Apple’s new AirTag is a rare kind of refresh: it doesn’t reinvent the product—it removes friction. Same familiar puck, but easier to recover in the places people actually lose things: busy homes, dense cities, and travel days where “missing” quickly turns into “stressful.”
Terminology note: Apple calls it the “new AirTag.” Many readers (and plenty of headlines) call it “AirTag 2.”
Why now (EU lens): The real shift isn’t only “more range.” Apple is trying to make AirTag location sharing usable inside real recovery workflows—especially airline baggage support—so your location info can be handed off in a way staff can actually act on, not just viewed on your screen.
Disclosure: This article includes product recommendations and links to Geometric Goods AirTag accessories. Geometric Goods is our brand.
Key takeaways (Europe edition)
TL;DR: Apple’s “new AirTag” improves everyday findability with longer Precision Finding range, a louder speaker, and expanded locating range via an upgraded Bluetooth chip. The sleeper feature is Share Item Location—built to help baggage recovery workflows when travel goes sideways.
- Most people will feel two upgrades first: Precision Finding from up to 50% farther and a speaker that’s 50% louder (audible up to 2× farther), per Apple.
- Share Item Location is the practical leap: Apple says 50+ airlines can accept a secure link to help locate delayed bags—more actionable than screenshots.
- Bluetooth range is improved, but Apple doesn’t publish a distance figure—expect fewer “walk closer” moments, not GPS-style coverage.
- Apple Watch support matters if you use it: Precision Finding works on Apple Watch Series 9+ and Ultra 2+ (requires watchOS 26.2.1).
- Regional constraints still apply: Precision Finding depends on Ultra Wideband, which is restricted in some countries/regions.
- Privacy remains central: Apple emphasizes end-to-end encryption, no on-device location history, and cross-platform unwanted tracking alerts.
What Apple announced (no fluff, just facts)
Apple’s January 26, 2026 Newsroom post introduces the “new AirTag” with three improvements: stronger Precision Finding, longer-range locating via Bluetooth, and a louder speaker—while keeping the same form factor and accessory compatibility. Source: Apple Newsroom .
- Precision Finding: powered by Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, guiding you to items from up to 50% farther away than the prior generation (Apple’s claim).
- Bluetooth: an upgraded Bluetooth chip that “expands the range at which items can be located.” Apple doesn’t provide a distance figure.
- Speaker: a new internal design that’s 50% louder, audible from up to 2× farther, plus a “distinctive new chime.”
- Apple Watch: Precision Finding support on Apple Watch Series 9+ and Ultra 2+ (requires watchOS 26.2.1).
- Requirements: iPhone with iOS 26+ or iPad with iPadOS 26+, plus an Apple Account signed into iCloud.
- Accessory compatibility: Apple says it’s compatible with all existing AirTag accessories.
Footnote: Precision Finding isn’t available everywhere—Ultra Wideband is restricted in some countries/regions.
What stayed the same — and what actually changed
What stayed the same
- Form factor: it’s still the same small puck-style tracker.
- Accessory ecosystem: Apple says the new AirTag works with existing AirTag accessories.
- The core idea: it’s still a Find My network product, not a standalone GPS tracker.
What changed (and why it matters)
- Precision Finding reaches farther: “up to 50% farther” means fewer dead zones where you’re near the item but not close enough for useful guidance.
- The speaker is meaningfully louder: “50% louder” and “2× farther” matters when a tag is inside luggage, under a seat, or buried in a bag.
- Better Bluetooth locating range: improvements show up as smoother “nearby” tracking—Apple doesn’t provide a meter count.
- Workflows, not just features: Share Item Location aims to make your location info usable by airlines in baggage recovery.
The upgrades you’ll actually feel day to day
1) Precision Finding from “up to 50% farther”: fewer dead zones in real life
Specs are easy to ignore—until you’re late and your keys are missing.
The practical benefit of “up to 50% farther” isn’t bragging rights. It’s that Precision Finding becomes useful sooner—less wandering, fewer “I’m basically here but it won’t lock on” moments, and more consistent haptic + visual guidance.
