Apple is preparing to release the second generation of its popular tracker-AirTag 2. According to recent reports, the device may be presented in the summer of 2025, possibly even at WWDC, which will be held on June 9. Despite the fact that the original AirTag is still relevant, Apple, apparently, is preparing several important upgrades that will make the new tracker noticeably smarter and more useful.
The main innovation is the second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, which will provide three times the range of the current model. This means that users will be able to search for lost items even faster and more accurately, especially when paired with the Precision Finding feature available on the latest iPhone models. Extending the range is a key feature for those who often lose their backpacks, wallets, or keys.
It is also planned to upgrade the built-in speaker. According to rumors, Apple will modify its design to make it more difficult to physically turn off the sound — this is important to combat unauthorized use of AirTag, for example, for surveillance purposes. Security and user protection is one of the company’s priorities, especially against the background of previous criticism about the possibility of hidden tracking.
In addition, closer integration of AirTag 2 with the Apple Vision Pro headset is expected. How exactly this will work is still unknown, but we can assume that tracking objects will be supplemented with visual cues in augmented reality mode, which fits perfectly into the concept of the future digital space.
The design of the AirTag 2, apparently, will remain the same-a flat round body with compact dimensions. And this is generally logical: why change what is already convenient? The price, presumably, will not change either — 29$ for one and 99$ for a set of four AirTags.
As a result, AirTag 2 promises to become a more accurate, secure and technologically advanced device, while retaining all the key advantages of the first generation. And if you’ve been thinking about buying trackers for a long time, you might want to wait a little longer. The second version can become a really smart assistant in everyday life.
In a world where personal belongings are easily misplaced or stolen, Apple’s tracking devices have changed how people stay connected to their stuff. With the launch of AirTag 2, Apple doubles down on precision tracking, anti-stalking features, and seamless integration within its ecosystem. This next-gen AirTag isn’t just a refresh—it’s a full-fledged upgrade for anyone who values peace of mind.
Whether you’re safeguarding luggage during travel, attaching it to your pet’s collar, or tagging your keys,AirTag 2 ensures they’re never out of reach. This guide covers everything you need to know—from design improvements and performance benchmarks to privacy innovations and pricing—to help you decide if the AirTag 2 deserves a place in your tech arsenal.
The original AirTag, launched in 2021, revolutionized how users tracked personal items using Apple’s Find My Network. But fast forward to 2025, AirTag 2 has arrived with substantial updates—including enhanced UWB accuracy, real-time alert responsiveness, and advanced privacy protections.
Apple realized that while the first AirTag did the basics well, there were concerns about stalking and range limitations. AirTag 2 solves both with a smarter chip, upgraded speakers, and stronger network connectivity. The enhanced capabilities are not only about being “lost-proof,” but also security-aware and privacy-friendly.
AirTag 2 is especially relevant today because the demand for location-based accessories has skyrocketed across travel, parenting, and urban commuting.
How AirTag 2 differs from the original version
AirTag 2 includes a more refined form factor, a longer battery life, and redesigned internal circuitry for improved performance. But the headline feature? Precision tracking that now functions seamlessly indoors, with centimeter-level accuracy in many conditions.
Feature
AirTag (2021)
AirTag 2 (2025)
UWB Chip
U1
U2 – Enhanced Accuracy
Anti-Stalking
Basic alerts
Smart alerts + auto-detection
Speaker Volume
Low
20% louder speaker
Battery Life
1 year
Up to 18 months
Waterproof Rating
IP67
IP68
Android Support
Minimal
Partial via app
The U2 chip takes real-time location estimation a step further—ideal for tracking items even when walls or floors separate you from your belongings. This is a huge leap for parents and travelers.
Precision Tracking with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Improvements
One of the most significant upgrades in AirTag 2 is its refined use of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. Powered by Apple’s new U2 chip, the AirTag 2 offers directional tracking that’s far more accurate than the previous generation.
Now, instead of just estimating proximity, AirTag 2 can pinpoint the exact location of an item with centimeter-level precision. Whether you’ve dropped your wallet between the couch cushions or left your backpack in a busy café, AirTag 2 uses visual, haptic, and audible feedback to guide you precisely to your item.
UWB also helps reduce false positives. For instance, if you’re in a multi-floor building, AirTag 2 can distinguish vertical distances—a major flaw in the original version that often left users guessing which floor the item was on.
New Anti-Stalking Protections and Safety Alerts
Privacy concerns surrounding AirTags reached critical levels after their launch. AirTag 2 tackles these issues head-on. Apple has added a host of anti-stalking features designed to protect both users and the people around them.
