In today’s chaotic life, your things like keys and wallet can easily get lost or even stolen. To tackle this problem, in 2021 Apple introduced the Apple AirTag, a small gadget that can help people find their belongings. Now, nearly half a decade later, it has launched a second-generation AirTag that improves on the original in big, meaningful ways. The price is still pretty much the same starting at Rs 3,790 and if you want more than that, Apple will also sell you a pack of four for Rs 12,900. The new AirTags – or AirTags 2 – are available to order and will be on sale from January 30.

What is AirTag 2: Specs, features and more

The new AirTags come with a second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, which is also seen inside the latest iPhone 17. The chip is rated to provide better penetration. Apple says this can help AirTag 2 detect and find objects that are up to 50 percent further away than the first AirTag. Bluetooth performance has also been improved.

Apple claims the second-generation model also has a built-in speaker, but it’s about 50 percent louder. The weight has increased slightly due to new internal components. It has a CR2032 replaceable coin cell battery (like the original) that can last for over a year and has the same IP67 water and dust resistance.

AirTag 2: how it works

The new AirTags work and look identical to the previous version. It’s a coin-sized item tracker made of metal and glass that you can attach to your key ring, backpack, and other items. You’ll need to download the Find My app from the Apple App Store. Typically, it comes pre-installed on Apple devices like iPhone and Mac.

Once the AirTag connects to an item and pairs with your iPhone, such as your AirPods, it begins communicating via Bluetooth. If the item is nearby, users can locate it through the Find My app, either by playing a sound on the AirTag or using Precision Finding on supported iPhones and Apple Watch. Precision Finding uses Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology that shows the AirTag exact distance and direction.

If the item is out of Bluetooth range, the AirTag relies on Apple’s Find My network. This network includes more than one billion Apple devices worldwide. So, if an iPhone, iPad or Mac comes close to a lost AirTag, it securely and anonymously sends the location back to the owner. The process is completely encrypted, ensuring privacy for both the AirTag owner and the people whose devices it helps locate.

AirTags have a Lost Mode option, which enables sending automatic notifications when the AirTag is detected by the network. In Lost Mode, anyone who finds an AirTag can tap it with an NFC-enabled smartphone to view the owner’s contact details, helping to return a lost item.