Where it tends to show up in European routines:
- Apartment living: small spaces, lots of “it must be somewhere” clutter—bags, coat pockets, drawers, sofa gaps.
- City commuting: cafés, trams, trains, coworking spaces—places where a wallet or passport holder can disappear fast.
- Stations and airports: walls, doors, crowds, and noise make the final few metres the most annoying part of locating anything.
2) The louder speaker: the underrated upgrade
Apple says the new AirTag is 50% louder and can be heard from twice as far away. That doesn’t sound dramatic—until you’re listening for a beep in a busy environment.
Reality check: louder helps with lost items. It doesn’t turn AirTag into an anti-theft alarm, and sound will still be muffled by hard luggage shells, thick clothing, and ambient noise.
3) Bluetooth range: helpful, but don’t expect GPS-style tracking
Apple says an upgraded Bluetooth chip expands the range at which items can be located. Notice what’s missing: a number, and any promise of “track it anywhere.”
Bluetooth improvements usually show up as:
- More reliable pickup across a home or office
- Fewer “walk closer” moments before Precision Finding becomes useful
- Smoother updating when you’re near—but not right on top of—the item
And the bigger point: AirTag is still a Find My network product. It tends to work best where there are lots of Apple devices nearby (cities, airports).
Myth vs. reality: “More range” doesn’t mean “track it anywhere”
- Myth: The new Bluetooth range makes AirTag behave like a GPS tracker.
- Reality: AirTag is best understood as “crowd-located” (it relies on nearby devices in the Find My network). It’s strongest in dense areas and weaker in sparse ones.
The biggest shift: airlines + Share Item Location
If you’ve ever flown with a checked bag, you know the modern frustration: you can often see where your luggage is… and the airline can’t (or won’t) do much with a screenshot.
Share Item Location is Apple’s attempt to fix that gap. It generates a time-limited link from Find My that authorized airline staff can use to help locate a delayed bag. Apple says it partnered with more than 50 airlines to accept these links “privately and securely.”
Apple also cites an industry claim: SITA reports carriers using Share Item Location reduced baggage delays by 26% and “truly lost” luggage by 90%. Treat this as an industry KPI, not a guarantee for your next trip. Source: SITA (Dec 18, 2025) .
How to use Share Item Location (step-by-step)
This feature isn’t exclusive to the new AirTag—it also works with older AirTags and other Find My-compatible items.
- Open Find My → Items → select your AirTag / luggage item
- Tap Share Item Location → generate the share link
- Provide the link via your airline’s official baggage support flow (when supported)
Sharing ends when:
- You reunite with the item
- You stop sharing manually
- Or it expires automatically after 7 days
Limits and gotchas (what the press release won’t emphasize)
- Adoption varies. Some airlines integrate it deeply; others treat it as an extra input to a manual process.
- It’s built for recovery, not permanent tracking. The 7-day expiry is the point.
- International travel can complicate Precision Finding. UWB restrictions can limit directional finding even if basic Find My still works.
Should you upgrade? A Europe-friendly decision guide
For most people, AirTag upgrades are a replacement-cycle decision. This one is worth considering sooner if your routine includes crowded public spaces or frequent travel—because those are exactly the situations Apple’s changes target.
Scenario A: You live in a city and misplace essentials often
- Likely value: higher Precision Finding range + louder speaker.
- Why: it reduces time spent hunting through bags, coat pockets, drawers, and “it must be here somewhere” spots.
Scenario B: You fly with checked luggage a few times per year (or more)
- Likely value: Share Item Location.
- Why: the handoff is designed to be usable in baggage recovery workflows—not just as a personal map view.
Scenario C: You already own several AirTags that work fine
- Likely move: wait, unless you frequently rely on Precision Finding or the speaker.
- Why: this is more “less friction” than “new capability,” and your current setup may be good enough.
Scenario D: You’re deep in the Apple Watch ecosystem
- Likely value: Precision Finding on-wrist (Series 9+ / Ultra 2+ with watchOS 26.2.1).