Here’s what’s new :
Automatic detection of unknown AirTags nearby : Your iPhone will now detect an AirTag 2 that may be following you even if it hasn’t been registered to your Apple ID.
Cross-platform alerts : Even Android users can receive tracking notifications via a dedicated Apple Tracker Detect app.
Enhanced sound cues : The device emits louder, more frequent pings when it’s moving with someone other than the owner.
Location anonymization : AirTag 2 uses rotating Bluetooth identifiers to prevent tracking back to the user.
These additions ensure that AirTag 2 not only tracks things but also protects people. Safety is now a top-tier feature, not an afterthought.
Design and Build Quality
Sleek Changes in Design and Available Finishes
Apple has a reputation for marrying functionality with minimalism, and AirTag 2 stays true to that philosophy—while adding a few welcome upgrades. At first glance, the design is similar to the first generation, but look closer and you’ll notice that AirTag 2 features a slimmer, slightly wider body to accommodate new internals and a larger speaker.
The new finish options are a standout feature. Beyond the classic white and silver combo, AirTag 2 now comes in Midnight, Starlight, and Blue Titanium-inspired hues, matching recent iPhone and MacBook lines. This move gives users more aesthetic control, especially for those attaching AirTag 2 to visible items like handbags, bike frames, or dog collars.
Design refinements also help with grip and handling. The edges have been reworked with a matte-textured surface, making the tag less likely to slip from fingers when replacing the battery or switching accessories.
Durability, Water Resistance, and Portability
Apple has made AirTag 2 more rugged and travel-ready. The original model’s IP67 rating has been bumped to IP68, meaning it can now withstand submersion in up to 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. This makes it a great fit for more extreme environments—like wet hikes, beach bags, or outdoor bike trails.
Spec Area
AirTag 1
AirTag 2
Water Resistance
IP67
IP68
Drop Protection
Minimal
Improved housing
Speaker Aperture
Small rear vent
Larger 360-degree grille
The internals are housed in a shock-resistant aluminum core designed to absorb impact without deforming the enclosure. It’s more than just cosmetic—it’s an effort to boost resilience in the real world.
Apple also trimmed weight ever so slightly, making it even more pocket-friendly. Whether you attach it to your pet’s collar or drop it in your suitcase, you’ll barely notice it’s there—until you need it.
AirTag 2 Performance & Accuracy
How Accurate is AirTag 2 Compared to Gen 1
One of the biggest selling points of AirTag 2 is its dramatically improved location accuracy, thanks to the upgraded U2 chip and refined Find My Network integration. With AirTag 1, users could get within a few feet of a lost item. With AirTag 2, that range shrinks to mere inches—and that’s not just hype.
Using the new UWB frequency enhancements, AirTag 2 offers :
Vertical and horizontal distance recognition
Augmented Reality (AR) overlays to guide users on-screen with arrows and audio cues
Improved update intervals for real-time tracking
Users report that lag has dropped significantly, even in crowded locations or high-rise buildings where interference once caused issues. The difference is especially noticeable indoors, where concrete walls or metal shelves used to cause wild inaccuracies.
Real-World Performance: Urban, Indoor, and Rural Scenarios
Apple’s goal with AirTag 2 was to make it practical in more than just ideal situations. Here’s how it performs in real-world environments:
Environment
AirTag 1 Performance
AirTag 2 Performance
Urban (e.g., subway)
Decent, prone to bounce signals
Strong signal retention, minimal noise
Indoor (e.g., apartments)
Often affected by interference
Precision direction with floor-level accuracy
Rural (e.g., hiking, farms)
Long-range issues
Consistent range, Find My relays faster
Even more impressive is how AirTag 2 leverages the expanded Find My network. When out of Bluetooth range, it sends encrypted location pings through nearby iPhones. Because Apple devices are so common in the U.S., chances of signal pickup are extremely high, even in low-traffic areas.
Another strong point: AirTag 2 now updates location history in shorter intervals, helping users better understand when and where their item was last seen. That’s a game-changer for busy public places.
Compatibility with Devices and Platforms
iOS and iPadOS Integration
AirTag 2 was built from the ground up to work seamlessly within Apple’s ecosystem. Out of the box, it pairs instantly with your iPhone, iPad, or even Apple Watch using the same tap-and-go process familiar to AirPods users. Once connected, it appears in the Find My app, where you can label the tag, assign it to an item, and activate features like Lost Mode, Play Sound, or Precision Finding.
With iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, AirTag 2 adds exclusive enhancements :
Dynamic location sharing : You can now share access with multiple family members for group items like remote controls or pet trackers.
Widget support : Track frequently used tags right from your Lock Screen or Home Screen.
