Apple AirTag (2026) overview: It’s a bit higher and prices the identical

Apple AirTag — it is essentially the most unassuming Apple gadget. You purchase it, you connect it to one thing, and also you monitor it once you want that one thing. How can one enhance on that idea?

Well, with the second-generation AirTag (aka AirTag 2), Apple determined to not. The idea, as outlined above, is precisely the identical, as are the AirTag’s dimensions, weight, and design. You put the AirTag 1 and AirTag 2 on the desk, facet by facet, and you will not be capable of inform the distinction.

But the brand new AirTag makes enhancements in a few key areas, some much less apparent than others. I’ve spent a few week testing the brand new AirTag thus far; this is how I favored it.

Much improved vary, and barely louder speaker

Apple would not disclose the exact vary for Precision Finding on the AirTag, in all probability as a result of it will depend on quite a few elements, akin to what number of partitions are between you and your lacking merchandise.

Using the brand new AirTag with my iPhone 17 Pro Max, I examined the vary in my two-bedroom condominium. The outcomes I acquired have been fairly good. I positioned the brand new AirTag in a single bed room, after which went to the farthest nook of the condominium. It took a second, however my iPhone 17 Pro Max was capable of detect it from about 15 meters (49 ft) away, with two partitions between us, and will pinpoint its location at 11 meters (36 ft) away.

Apple additionally despatched me this nifty, FineWoven key ring. The shade you see is known as Moss.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

On the unique AirTag, the very best I might get was about 30 ft; something farther than that and the sign can be misplaced.

As for the sound, it’s undoubtedly louder than earlier than, although it is laborious to say by precisely how a lot. I positioned my AirTag 2 in a backpack, and I might nonetheless simply hear it from one other room.

Battery life and every part else are nonetheless the identical

There aren’t any modifications to battery life, which is not shocking, provided that the brand new AirTag makes use of the identical replaceable, non-rechargeable CR2032 lithium battery as the unique. It ought to final a few 12 months; powerful to check with a brand new machine, nevertheless it was about proper with the outdated AirTag I’ve.

If you have already got an adjunct on your AirTag, you may be blissful to know that the scale have not modified. The AirTag 2 nonetheless has a 1.26-inch diameter, a 0.31-inch top, and weighs 11 grams.

It’s additionally rated IP67, which means it ought to survive being submerged to 1 meter for as much as half-hour.

Owners of outdated iPhones, take discover

The outdated AirTag works with all iPhone and iPod contact fashions operating iOS 14.5 or later (sure, people are still using iPods), in addition to iPads with iPadOS 14.5 or later. That signifies that even a decade-old iPhone will work with it.

AirTag 2, nonetheless, requires a telephone operating iOS 26 or later, or an iPad operating iPadOS 26 or later. While that additionally covers some very outdated iPhones, Apple’s advantageous print says that Improved Precision Finding solely works with iPhone Air or iPhone 15 or later, with iPhone 16e being excluded.

The conclusion is straightforward: If you’ve got an iPhone older than that, there is not any level in getting the brand new AirTags.

Apple Watch will get Precision Tracking

You solely get a really approximate place of the AirTag on the Apple Watch.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

With the brand new AirTag, Apple additionally launched a function that was beforehand unavailable: Precision Finding with the Apple Watch. It requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, with watchOS 26.2.1.

For causes I do not absolutely perceive, getting this to work is not simple; you may’t simply navigate to Find Items in your Apple Watch’s Apps, faucet in your AirTag’s identify, and get Precision Finding.

Instead, it’s important to open Control Center in your Watch, faucet on Edit, then the “+” button, navigate to Find Items, faucet that, faucet Find AirTag, select the one you need, then faucet the checkmark.

Use precision monitoring on new Apple Watches and iPhones.
Credit: Apple

Use the Find My app to find and monitor misplaced objects.
Credit: Apple

When that is all arrange, go to your Watch’s Control Center, scroll to the Find AirTag button, and faucet it to launch Precision Finding. It’s not practically as exact as you get on the iPhone, so I’d solely use it as a final resort.

It’s vital to notice that this function would not work with the unique AirTag, irrespective of which Watch you’ve got (you may nonetheless use Precision Finding on the Watch to seek out an iPhone 15 or newer, although).

Verdict: Very helpful, however nonetheless a bit dear for what you get

Don’t purchase these individually. Buy a 4-pack and avoid wasting cash.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The AirTag is a helpful little factor. It saved me plenty of worrying as soon as when my baggage acquired misplaced, as I used to be capable of monitor its whereabouts by way of Find My. It prices you nothing to purchase a few AirTags and connect them onto your keys and bikes and put them in your backpacks and baggage, however…

…it does price, fairly a bit truly. A single AirTag prices $29, a value that nobody ought to pay for a gadget this easy. Fortunately, Apple additionally sells a four-pack for the marginally extra palatable $99. This remains to be dear, thoughts you, nevertheless it’s higher than shopping for them one after the other (you should buy a four-pack of the unique AirTag for $64 at Amazon, as of this writing).

As it typically occurs with Apple devices, the corporate does such job with the best of issues that you just typically find yourself paying the dreaded Apple premium, and the AirTag is an effective instance of this. My recommendation: Just get a four-pack and do not take into consideration the value too laborious.