Apple AirTag 2 Review: Better, Louder, Still Not a Must-Upgrade

Price note: Overseas prices have been converted to approximate pound equivalents using the reference exchange rate current when this page was updated. UK prices and availability may differ.

Apple has taken a cautious approach with the AirTag 2. After several years of waiting, the new model does not reinvent the tracking tag formula. Instead, it keeps the same basic design and everyday role while refining a few areas that clearly needed work, especially alert volume and finding range.

That makes the AirTag 2 an easy product to understand. If you have never bought into Apple's tracking ecosystem, it is an attractive and polished entry point. If you already own first-generation AirTags, the case for upgrading is much weaker. The improvements are real, but they are mostly practical refinements rather than a dramatic leap.

Apple has taken the unusual step of lowering the price slightly. The AirTag 2 launches at £30, undercutting the original model's old starting price. That is welcome, especially in a category where cheaper alternatives are now everywhere.

The strength of the AirTag has never really been the raw hardware. It has been the overall Apple ecosystem: Find My integration, precise finding and the sheer size of the network behind it. The AirTag 2 keeps that advantage intact, which is why it still matters even though the physical product itself has barely changed.

Physically, the AirTag 2 sticks extremely close to the first generation. It is the same small, round white puck with a polished steel back and the familiar compact dimensions. The new model is still easy to slip into luggage, attach to keys or tuck into a bag compartment without noticing the weight.

That polished steel back remains the least convincing part of the design. It looks neat when new, but it also picks up marks and wear over time. Anyone who has lived with older AirTags will already know this. On the plus side, compatibility with existing accessories is retained, so there is no need to replace key rings or holders.

Durability is unchanged too. IP67 protection is still here, which is enough to make the tag reassuringly resilient for everyday use around rain, dust and the occasional accidental splash.

The AirTag 2's biggest practical improvement is its stronger U2-based Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband performance. In everyday terms, the new model extends the range at which precise finding remains useful, and that makes locating a misplaced item a little less fiddly than before.

The change is noticeable rather than dramatic. The first-generation AirTag could already be very effective within Apple's ecosystem, and the sequel does not overturn that experience. What it does is stretch the comfort zone. Precise finding starts helping from farther away, and newer Apple Watches can now make better use of the feature as well.

That Apple Watch integration is welcome, though still somewhat secondary. In practice, most people will probably continue to use an iPhone for serious tag hunting. The watch is useful and clever, but not a reason on its own to buy the new tag.

The more important real-world improvement is the speaker. Apple has made the AirTag 2 much louder, and the benefit is obvious. Whether you are trying to find a tag buried in a bag or ensure that an unwanted tag does not stay hidden near you for long, the extra volume makes the product more practical.

This matters on two levels. First, it simply makes recovering your own items easier. Second, it improves Apple's broader anti-stalking safety story by making alerts harder to miss. The first AirTag's warning tones could be too easy to overlook in certain situations. The AirTag 2 reduces that weakness.

That is probably the most meaningful upgrade in the entire product. It does not sound flashy, but it solves one of the most common complaints about the original.

Apple sticks with the replaceable CR2032 battery and quotes around one year of battery life, which remains a sensible choice for a small tracker. Replacing the battery is still easy, and the day-to-day user experience remains simple, polished and low maintenance.

This is important because the AirTag's value depends on being forgettable in the best way. It should quietly sit on your keys, inside your luggage or attached to a bag until the moment you need it. The AirTag 2 preserves that low-friction experience well.

The AirTag 2 is a better AirTag, but only by a measured amount. The louder speaker is the most meaningful improvement, the longer useful finding range is welcome, and tighter Apple Watch integration makes the wider Apple ecosystem feel more cohesive.

For first-time buyers, this is the version to get. For existing AirTag owners, the upgrade case is modest unless the louder alerts and slightly improved range matter enough to you to justify replacing working tags. The AirTag 2 improves the formula, but it does not reinvent it.