Apple updates AirTag with upgraded UWB, extended range and louder speaker

Apple quietly replaced its original item tracker with a hardware-refresh that focuses on sensing and audio improvements rather than a redesigned case. The new AirTag embeds a second-generation Ultra Wideband radio—the same radio silicon Apple now uses in its latest phones and watches—paired with a beefed-up Bluetooth module, which together stretch effective Precision Finding distances by roughly half again compared with the previous model. A more powerful internal speaker raises the audible detection envelope to about twice the prior range, and for the first time you can initiate a search directly from an Apple Watch running recent software and hardware generations. This release is a direct swap for the outgoing unit; Apple is discontinuing the prior model and keeping retail prices identical to preserve the accessory’s accessibility. For travelers and logistics operators the incremental hardware gains matter: better UWB fidelity and stronger audio cues reduce time spent locating misplaced items and increase the practical utility of tag-based tracking in crowded or noisy environments. The AirTag continues to derive its utility from Apple’s decentralized Find My network, which leverages millions of participating devices to surface location information while preserving cryptographic protections meant to impede unauthorized tracking. The company also points to operational improvements in airline workflows that have reduced permanently lost baggage in pilot deployments, illustrating a real-world benefit when device-level tracking is integrated with carrier systems. From a product strategy perspective, this refresh tightens Apple’s ecosystem advantage by aligning accessory silicon with its flagship devices, simplifying development and support while nudging consumers toward a uniform platform. Competitively, the update raises the bar for third-party tag makers that lack Apple’s system-level integration and device density, particularly where UWB accuracy and cross-device finding matter. The unchanged pricing preserves the accessory’s low barrier to entry, which should sustain broad adoption among existing Apple customers and new buyers who prioritize travel resilience. Operationally, the change is low risk for Apple: it is a component swap that yields noticeable user-facing gains without requiring major software rewrites or new services. In short, this is a tactical hardware uplift that strengthens the AirTag’s core value proposition—finding lost items faster and with more certainty—while keeping the product accessible and tightly coupled to Apple’s device ecosystem.