MacRumors

After a five year wait, Apple finally unveiled the next-generation version of the AirTag earlier today. The AirTag 2 looks exactly like the original ‌AirTag‌, and the functionality is similar, but there are still some differences worth knowing about.

Here's everything new.

1. UWB 2 - The ‌AirTag‌ 2 adopts Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip.
2. Longer Range - UWB upgrades mean that Precision Finding works from 1.5x further away than before. Precision Finding is the feature that allows an ‌AirTag‌ to be precisely located in a close-range indoor area. It is able to lead you directly to the ‌AirTag‌ with a compatible device.
3. Precision Finding on Watch - Precision Finding was previously limited to the iPhone, but it now works on the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later, as these devices have UWB chips.
4. Louder Speaker - The ‌AirTag‌ 2's speaker is up to 50 percent louder than the speaker in the original ‌AirTag‌. The upgrade will make it easier to hear when playing a sound, plus it is an additional anti-stalking measure because it will be more difficult for sound to be masked.
5. Better Bluetooth - Apple is using a newer Bluetooth specification with increased range.
6. New Internal Design - To accommodate the updated speaker, Apple revamped the internals. Rumors suggested Apple would make it harder to tamper with the ‌AirTag‌ to remove the speaker, but we'll need to wait for a teardown for confirmation.
7. Updated Weight - The ‌AirTag‌ 2 weighs 0.42 ounces or 11.8 grams. it is seven percent heavier than the original ‌AirTag‌.
8. Revamped Text - The text on the back of the ‌AirTag‌ is now all in capital letters, which is a good way to determine whether an ‌AirTag‌ is the first-generation model or the new model. The text also now lists IP67 water and dust resistance, plus it mentions NFC and Find My support. These features aren't new, but aren't listed on the back of the original ‌AirTag‌.
9. Still Not For Pets - Apple's ‌AirTag‌ 2 announcement and product page specifically state that the device is for tracking objects, and not people or pets. Despite this, many people use AirTags for tracking their animals.
10. Reset Process - To reset an ‌AirTag‌ 2, you need to remove the battery, leave it out for at least five seconds, and then insert the battery again. The process has to be repeated four times. Apple says that it can take up to 12 seconds to hear the final tone. With the first ‌AirTag‌, there was no need to wait after removing the battery before reinserting it.
11. Requires iOS 26.2.1 - If you want to use an ‌AirTag‌ 2, you're going to have to update your device to iOS 26.2.1. The ‌AirTag‌ 2 requires the latest Apple software, which means it won't work with devices that aren't able to run iOS 26.

The ‌AirTag‌ 2 does everything that the original ‌AirTag‌ does, taking advantage of the ‌Find My‌ network. When the ‌AirTag‌ is not in Bluetooth range of your own device, it is able to ping Apple devices owned by others to relay its location back to you for long distance tracking.

It also supports Lost Mode, with an NFC feature for discovering who a lost item belongs to, plus it has options for sharing item location with someone else (useful in airports with participating airlines), and it continues to use a CR2032 coin cell battery. Apple says the battery "works for more than a year" before needing to be replaced.

The ‌AirTag‌ 2 is still priced at $29, with a pack of four available for $99. Free engraving is also included in the price point. The new ‌AirTag‌ can be purchased today, with orders set to be delivered starting on Wednesday, January 28.

It's been four months since Apple launched the new iPhone 17 models, and MacRumors' videographer Dan Barbera has an updated review with his thoughts on the iPhone 17 Pro after getting to spend a good chunk of time with it.

Dan covers how the new aluminum frame has held up, whether the updated display has been as resistant to scratching as promised, the usefulness of the upgraded front-facing camera, and what he thinks of the performance with the new vapor chamber cooling system.

TikTok last week finalized a deal to hand over its U.S. operations to a majority American-owned venture, and things aren't exactly running smoothly for the new U.S. company so far.

Over the weekend, some U.S. TikTok users were unable to upload videos, which TikTok attributed to a power outage at a U.S. data center. TikTok users found they were unable to upload videos related to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Saturday shooting in Minneapolis, leading to concerns over censorship. Users saw their videos put into a review process, or experienced fewer than expected video views. Some users received messages that their posts related to the shooting had been flagged as "Ineligible for Recommendation," while others were temporarily suspended.

This evening, TikTok said that it is still working to resolve the infrastructure issue, which apparently caused a "cascading systems failure" leading to a long list of bugs. TikTok users may see slower load times, timed-out requests, and 0 views or likes on videos.

The ongoing outage and the accompanying censorship fears have caused some TikTok users to abandon the platform for UpScrolled, an alternative video sharing social platform. UpScrolled is currently the number eight free app in the U.S. App Store, but it was as high as number two earlier today.

Users have also expressed concerns about an updated TikTok privacy policy that suggests it collects "citizenship or immigration status" along with precise user location information, but the prior TikTok privacy policy also included that wording.

The new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC is 80.1 percent owned by U.S. and global investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. The three companies each own 15 percent as managing investors, and other U.S. stakeholders include the Dell Family Office and affiliates of Susquehanna International Group. TikTok parent company ByteDance continues to hold a 19.9 percent stake.

A seven-member majority-American board of directors is operating the U.S. version of TikTok, with Adam Presser, TikTok's former global head of operations serving as CEO.

