New AirTag Review UK: AirTag 2 vs Gen 1 Compared

Last updated: 27 March 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

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Cool Factor: 4/5

If you're looking for a new AirTag review, here's the short version: Apple's 2nd generation AirTag is louder, tracks from further away, and costs the same as before. It's a genuinely useful upgrade, especially for travellers. However, for many people who mostly lose things around the house, a discounted Gen 1 pack still makes plenty of sense. So which one should you actually buy? Let's break it down.

What is the new AirTag?

Apple announced the AirTag (2nd generation) on 26 January 2026. On the outside, it looks identical to the original: same small white disc, same stainless-steel back, same CR2032 battery. However, the internals have been overhauled with Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which also powers the iPhone 17 lineup and Apple Watch Series 11.

In short, the new AirTag is designed to help you find your lost items faster and from further away. According to Apple's UK newsroom, Precision Finding now works from up to 50% further away than the previous generation. On top of that, the built-in speaker is 50% louder, meaning you can hear it chiming from roughly double the distance.

For the first time, you can also use Precision Finding on your Apple Watch (Series 9, Ultra 2 or later), so you no longer need to dig your phone out of your pocket to track something down.

First impressions

Unboxing the AirTag 2 is an almost anti-climactic experience, and that's actually a compliment. You pull the tab, it pairs with your iPhone in seconds, and it's done. There's no app to download, no account to create, and no fiddly setup screen. It simply appears in the Find My app, ready to go.

The packaging is slightly smaller than the original, and the only visible difference on the device itself is the uppercase text printed around the edge. Unless you hold both generations side by side, you genuinely can't tell them apart. Apple clearly believes the design doesn't need fixing, and given how discreetly an AirTag tucks into a bag or keyring holder, that seems fair.

The experience: AirTag 2 in everyday use

In practice, the upgrades matter most when you actually need to find something. The expanded Precision Finding range means your iPhone locks onto the AirTag sooner, so instead of wandering around a room hoping the directional arrows appear, they kick in from further away. That sounds minor on paper, but in a crowded airport or a messy flat, it saves real time.

The louder speaker is arguably the bigger win for day-to-day use. If your keys have slipped between sofa cushions or ended up in a coat pocket buried under a pile, you can hear the chime clearly from a couple of rooms away. With the original AirTag, you sometimes had to get surprisingly close before the sound became useful.

Precision Finding on Apple Watch

This is a nice addition if you own a compatible watch. Instead of pulling your phone out, you can trigger a search from your wrist, follow the haptic taps and on-screen arrows, and track your item down hands-free. It's particularly handy when your phone itself is the thing you've misplaced (though for that, you'd still need a separate AirTag attached to it).

What hasn't changed

The battery is still a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell, lasting over a year. The AirTag is still IP67 rated for water and dust resistance. Additionally, the Find My network still works the same way: a crowdsourced mesh of Apple devices that anonymously relays your AirTag's location back to you. Apple also continues to strengthen anti-stalking protections, including unknown tracker alerts on both iPhone and Android.

AirTag 2 vs Gen 1: who should upgrade?

This is the most practical part of this new AirTag review. Not everyone needs the latest version, and Apple themselves have kept the pricing identical at £29 for a single and £99 for a four-pack.

Buy the new AirTag if you...

Regularly lose things outside the house, whether that's at airports, stations, pubs, or parks. The longer range and louder speaker make a noticeable difference in larger, noisier spaces. Similarly, if you want Precision Finding on your Apple Watch, this is the only way to get it. Frequent travellers will also appreciate the Share Item Location feature, which lets you share your AirTag's position with more than 50 airline partners if luggage goes missing.

Stick with Gen 1 if you...

Mainly use AirTags as a safety net for items around the home, such as house keys, a TV remote, or a handbag that rarely leaves the building. For indoor tracking, the original AirTag still does the job well. Gen 1 four-packs have dropped in price at various retailers while stock lasts, so if cost-per-tag matters more than cutting-edge features, they remain a solid buy.

Value for money

At £29 for a single, the AirTag 2 matches the original's launch price while delivering meaningful hardware upgrades. That's unusual for Apple. A four-pack at £99 brings the cost down to under £25 each, and free engraving from the Apple Store adds a personal touch at no extra cost.

For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 2 sits around £30 and works only with Samsung phones. The Chipolo POP costs roughly £25 but lacks Apple's enormous Find My network. In the Apple ecosystem, nothing else comes close to the AirTag's combination of range, network size, and simplicity.

If you spot a Gen 1 four-pack under £80, that still represents great value for bulk tracking needs. Just keep in mind that Apple has discontinued Gen 1 production, so once remaining stock sells through, your only option will be the 2nd generation.

Where to buy in the UK

AirTag (2nd generation) - single pack:

Buy AirTag 2 on Amazon - £29

AirTag (2nd generation) - four-pack:

Buy AirTag 2 four-pack on Amazon - £99

You can also buy direct from the Apple Store if you want free engraving.

For a look at the AirTag as a gift or a quick overview of what it does, check out our Apple AirTag detail page.

The verdict

Cool Factor

★★★★☆

4 out of 5

The AirTag 2 does exactly what a good sequel should: it improves the things that matter without breaking what already works. The louder speaker and extended Precision Finding range genuinely make lost items easier to recover, and Precision Finding on Apple Watch is a welcome convenience. It loses a point because the design is unchanged, it still requires a separate holder for most use cases, and Precision Finding accuracy still struggles across floors. But as a small, affordable, set-and-forget tracker that plugs into the world's largest finding network, nothing else in the Apple ecosystem touches it.

Overall, a strong 4/5 Stone cold. The AirTag 2 earned that score by delivering real-world improvements in range and sound at the same price as the original. It didn't quite reach Ice cold because there's no design refresh, no built-in keyring loop, and multi-floor tracking remains a known weakness. For anyone buying their first AirTag or replacing ageing Gen 1 units, this is the one to get.

This review contains affiliate links, including to Amazon. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase via these links, at no extra cost to you. Our opinions remain independent regardless of any affiliate relationship.

Frequently asked questions

Is the AirTag 2 worth upgrading from Gen 1?

It depends on how you use your AirTags. If you frequently rely on Precision Finding in large spaces like airports or train stations, the 50% longer range is a noticeable improvement. For indoor-only use, the upgrade is less compelling.

How much does the AirTag 2 cost in the UK?

Apple prices the AirTag 2 at £29 for a single and £99 for a four-pack, which is the same as the original AirTag's launch pricing. Third-party retailers sometimes offer small discounts on multi-packs.

Does AirTag work with Android?

No. AirTag requires an iPhone or iPad running iOS/iPadOS with the Find My app. Android users receive unknown AirTag alerts for anti-stalking purposes, but they cannot use AirTag to track their own items.

Can someone track me with an AirTag?

Apple has built in anti-stalking measures. Your iPhone or Android phone will alert you if an unknown AirTag is travelling with you. The AirTag will also play a sound after being separated from its owner for a period of time.

How long does the AirTag battery last?

Apple states the battery lasts more than a year with everyday use. It uses a standard CR2032 coin cell that you can replace yourself in seconds.

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