Apple launched a new-generation of its AirTag item tracker today, but you’ll need a relatively new iPhone to make use of its best feature.
The enhanced Precision Finding feature – which relies on Ultra Wideband technology to help users pick up their items from further away – needs a chip that’s present in both the AirTag 2 and the companion iPhone.
That means, as well as a phone capable of running iOS 26, you’ll also need a model with the newest Ultra Wideband chip to access the greater distances. The biggest takeaway might be that even the mid-range iPhone 16e, released a year ago, does not support the Precision Finding feature, as it lacks the second generation Ultra-Wideband chip.
Users will need one of the following iPhones to make use of it:
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone Air
Precision Tracking isn’t the only new feature, so there are still upgrades available over the first generation AirTag. There’s a speaker capable of a 50% louder audio enabling you to locate the item from further away. There’s also improvements to Bluetooth connectivity that ensure users can locate items from further away.
iPhone models with a first-generation Ultra Wideband chip (from the iPhone 11 onwards) can access the Precision Finding technology. Precision Finding guides users to their devices with an on-screen interface that shows the direction and distance users are away. All they need to do is follow the on-screen cues to be reunited with their errant valuable.
