The first Apple release of the year is… a second generation AirTag.
After five years, Apple has finally refreshed its AirTag Item Tracking. Announced in a press releaseApple says the new AirTag is equipped with a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that allows users to locate it “up to 50% further than the previous generation.”
The new AirTag also has improved Bluetooth and the precision search feature works with Apple Watch Series 9 (or later) and Apple Watch Ultra 2 (or later).
Discover the new AirTag 2 on Apple.com
Apple also claims that the new AirTag is 50% louder, allowing users to hear its speaker “up to 2x further away” than the original thanks to an “updated internal design.”
Otherwise, the new AirTag is virtually the same as the original. It has the same design that can be laser engraved with an emoji or text (like your initials) at checkout when purchasing from Apple. It still uses a CR2032 coin cell battery, which lasts about a year of use before needing replacement.
Since their release in 2021, AirTags have become indispensable for anyone looking to track the location of their items. I have one in every backpack and piece of luggage I own. Some people even attach AirTags to their pets, children, and elderly people, although Apple recommends against doing so. That’s how useful AirTags have become.
“Designed exclusively for tracking objects, not people or pets, the new AirTag incorporates a suite of industry-first protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth IDs that change frequently,” Apple says in its press release.
The new AirTag is available to order on Apple.com starting today, for the same price as the original: $29 for one or $99 for a four-pack. It will be available in Apple Stores “later this week”.
