CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan 29, 2026, 01:30 PST
- Apple’s second-generation AirTag keeps the $29 price but adds longer Precision Finding range and a louder speaker
- Precision Finding now works on Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2, widening where users can home in on a tag
- Apple’s iOS 26.2.1 update adds support for AirTag (2nd generation); Apple lists no published CVE security entries for it
Apple on Monday unveiled a second-generation AirTag that boosts tracking range and speaker volume while keeping the price at $29. The coin-sized tag leans on the Find My network — a crowdsourced mesh of Apple devices that detect nearby tags over Bluetooth — and now adds Apple Watch support for Precision Finding. Apple also said its Share Item Location tool, which lets users send a temporary location link to airlines, is supported by more than 50 carriers; SITA said airlines report the feature reduced baggage delays by 26% and cut “truly lost” luggage by 90%. (Apple)
The upgrade freshens a product that has become the de facto “Bluetooth tracker” since its 2021 debut, pushing aside older players such as Tile, Wired reported. It lands as travelers grow used to seeing their bag’s last known dot on a map — and expect airlines to act on it. (WIRED)
For Apple, that matters because the business is not really the $29 tag. It is the network effect: a missing AirTag is easier to find when millions of nearby phones and watches can quietly spot it and relay a location.
The new tag uses Apple’s upgraded ultra wideband chip, a short-range radio that can measure distance and direction more precisely than Bluetooth. Apple says that powers Precision Finding — the feature that guides users with on-screen cues plus taps and sounds — from up to 50% farther away, while a redesigned speaker is 50% louder; the company also points to cross-platform anti-stalking alerts built into the system. (The Verge)
Apple is also pushing the hunt from the wrist. Precision Finding for AirTag now works on Apple Watch Series 9 and later and on Watch Ultra 2 and later, so users can track down keys or a bag without pulling out an iPhone.
The new AirTag keeps the same shape as the first one, which means existing key rings and cases still fit. Battery life does not move much either — Apple still talks in “more than a year,” and the coin cell remains replaceable.
Apple has tied full support to software updates, including iOS 26.2.1, which Apple’s release notes say adds support for AirTag (2nd generation) alongside bug fixes. Apple’s security release page lists no published CVE entries — the industry label for publicly disclosed security flaws — for iOS 26.2.1 and watchOS 26.2.1; it also lists iOS 26.2.1 as available for iPhone 11 and later and watchOS 26.2.1 for Apple Watch Series 6 and later. (Wsparcie Apple)
But trackers have a long tail risk: people have used them to stalk strangers, and protections rely on fast updates across iPhones and Android phones. Heise noted another trade-off in the hardware refresh: a louder speaker can make a hidden tag easier to detect, but could also make it easier for thieves to find and discard it. (heise online)
Apple shares were down about 0.7% in premarket trading.
The company said the new AirTag is available to order now and will reach Apple’s retail stores later this week, with the four-pack still priced at $99. Apple has stressed that AirTag is meant for objects, not people or pets, and that location data is protected by encryption so only the owner can see it.
