Apple’s upgraded AirTag gets louder and smarter, making lost items easier to find than ever

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by Tech Crunch, click this post to read the original article.

Apple has unveiled its next-generation AirTag, introducing several notable upgrades designed to improve how you find lost items. The new version features a longer Bluetooth range, a 50% louder speaker, and improved Precision Finding powered by Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. This chip, also in the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, and Watch Ultra 3, enables the AirTag to guide you using a combination of haptic, visual, and audio cues even from a greater distance—up to 50% farther than before.

You can now locate your lost belongings more efficiently thanks to the enhanced Bluetooth range and upgraded speaker, which allows you to hear the alert sound from up to twice as far away. Precision Finding is now also compatible with Apple Watch Series 9 and later, as well as Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, expanding the ways you can track down your items directly from your wrist.

Additionally, the AirTag now supports iOS’s Share Item Location feature, making it easier for you to temporarily share your AirTag’s location with others. Apple continues to partner with over 50 airlines for seamless luggage tracking, reinforcing its dominance in the market. Despite the improvements, pricing for the AirTag remains unchanged at $29 for one or $99 for a four-pack, including complimentary engraving.

Since its 2021 launch, AirTag has become the market leader in Bluetooth item trackers, outpacing former competitors like Tile. While some companies opted to partner with Apple’s Find My network, AirTag still captures an estimated 70% of tracker sales as of late 2024, with its popularity driven by deep integration with Apple’s broader ecosystem and continued product enhancements.