Siri integration : Ask, “Where’s my camera bag?” and get instant guidance from Siri via haptics and audio.
AirTag 2 also supports Apple’s new “Personal Context Awareness” feature, which prioritizes location tracking based on your current activity and devices. For example, if you leave your house without your tagged backpack, your Apple Watch may notify you even before your iPhone does.
Can AirTag 2 Work with Android or Other Platforms ?
This is where things get a little more nuanced. AirTag 2 still works best within the Apple ecosystem, but Apple has extended a few core features to Android users—mostly as part of their anti-stalking initiative.
Android users can :
Download the Tracker Detect app from the Google Play Store
Scan for nearby AirTags that aren’t theirs
Receive alerts if an unknown AirTag has been moving with them for a while
But there are still clear limitations :
No real-time tracking of their own AirTags
No Precision Finding interface
No Lost Mode activation from Android
So, while Apple is opening up just enough access to ensure user safety, AirTag 2 remains primarily a product for those already using iPhones and iPads. If you’re deep in the Android world, alternatives like Tile or Chipolo may offer better full-function support.
Still, for families with mixed-device households, the improvements mean less risk and more awareness for everyone involved.
AirTag 2 and Apple Ecosystem
Integration with Find My Network
The Find My Network is Apple’s secret weapon—and AirTag 2 uses it better than any device yet. With over a billion Apple devices acting as passive relays, AirTag 2 doesn’t need to connect directly to your iPhone to be effective. Instead, it can anonymously ping its location through any nearby Apple device, all encrypted end-to-end.
This turns every iPhone, iPad, and Mac into a location beacon, giving AirTag 2 an incredible global reach. Even if you leave your keys in a cab or lose your luggage in another state, AirTag 2 can help you recover them—as long as someone with an Apple device walks by.
With iOS 18, Find My has been upgraded to :
Show battery health and usage insights for each tag
Group multiple tags by category (e.g., “travel items” or “work essentials”)
Trigger smart reminders when certain items are left behind at specific locations (like leaving your gym bag at the office)
This tight integration makes AirTag 2 feel less like a tracker and more like an intelligent assistant for your everyday life.
Use Case
Benefits of AirTag 2
Luggage
Track bags at the airport in real-time, even underground
Pets
Clip onto collars for instant location updates outdoors
Bikes
Hide in seatpost or frame to find stolen property fast
Kids’ Backpacks
Know if your child left their school bag somewhere
Wallets
Get AR-guided recovery when misplaced in your home
Cameras/Gear
Great for photographers traveling with expensive gear
You can even name and assign emojis to each AirTag 2 within the Find My app, making identification quick and user-friendly. And with its improved loudspeaker, it’s easier than ever to hear it beep in noisy settings like airports or subway stations.
Privacy & Security Enhancements
Apple has reportedly prioritized user safety with the AirTag 2, addressing criticisms of the original model. Key updates include:
Updated Anti-Stalking Mechanisms
Faster Unauthorized Tracking Alerts : Leveraging Apple’s Find My network, the AirTag 2 may trigger alerts on nearby iOS devices within hours (vs. days for AirTag 1) if it detects an unknown tracker moving with you.
Louder Speaker : A redesigned speaker could emit sharper, louder tones to help locate rogue tags and deter misuse.
Location Sharing Control & Encrypted Tracking
User-Controlled Sharing : Speculated integration with iOS 19’s location-sharing settings to let users restrict who can see their AirTag 2’s real-time location.
End-to-End Encryption : Apple may extend its E2E encryption (used in AirTag 1) to safeguard location history from third-party access.
Battery Life, Charging, and Maintenance
Battery Type & Replacement
Battery: AirTag 2 is expected to retain the user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery (same as AirTag 1).
Battery Life: Industry analysts predict up to 18 months of usage (vs. 12 months for AirTag 1) due to optimized Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and motion-sensing efficiency.
How to Replace the Battery
Twist the stainless steel backplate counterclockwise.
Swap the old CR2032 battery with a new one.
Realign and twist the cover clockwise to seal.
Pricing, Availability & Alternatives
AirTag 2 Price & Availability
Price : Expected to start at $35-$39 (up from AirTag 1’s $29) due to upgraded hardware.
Launch Date : Likely unveiled at WWDC 2025 (June 9) with preorders opening immediately. Shipping could begin by late June 2025.
Top AirTag 2 Alternatives
Samsung SmartTag2 ($29) : Android-friendly UWB tracking with AR finding.
Tile Pro ($33) : Wide Bluetooth range and free replacement if lost.
Chipolo ONE Point ($28) : Works with Apple’s Find My network (no UWB).