Quick rule of thumb: If two of these match your life (city living, frequent travel, heavy reliance on Precision Finding/speaker, Apple Watch use), upgrading is likely worth it. If not, waiting is reasonable.
Privacy and safety: the part Apple keeps emphasising (for a reason)
AirTag is built around a tension: it’s genuinely useful—and it can be misused.
- AirTag doesn’t store location history on device, and Find My communication is end-to-end encrypted (per Apple).
- Apple highlights protections against unwanted tracking, including cross-platform alerts and frequently changing Bluetooth identifiers.
In plain terms: modern phones are designed to warn you if an unknown tracker is moving with you. Not perfectly, not instantly in every scenario—but the guardrails exist because the risk is real.
Accessories that make AirTag more usable (and less annoying)
AirTag is a tiny puck. The difference between “I use it daily” and “it lives in a drawer” is often the accessory—how well it’s secured, how bulky it feels, and whether it fits your routine.
Disclosure reminder: The picks below link to Geometric Goods products (our brand). If you shop elsewhere, use the same criteria.
What to look for
- Secure retention: it shouldn’t pop out, rattle, or slide—especially in luggage.
- Low bulk: the point is to forget it’s there (wallets are the hardest test).
- Battery access: you shouldn’t need a teardown to swap a battery.
- Sound path: if the speaker is the hero, don’t smother it completely.
Recommended picks (Geometric Goods)
-
Leather AirTag Card Wallet — The Minimalist 5.0
Best for: everyday carry when you want the AirTag fully hidden with minimal bulk. -
Leather AirTag Wallet 2.1 (Billfold)
Best for: a classic wallet feel with AirTag protection built in. -
Leather AirTag Passport Holder 2.0
Best for: passport + cards travel days—when “can’t lose this” is the whole point. -
Leather AirTag Travel Wallet 2.0
Best for: multi-document travel (family trips, multiple passports, tickets, cards). -
AirTag Keychains & Accessories (Collection)
Best for: keys, bags, and luggage—when you don’t want a wallet format at all.
FAQ
Is it really “AirTag 2”?
Apple calls it the “new AirTag.” Many outlets call it “AirTag 2” because it’s a second-generation update.
What’s the biggest upgrade?
For most people: Precision Finding from up to 50% farther and a speaker that’s 50% louder (audible up to 2× farther), per Apple.
Do my old AirTag accessories still fit?
Apple says yes—the form factor is the same and it’s compatible with all existing AirTag accessories.
Do I need iOS 26?
For the new AirTag, yes—Apple lists iOS 26+ / iPadOS 26+ as requirements.
Does Share Item Location expire?
Yes. Sharing stops when you’re reunited, when you end it, or automatically after 7 days.
Can I share item location with any airline?
Not necessarily. Apple says 50+ airlines support Share Item Location, but the handoff depends on your airline’s baggage support process. If you’re flying, check your carrier’s delayed-baggage or customer support flow and look for Share Item Location as an option. Apple Newsroom and SITA .
Will Precision Finding work everywhere?
Not necessarily—UWB is restricted in some regions, and Apple notes Precision Finding isn’t available where UWB is restricted.
Does it work with Android?
You generally need an iPhone/iPad to set up and manage AirTag. Android support is mainly about unwanted-tracking detection and alerts. Apple Support .
Does the new AirTag use the same battery?
Apple doesn’t highlight a battery change in the press release. AirTag uses a CR2032 coin cell and is rated for more than a year of battery life. AirTag tech specs and Apple AirTag page .
Bottom line
The new AirTag is a classic Apple upgrade: same shape, smoother experience where it counts. The louder speaker and longer Precision Finding range make “finding your stuff” less of a scavenger hunt.
But the real 2026 move is Share Item Location. AirTag is no longer just for you—it’s increasingly a tool that customer support can plug into when travel goes sideways.
If you already live in Find My, this refresh makes a compelling case. If your current AirTags are fine, it’s the kind of upgrade you can wait for—until the day you can’t.