Marki Williams/NYT WirecutterTop pickApple’s latest AirTag comes equipped with a few upgrades compared with the original version, including a longer range, a louder speaker, and support for Precision Finding on the Apple Watch Series 9 and later. It’s also backward-compatible with existing accessories.If you use an iPhone and want to track your stuff, the second-generation Apple AirTag is your best option. The latest AirTag comes with a variety of upgrades, including a second-generation ultra-wideband chip for up to double the range compared with its predecessor, a much louder speaker, and support for Precision Finding on the Apple Watch Series 9 or later. With the help of Apple’s massive network of devices, it can find your lost item down to the exact location. If you’re a loyal Apple user, you’ll have the easiest time finding a lost item with the AirTag than with any other Bluetooth tracker.Apple’s Find My network is extensive. AirTags leverage Apple’s Find My network, which employs iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods, and Macs to passively find lost items via Bluetooth. For example, if you attach an AirTag to your keys and leave them behind, any passing Apple device connected to the Find My network, such as an iPhone or iPad, will anonymously report the AirTag’s location, which you’ll then be able to see via the Find My app. And with a massive network of over 2.5 billion active devices, there’s a high probability that you’ll find your missing item. The AirTag (2nd generation) houses a battery that you can easily remove and replace on your own. Marki Williams/NYT WirecutterIt can precisely pinpoint lost items from farther away. AirTags support a wireless connection called ultra-wideband, which is what enables a feature called Precision Finding. When you’re in the general vicinity of your AirTag, you can use the feature in the Find My app to guide you toward the AirTag’s exact spot with a mix of arrows, haptic feedback, and audio. The latest AirTag has Apple’s second-generation ultra-wideband chip (also found in the iPhone 17 lineup), which can find lost items from up to 50% farther away than that of its predecessor.We tested the new AirTag against the first-generation version and found that it lives up to its claims — in every test, the second-gen tracker’s Precision Finding activated on our test iPhone from farther away than the first-gen AirTag. But exactly how far away from the AirTag the feature will kick in depends on where you are. In our tests, in the middle of an open field, Precision Finding activated at 58 feet away (with the on-screen arrows appearing at 31 feet), while in a soccer field next to a busy street, the feature turned on at 150 feet away (with on-screen arrows appearing at 123 feet). Precision Finding is most useful when you know your AirTag is somewhere close by and you just need a little more direction to find it, so the new version’s extended range is welcome.It has a louder speaker than the first-generation AirTag. The redesigned internal speaker on the second-generation AirTag is 50% louder than the original version. Through the Find My app, you can trigger a series of beeps to make locating the AirTag easier when your items are buried deep in the couch cushions, the bottom of a bag, or in a coat pocket. The sound plays for about six seconds at a time, but you can replay it as often as needed.In testing, we found that the chirps on the second-generation AirTag were not only louder in tone but also higher-pitched. We were able to hear the sound clearly from about 80 feet away, whereas the first-generation version was inaudible from that distance. On the Apple Watch Series 9 or later, you can add a Find My tile to the smartwatch’s Control Center to find a specific AirTag. Marki Williams/NYT WirecutterYou can use an Apple Watch to precisely pinpoint your AirTag. This works only with the Apple Watch Series 9 and later (including the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch Ultra 3). Once you update to watchOS 26.2.1, you’ll be able to add a Find My tile to the smartwatch’s Control Center and optionally pick a specific AirTag. When you need to find the AirTag, tap the Find My tile, and Precision Finding will kick in. It works the same way as on the iPhone or iPad, with arrows that direct you to the AirTag. The Apple Watch supports Precision Finding, which will guide you to the AirTag’s location. Marki Williams/NYT WirecutterSetup is simple and foolproof. Like the first-generation AirTag, the latest model is easy to activate. Once you remove the pull tab from the battery and place the AirTag next to your phone or tablet, a pop-up will appear on your screen prompting you to connect the AirTag. From there, you can choose one of the included labels (wallet, keys, bike, camera, handbag) or create a custom label. Then, register the AirTag to your Apple ID, and you’re all set. When you open the Find My app, the AirTag will appear under the Items tab. This is where you can see its location and access features such as the ability to share AirTags, mark them as lost, customize notifications, change an AirTag’s name, or remove the AirTag from your account altogether. You can connect up to 32 AirTags to an Apple ID.It will automatically alert you if you’ve left an item behind. Within the Find My app, you can customize when you want to receive notifications that you’ve left an AirTag behind, specific to the location or address. When you toggle on the Notify When Left Behind setting, you can add certain addresses, such as your home or office, as exceptions to limit the