Apple launches new AirTag with longer range and louder speaker

The second-generation AirTag has a better range and a louder speaker than the first generation. It also has Apple’s newer Ultra Wideband chip.

On Tuesday, Apple released the second generation AirTag, the next version of the accessory it first introduced in 2021. The small metal tracker helps users keep track of items like bags, wallets, and keys. The new AirTag will be available for purchase later this week, priced at Rs 3,790 for a single unit and Rs 12,900 for a four-pack.

Apple is not branding the new model as AirTag 2, instead continuing with the name AirTag. The first-generation AirTag is currently no longer available.

The new AirTag functions much like the previous version. It remains a compact tracker that can be attached to a keychain, placed in a bag, or secured to luggage. The design remains unchanged. However, the updated AirTag offers a longer range, improved power efficiency, and an upgraded Bluetooth chip, allowing users to locate items from up to 50% farther away.

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This improvement is enabled by a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, also found in devices such as the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Apple Watch Series 11.

The new AirTag features a speaker twice as loud as the previous version, making it easier to hear from a greater distance. Apple is also expanding its usefulness. For the first time, users can locate AirTags using an Apple Watch, but only with Apple Watch Series 9, Ultra 2, or later models.

The updated AirTag remains connected to Apple’s Find My app, which is also used to locate devices like the iPhone and iPad. It connects to Apple’s vast Find My network of iPhones and Macs via Bluetooth. When a lost item comes within range of another Apple device, its location is updated and sent to the owner. The person who finds it can also view a custom message and phone number set by the user.

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Since the release of the first AirTag, many new companies—both small and large—have entered the tracker market. The AirTag has become a popular accessory, especially among travelers. Over the years, Apple has partnered with airlines such as Air India to allow passengers to share AirTag locations for lost luggage, helping reduce permanently lost bags.

However, Apple’s AirTag has also faced controversy. As Bluetooth tracking devices have become more common, there has been an increase in stalking cases, despite manufacturers stating that these products were not designed to track people.