Apple AirTag Update Enhances Tracking with New Features

Apple has just unveiled an exciting update to its AirTag line, enhancing functionality with features that make tracking your belongings easier than ever. The second-generation AirTags now offer a 50% increase in range, a louder speaker, and a unique chirp sound, all while maintaining the current retail price. This update is sure to entice new users and grant first-generation AirTag owners the chance to snag steep discounts.

Imagine reaching your destination without your luggage. The anxiety of tracking down misplaced bags is all too familiar, especially in crowded airports. Whether your bags ended up on a different flight or are trapped somewhere in the terminal, having Apple AirTags in your bags, on keys, or in other essential items dramatically reduces that uncertainty.

Apple’s AirTags have become so popular that they’ve integrated with major airports and airlines, allowing travelers to pinpoint their luggage through Apple’s Find My service. Here’s everything you need to know about these powerful trackers.

What’s an Apple AirTag?

An AirTag is a compact tracking device that broadcasts its location securely using Bluetooth. Shaped like a glossy white puck, it’s about the size of a US quarter and powered by a CR2032 coin cell battery, which lasts roughly a year. Once paired with an iPhone or iPad, you can simply hang it on your keychain or place it inside a bag, enabling effortless tracking.

What’s New with the Second-Gen AirTag?

While the design remains unchanged, the real upgrades lie within the second-generation AirTags. Here are five key improvements:

• Extended Precision Tracking Range: The new UWB chip increases the detection range by 1.5 times compared to first-gen AirTags.
• Apple Watch Integration: You can now use an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or newer, for more precise tracking with the updated UWB chip.
• Enhanced Bluetooth Range: A new Bluetooth chip triples the range of communication, aiding in locating the AirTag and securely reporting its location to the Find My network.
• Louder Speaker: With an increase in volume by 50%, the updated AirTags are easier to locate with an audible chirp, especially in crowded places.
• Distinctive Sound: The new AirTags produce an easily recognizable chime, ensuring you can find them even in noisy environments.

How Can I Tell the Difference Between AirTag Generations?

If you hold a first-gen and a second-gen AirTag, differences may not be immediately apparent unless you notice that the newer version is 0.8 grams heavier. Flip them over, and the metal backing reveals all caps around the second-gen AirTag, signifying its communication features and IP67 dust-water resistance.

How Much Do AirTags Cost, and Where Can I Buy Them?

A single AirTag retails for $29 from Apple, often available for around $24 at electronics retailers. Buying them in packs of four is economical, with a set priced at $99. Some retailers, such as Amazon and Best Buy, frequently offer discounts, bringing the cost below $20 per tracker. Second-gen AirTags are fresh to the market and might maintain a higher retail price until supplies of first-gen models are depleted.

Personalization options include free engraving of initials or emojis, helping distinguish between multiple AirTags.

Is It Difficult to Set Up a New AirTag?

Setting up an AirTag is seamless. A plastic tab keeps the AirTag inert until removed. As soon as you pull it out, it begins broadcasting its presence. Bring the AirTag near your iPhone or iPad, and a dialog box will prompt you to connect it. Simply choose a description like “Luggage,” and you’re set. The tag gets linked to your Apple ID, making tracking a breeze.

How Do I Locate an AirTag?

Open the Find My app on any Apple device and tap the Items button to see your activated AirTags. On an Apple Watch, use the Find Items app. If your AirTag is nearby, tapping Play Sound will emit a high-pitched trill. If your device is an iPhone 11 or newer, tapping Find guides you with precision using Apple’s UWB technology.

What If I Forget Items While I’m Heading Out?

For added peace of mind, enable Notify When Left Behind for each AirTag. This feature sends alerts if your item and the AirTag become separated, whether it’s a bag left at a restaurant or a stolen item.

What’s the Secret to How AirTags Work?

Unlike traditional tracking devices, AirTags utilize a massive network of Apple devices around you. They periodically send a low-power Bluetooth signal containing an encrypted ID. Nearby iPhones, iPads, or Macs pick up that signal, adding their location coordinates for a seamless recovery experience.

What About Privacy? Can a Hidden AirTag Track Me?

Though you can track your belongings with AirTags, there are safeguards against unwanted tracking. If an unknown AirTag remains close to you, your device will notify you with an alert. Following the prompts, you can identify the AirTag or disable it if necessary.

What If I Suspect That My AirTag Is Stolen?

In the unfortunate event that your AirTag is disconnected from its item, access the Lost AirTag option in the Find My app to display contact details for someone who may have found it. You can also generate a link to share your AirTag’s location, which remains active for a week.

How Can I Share an AirTag with Someone I Trust?

AirTags are linked to your Apple account, but it’s now possible to share the location with up to five people. By accessing the Share AirTag option in the Find My app, you can invite a trusted individual to track it alongside you.

How Long Does the Battery Last, and How Do I Replace It?

The CR2032 coin battery in each AirTag typically lasts about a year. When it’s low, you’ll receive a notification in the Find My app. To replace it, simply twist off the silver backing, swap out the battery, and reattach.

Can I Use AirTags with an Android Phone?

AirTags aren’t designed to work with Android phones due to their reliance on Apple’s Find My ecosystem. For similar functionality, alternatives like the Chipolo One Point tracker leverage Google’s Find My Device network. Although an Android app called Tracker Detect was available, it is no longer supported on recent devices.

For more tips, explore this year’s best AirTag accessories and learn about the latest Apple Intelligence innovations.