In a surprise announcement, Apple has just unveiled the next-generation of its AirTag.
For those unfamiliar, the Apple AirTag is a Bluetooth tracker that helps users keep track of their possessions and locate them if lost or misplaced. For example, you can add an AirTag to your keys and, via the Find My app on iPhone, see exactly where you last left them.
As Apple has unveiled its revamped AirTag, we’re keen to see what’s really new with the Bluetooth tracker – especially as they don’t appear to look very different from one another.
Keep reading to see how the latest AirTag compares to the 2021 iteration. Otherwise, make sure you visit our list of the best Bluetooth trackers.
Price and Availability
At the time of writing, the AirTag (2nd Generation) can be ordered online now, and will be available from Apple Store locations by the end of the week (February 1st). At launch, the AirTag (2nd Gen) will be available as either a one- or four-pack at £29/$29 and £99/$99 respectively.
Naturally as it’s been succeeded by the second generation, the original AirTag is no longer available to buy directly from Apple. However, it is still available to buy on third-party retailers like Amazon starting from around £28 for one, though we would expect this price to drop.
AirTag 2 is powered by Apple’s second-gen Ultra Wideband chip
One of the key differences between the AirTag 2 and original AirTag is that the former is powered by Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, which is also found in the iPhone 17 series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, and promises to ensure the AirTag is “easier to locate than ever before”.
The original AirTag is fitted with the U1 chip instead, although it does use UWB technology too.
Finally, although the AirTag 2 boasts stronger tracking ability, it’s worth noting that both generations are equipped with Apple’s Precision Finding technology, which provides users with the exact directions to their AirTag either via their paired iPhone or with sound and haptics through the Tag itself.
Compatible Apple Watches can locate AirTag
Following on from the above, although both generations of AirTags do use Apple’s Precision Finding, only the second generation benefits from Apple Watch support. As long as you have either an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, you’ll be able to use Precision Finding and track your AirTag via your watch.
AirTag 2 is louder than previous generation
Thanks to an updated internal design, the second generation AirTag promises to be a whopping 50% louder than its predecessor and should supposedly enable users to hear the AirTag from “up to 2x farther than before”. Apple also says that the AirTag 2 sports a “distinctive new chime” which will help users find items that are tucked away.
Considering we concluded the original AirTag’s sound to be “surprisingly shrill and noticeable”, we have high hopes for its successor.
AirTag 2 integrates with Share Item Location
Although initially launched with an iOS 18 update and therefore found in the original AirTag, the second generation promises to “integrate seamlessly” with Apple’s Share Item Location. As an overview, Share Item Location is an iOS feature that securely shares the location of an AirTag with third parties in order to help you recover your lost item.
While the thought of sharing your item’s location with a third-party might sound concerning, Apple says that all third parties are “trusted” and the share location will be disabled either as soon as you’re reunited with your item or whenever you decide to stop sharing. Regardless, after seven days the location sharing will automatically expire.
That’s not the only privacy feature within the AirTag 2. Apple promises the AirTag 2 won’t store location data or history on-device and all Find My communication is end-to-end encrypted too. This means that no one, not even Apple, will know the location of any device that helped find it.
Both are only compatible with iOS
Perhaps unsurprisingly, you should only buy an AirTag if you are an iPhone user, as you can’t pair one with even the best Android phones. However, if someone with an Android comes across your lost AirTag then they’ll be able to use Bluetooth to receive your contact details if you’ve marked it as lost.
Air Tag 2 promises to prevent unwanted tracking
Both the AirTag and AirTag 2 were designed to help users keep track of their physical possessions, be it keys, luggage or even just an umbrella. While there are dedicated pet trackers out there, neither AirTag iteration should be used to track your pets and especially not tracking people.
To combat any unwanted tracking, Apple claims the second generation AirTag includes a “suite of industry-first protections”. Such protections include cross-platform alerts and “unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently” although that’s all the information we know at the time of writing.
Early Verdict
With the promise of more accurate location tracking, better privacy and security features and Apple Watch compatibility, the AirTag (2nd Generation) is a welcome tweak to an already brilliant product. If you’re an iPhone user who’s yet to invest in an AirTag, the second generation is a brilliant product.