number of alerts you receive. You can also adjust the radius to small, medium, or large, depending on the level of sensitivity you want. The second-generation AirTag looks identical to the original version and is compatible with existing accessories. Marki Williams/NYT WirecutterIt has the same sleek design and is backward-compatible with existing accessories. The second-generation AirTag looks identical to the original version, complete with a glossy, white plastic front and metal back. If you order it directly through Apple, you can also customize it with up to four characters or one of the available emoji options.The two models are the same size (1.26 inches in diameter), so the new version is just as easy to attach and carry around. However, like the original AirTag, the second-generation AirTag lacks an attachment mechanism, such as a key-ring hole or adhesive, so you’ll have to purchase accessories separately through Apple or a third-party company. But if you’re upgrading from an older AirTag, you’ll still be able to use the same accessories.You can easily share AirTags. If there’s an item that you want everyone in your household or family to be able to track, such as a suitcase or a bike, you can share the AirTag’s location with up to five people. You can also share the location of a lost tracker with third parties, including airlines, to help expedite the process of finding lost luggage; under Lost Items in the Find My app, you can turn on the Share Item Location feature to generate a link to share with the airline. The link will go dead when the AirTag is marked found or when the owner manually stops sharing the tracker’s location. (The link automatically expires after seven days.) The feature is currently supported by more than 15 airlines, with more being added over time. Note, though, that this capability is also available on the first-generation AirTag, so you don’t have to buy the latest model just for travel.You can find and disable an AirTag that is following you without your knowledge. While Apple’s extensive Find My network is very good at finding your lost stuff, the system also makes it easy for abusers to stalk victims without their knowledge. In addition to various safety features, Apple has partnered with Google to ensure that both iPhone and Android users receive unwanted-tracker alerts when an AirTag is detected near them.Despite those built-in precautions, people still use AirTags maliciously. However, when an AirTag or other Find My–enabled device (such as AirPods) is detected near you, the tracker will play a sound, and you’ll see an alert on your iPhone or Android phone notifying you of the tracker’s presence, information about who it belongs to, and directions to disable it.In our testing, iPhone owners who didn’t have certain notification settings enabled didn’t see those alerts. Make sure you’re on iOS 26.2.1 and that unwanted-tracking alerts are toggled on; to do so, go to Settings > Notifications > Tracking Notifications and turn on Allow Notifications. If those settings are enabled, you’ll see an alert within a few hours if an unwanted tracker is nearby, according to our testing. (The same is true for both first-gen and second-gen AirTags.) We noticed that the amount of time it took alerts to appear varied in our testing with multiple people and a few AirTags, as some testers received notifications after a few hours, while another didn’t see alerts for a few days. We wish the alerts came through in less time and were more consistent.Each AirTag has a removable, user-replaceable battery. The second-generation AirTag runs on a removable and replaceable CR2032 battery. Simply twist off the metal back, remove the old battery, and insert the new one. You’ll receive a notification through the Find My app when the battery is running low, but the included battery should last at least a year before you have to replace it. Like the first-generation model, the latest AirTag is IP67-rated, so it can survive being under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes.Apple’s Find My Network uses end-to-end encryption. As a result, neither Apple nor third parties can use the location data of an AirTag (or other Find My–compatible devices) to track people. Note too that AirTags refresh their MAC addresses every 15 minutes, which makes it difficult for anyone to track a person carrying an AirTag nearby.Flaws but not dealbreakersImproved Precision Finding works only with iPhone 15 and newer. The second-generation AirTag is technically compatible with the iPhone 11 or newer. But to take advantage of Precision Finding’s increased range, you need an iPhone 15 or later (this includes the iPhone Air but not the iPhone 16e), all of which have the same second-generation ultra-wideband chip as the latest AirTag. Otherwise, you’ll experience the same range as with the original AirTag.An AirTag still can’t help you find your iPhone. Unfortunately, you can’t rely on an AirTag to ring your phone if your handset is lost somewhere nearby. You still have to use the Find My app on another device, such as your iPad or Mac, to locate it.Accessories are required to attach AirTags to other items. Even though AirTags themselves are affordable, you have to purchase additional accessories if you want to attach them to your items. Otherwise, your only option is to throw them into your bag, pocket, or wallet (which is what we often do). Apple’s accessories range anywhere from $13 to $65, but you can also find less expensive accessories from third-party makers.
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