Apple’s new AirTag technology is louder and can be found over longer distances

Apple on Monday introduced the next version of the AirTag, which will now have a longer Bluetooth range, a louder speaker and improved precision search capabilities. The latter is powered by Apple’s second-generation ultra-wideband chip, which is also found in the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

With Precision Finding, the new AirTag can provide tactile, visual and audio feedback to direct users to missing items. Now, those search capabilities extend up to 50% further than the previous generation, Apple claims. Meanwhile, the upgraded Bluetooth chip also helps expand the range within which items can be located.

It is worth noting that with this update, it will be possible to access the Precision Finding feature from Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later.

The device’s speaker is also 50% louder than the previous generation, which means you can hear the AirTag alert from up to twice as far away as before.

AirTag devices will also integrate with Share Item Location, an iOS feature that allows users to temporarily share the location of an AirTag with third parties. Today, 50 airlines partner with Apple to track baggage.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the price of the AirTag: It’s still $29 for a single AirTag and $99 for a pack of four, including free personal engraving.

First launched in 2021, AirTag quickly dominated the Bluetooth-connected lost item finder market, forcing previous market leaders like Tile to quickly find an exit. The company claimed that Apple was competing unfairly because its search network was immediately as large as the iPhone’s install base, and Apple was pushing AirTag’s competitors to integrate with its Find My app. Other companies, like Chipolo, have taken up Apple’s offer to work with Find My and competed with AirTag with products that work across iOS and Android, or have different features, such as rechargeable batteries.

However, Apple’s AirTag remains the winner, with third-party estimates suggesting that nearly 70% of trackers sold in the latter part of 2024 were AirTag devices. Apple does not disclose its AirTag sales.