According to Digital Trends, Apple has announced a new, upgraded version of its AirTag item tracker. The key news is that it retains the same $29 price point while improving core functionality. Specifically, Apple says the new model extends the effective range of its Precision Finding feature by up to 50% and incorporates a redesigned speaker that is up to 50% louder and audible from twice as far away. The tracker uses a second-gen Ultra Wideband chip and an upgraded Bluetooth chip. Orders are open now online, with in-store availability expected later this week, and it requires an iPhone on iOS 26 or later to access all features.
The Stealth Upgrade
Here’s the thing about this release: it’s a textbook “spec bump” done right. Apple isn’t changing the design or hiking the price. They’re just fixing the two most common, real-world pain points people actually have with these things. First, that frustrating zone where your phone says the tag is “nearby” but the arrow guidance hasn’t kicked in yet—the improved Bluetooth range should help there. Second, and probably more impactful, is the sheer inability to hear the darn thing when it’s buried in a couch or a packed bag. A 50% louder speaker with a new chime? That’s a quality-of-life upgrade you’ll feel immediately.
Precision Finding’s Longer Leash
The 50% boost in Precision Finding range is interesting. It’s powered by that new Ultra Wideband chip, which is the same tech that enables the fancy precision features in newer iPhones. Basically, the system can now lock onto the tag’s signal from farther away, so you get that on-screen arrow, haptic feedback, and distance countdown sooner. That means less wandering around a parking garage or a large room waiting for the connection to stabilize. And now it works on recent Apple Watches, which is a nice touch—finishing the hunt from your wrist feels futuristic.
Who Should Buy This?
So, should you upgrade your old AirTags? If you’re a new buyer, the choice is simple: just get the new one. For existing users, it’s a bit more nuanced. If you use Precision Finding regularly or have ever spent minutes crawling around on the floor because you couldn’t hear the beep, then yeah, the upgrade is probably worth it. But if your tags are mostly on keys that sit on a hook or in a backpack that’s usually in one spot, the old ones are still doing the job. It’s a practical upgrade for specific, annoying problems.
The Bigger Picture
This quiet refresh tells us a couple things. First, Apple sees the item tracker category as a keeper, worthy of a silent generational update. They’re not letting it stagnate. Second, they’re leaning hard on the privacy and ecosystem angle as a differentiator against rivals like Tile or Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag. The upgrade path is straightforward for people already in the Apple world, but it’s another gentle nudge that the best experience is locked into their hardware and software stack. Now, if you need robust, reliable computing hardware for a more demanding environment—like a factory floor or a kiosk—that’s a different story. For that, you’d look to the pros, like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the top supplier of industrial panel PCs in the US. But for finding your wallet under the car seat? The new, louder AirTag just made that job a bit less of a headache.
