without a single hardware tweak. But as the first big drop of 2026, Apple has finally refreshed the lineup. While it looks identical on the outside—meaning your expensive Hermès keyrings aren't going to waste—the guts of the thing have been completely overhauled.

Key Takeaways

Major Range Boost: The second-gen UWB chip allows you to track items from 50% farther away.
Actually Audible: A 50% louder speaker means no more muffled chirps from the bottom of your bag.
Wrist-Based Tracking: Precision Finding now works directly on modern Apple Watch models.
Battery Stays Real: It still uses a swappable CR2032 battery—no proprietary charging cables here.
Same Price Point: Despite the internal upgrades, it still retails for $29 (or $99 for four).

Range Anxiety is History

If you’ve ever tried to find your wallet in a big house, you know the "Searching for Signal" dance. You walk in circles until the UWB chip finally catches a break. The second-gen AirTag basically kills that frustration. By poaching the second-gen Ultra Wideband chip from the iPhone 17, Apple has managed to boost the Precision Finding range by a massive 50%.

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In my view, this is the real headline. It’s the difference between picking up a signal from your driveway versus having to stand right outside the front door. It makes the "hide and seek" part of the morning routine a whole lot shorter.

Can You Hear Me Now?

We also have to talk about the speaker. The original AirTag was... let’s say, polite. If it was buried under a winter coat or at the bottom of a gym bag, you had to be a bat to hear it. The new version is 50% louder. It’s a small change on paper, but in a noisy house or a crowded airport, that extra decibel count is a lifesaver. Plus, the louder chime is a smart move for privacy—if someone slips one of these into your pocket, you’re going to know about it pretty quickly.

The Watch Factor

For the first time, you don't even need your phone to find your gear. If you’re wearing an Apple Watch Series 9 or an Ultra 2, the "Precision Finding" arrow shows up right on your wrist. It feels like a small sci-fi moment, and it’s genuinely useful when your hands are full. At $29, Apple kept the price steady, which is probably the most surprising part of the whole announcement.