Apple AirTag (2026) review: I put the improved range and precision tracking to the test

Apple AirTag — it's the most unassuming Apple gadget. You buy it, you attach it to something, and you track it when you need that something. How can one improve on that concept?

Well, with the second-generation AirTag (aka AirTag 2), Apple decided not to. The concept, as outlined above, is exactly the same, as are the AirTag's dimensions, weight, and design. You put the AirTag 1 and AirTag 2 on the table, side by side, and you won't be able to tell the difference.

But the new AirTag makes improvements in a couple of key areas, some less obvious than others. I've spent about a week testing the new AirTag so far; here's how I liked it.

Much improved range, and slightly louder speaker

Apple doesn't disclose the precise range for Precision Finding on the AirTag, probably because it depends on numerous factors, such as how many walls are between you and your missing item.

Using the new AirTag with my iPhone 17 Pro Max, I tested the range in my two-bedroom apartment. The results I got were pretty good. I placed the new AirTag in one bedroom, and then went to the farthest corner of the apartment. It took a second, but my iPhone 17 Pro Max was able to detect it from about 15 meters (49 feet) away, with two walls between us, and could pinpoint its location at 11 meters (36 feet) away.

On the original AirTag, the best I could get was about 30 feet; anything farther than that and the signal would be lost.

As for the sound, it is definitely louder than before, though it's hard to say by exactly how much. I placed my AirTag 2 in a backpack, and I could still easily hear it from another room.

Battery life and everything else are still the same

There are no changes to battery life, which isn't surprising, given that the new AirTag uses the same replaceable, non-rechargeable CR2032 lithium battery as the original. It should last about a year; tough to test with a new device, but it was about right with the old AirTag I have.

If you already have an accessory for your AirTag, you'll be happy to know that the dimensions haven't changed. The AirTag 2 still has a 1.26-inch diameter, a 0.31-inch height, and weighs 11 grams.

It's also rated IP67, meaning it should survive being submerged to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes.

Owners of old iPhones, take notice

The old AirTag works with all iPhone and iPod touch models running iOS 14.5 or later (yes, people are still using iPods), as well as iPads with iPadOS 14.5 or later. That means that even a decade-old iPhone will work with it.

AirTag 2, however, requires a phone running iOS 26 or later, or an iPad running iPadOS 26 or later. While that also covers some very old iPhones, Apple's fine print says that Improved Precision Finding only works with iPhone Air or iPhone 15 or later, with iPhone 16e being excluded.

The conclusion is simple: If you have an iPhone older than that, there's no point in getting the new AirTags.

Apple Watch gets Precision Tracking

With the new AirTag, Apple also launched a feature that was previously unavailable: Precision Finding with the Apple Watch. It requires an Apple Watch Series 9 or later, or an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later, with watchOS 26.2.1.

For reasons I don't fully understand, getting this to work isn't straightforward; you can't just navigate to Find Items on your Apple Watch's Apps, tap on your AirTag's name, and get Precision Finding.

Instead, you have to open Control Center on your Watch, tap on Edit, then the "+" button, navigate to Find Items, tap that, tap Find AirTag, choose the one you want, then tap the checkmark.

When that's all set up, go to your Watch's Control Center, scroll to the Find AirTag button, and tap it to launch Precision Finding. It's not nearly as precise as you get on the iPhone, so I'd only use it as a last resort.

It's important to note that this feature doesn't work with the original AirTag, no matter which Watch you have (you can still use Precision Finding on the Watch to find an iPhone 15 or newer, though).

Verdict: Very useful, but still a little pricey for what you get

The AirTag is a useful little thing. It saved me a lot of worrying once when my baggage got lost, as I was able to track its whereabouts through Find My. It costs you nothing to buy a couple of AirTags and attach them onto your keys and bikes and put them in your backpacks and luggage, but...

...it does cost, quite a bit actually. A single AirTag costs $29, a price that no one should pay for a gadget this simple. Fortunately, Apple also sells a four-pack for the slightly more palatable $99. This is still pricey, mind you, but it's better than buying them one by one (you can buy a four-pack of the original AirTag for $64 at Amazon, as of this writing).

As it often happens with Apple gadgets, the company does such a good job with the simplest of things that you often end up paying the dreaded Apple premium, and the AirTag is a good example of this. My advice: Just get a four-pack and don't think about the price too hard.