Apple unveils AirTag 2 with upgraded features, detailed by 9to5Mac

Apple’s AirTag 2 arrives with a second‑generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip that pushes Precision Finding’s effective range up to 1.5 times farther than the original model, according to 9to5Mac. The upgrade means that iPhones equipped with Apple’s U1 chip can now locate a tagged item from a greater distance while still delivering the haptic, visual and audio cues that define the feature. In addition, Apple has extended Precision Finding to compatible Apple Watch models—a capability the first‑generation AirTag never offered—so users can track lost items directly from their wrist without pulling out an iPhone.

Bluetooth connectivity also sees a boost. 9to5Mac reports that Apple has fitted the AirTag 2 with an upgraded Bluetooth chip that “expands the range at which items can be located,” though Apple has not disclosed the exact mileage gain. The implication is that the tag will remain discoverable for longer periods when it drifts out of UWB range, improving the overall reliability of the Find My network for everyday scenarios such as misplaced keys or bags left in a car.

Audio feedback has been amplified as well. Apple claims the new speaker is up to 50 percent louder than its predecessor, allowing the ping tone to be heard from “up to twice as far away,” per the company’s specifications cited by 9to5Mac. This louder output directly addresses a common complaint with the first AirTag, where users often struggled to hear the sound in noisy environments or when the tag was concealed inside a backpack or luggage compartment.

Privacy remains a focal point. The original AirTag attracted scrutiny after being repurposed for illicit tracking, prompting Apple to roll out software mitigations over the past few years. 9to5Mac notes that AirTag 2 introduces “industry‑first protections” that include cross‑platform alerts and rapidly rotating Bluetooth identifiers, designed to make unwanted tracking more difficult. While Apple does not enumerate every change, the company frames these measures as a suite of safeguards exclusive to object tracking, explicitly ruling out use for people or pets.

Despite the hardware enhancements, Apple has kept the core form factor, battery life and pricing unchanged. The AirTag 2 still measures the same 32 mm × 32 mm and uses a replaceable CR2032 battery that Apple estimates will last “more than a year,” according to 9to5Mac. The continuity means existing accessories—such as third‑party cases and the Elevation Lab TimeCapsule battery extender—remain compatible. Pricing also mirrors the original launch: $29 for a single unit and $99 for a four‑pack, a price point that 9to5Mac highlights as unchanged despite the added capabilities.