Under the agreement, the venture handles U.S. data protection, content moderation, and algorithm security. TikTok's recommendation algorithm is being retrained and updated on U.S. user data, and it has been secured in Oracle's cloud environment.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released.

iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the ‌iPhone‌ 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The ‌iPhone‌ 5s came out in September 2013, while the ‌iPhone‌ 6 launched in September 2014.

According to Apple's release notes for the update, iOS 12.5.8 extends the certificate required for features like iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation, so they will continue to work after January 2027.

Originally, certificate-limited functions like device activation would have ceased when the certificate expired, but now key features on the two older iPhones will continue to work in the years to come.

Prior to now, the ‌iPhone‌ 5s and ‌iPhone‌ 6 last received software updates in January 2023, when Apple released important security fixes.

Apple has publicly committed to providing a minimum of five years of security updates for an ‌iPhone‌ from the time that it launches, but it often offers vulnerability fixes for an even longer period of time.

The ‌iPhone‌ 6s, for example, was released 11 years ago, but it received a security update in September 2025 with the launch of iOS 15.8.5. The device received an iOS 15.8.6 update just today, adding the same certificate extension.

Apple also released new versions of iOS 18 and iOS 16.

The iOS 26.2.1 update that Apple released today further addresses an issue preventing some older mobile phones from being able to make emergency calls.

In an updated support document, Apple says that iPhone users with an ‌iPhone‌ 12 or earlier should install the latest software updates to ensure that their mobile devices are able to make emergency 000 calls. Apple released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhones today.

Back in December, there was a technical failure in Australia that prevented the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models from being able to make emergency calls, which Apple addressed with the iOS 26.2 update. The additional software updates released today should help prevent further issues on other older devices in the future, as well as cellular Apple Watch models. watchOS 26.2.1, also available today, addresses any potential issues with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later.

Apple says that Australian mobile network operators are continuing to improve support for emergency calling on their networks, which led to the ‌iPhone‌ 12 technical failure. While carriers are working to mitigate further issues, there is a possibility that some older mobile phones might still run into problems.

In the rare event that these exceptional circumstances affecting mobile operators' networks were to happen again, some older mobile phones might still encounter the same issue reaching emergency services through an alternate available network.

Software updates are available for the following iPhone and Apple Watch models that might be impacted by this network issue. You are encouraged to update your devices to the latest software version.

Apple says that the following iPhones and Apple Watch models should be updated to the latest software version to prevent issues:

• ‌iPhone‌ SE (1st generation)
• ‌iPhone‌ SE (2nd generation)
• ‌iPhone‌ 6 and ‌iPhone‌ 6 Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ 6S and ‌iPhone‌ 6S Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ 7 and ‌iPhone‌ 7 Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ 8 and ‌iPhone‌ 8 Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ X
• ‌iPhone‌ XS and ‌iPhone‌ XS Max
• ‌iPhone‌ XR
• ‌iPhone‌ 11, ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 12, iPhone 12 mini, ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• Apple Watch SE 2
• Apple Watch Series 6
• Apple Watch Series 7
• Apple Watch Series 8
• Apple Watch Series 9
• Apple Watch Series 10
• Apple Watch Ultra
• Apple Watch Ultra 2

More information is available in Apple's support document covering emergency calls in Australia.

With iOS 26.3, Apple is adding a new "limit precise location" setting that reduces the location data available to mobile networks to increase user privacy.

Mobile networks determine location based on the cellular towers that a device connects to, but with the setting enabled, some of the data typically made available to mobile networks is being restricted. Rather than being able to see location down to a street address, carriers will instead be limited to the neighborhood where a device is located, for example.

According to a new support document, iPhone models from supported network providers will offer the limit precise location feature. In the U.S., only Boost Mobile will support the option, but EE and BT will offer support in the UK.

• Germany: Telekom
• United Kingdom: EE, BT
• United States: Boost Mobile
• Thailand: AIS, True

This new location limiting feature also only works with devices equipped with the Apple-designed C1 or C1X modems, which includes the iPhone Air, iPhone 16e, and cellular M5 iPad Pro. iOS 26.3 or iPadOS 26.3 are required.

You can enable the setting on a compatible device by opening the Settings app, tapping on your cellular service, tapping on Mobile Data Options, and then toggling on Limit Precise Location. You'll need to restart your device when turning the setting on or off.

Apple says that reducing location precision will not impact signal quality or user experience, and it does not affect the precision of location data provided to emergency responders during an emergency call.

It also only limits the location data available to mobile networks, and it does not have an effect on location data shared with apps through Location Services.

The new feature is available in iOS 26.3, which is being beta tested right now. The iOS 26.3 update will launch to the public in the coming weeks.

Apple CEO Tim Cook visited President Donald Trump at the White House over the weekend to attend the premier of "Melania," a documentary that's set to be released in the near future.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, several tech CEOs attended the screening, which also included a VIP dinner. Along with Cook, other attendees included Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos, and AMD CEO Lisa Su.

Films are typically screened in the East Wing of the White House, but since Trump tore it down for a 90,000 square foot ballroom, a makeshift theater was constructed for the event. Attendees were provided with framed tickets, copies of Melania Trump's memoir, and commemorative black and white popcorn boxes, provided by gloved waiters to avoid fingerprints.

Cook has been working to maintain a close relationship with Trump, and he visited the White House several times in 2025, in addition to meeting with Trump in Japan and at Davos. Apple also donated an unspecified amount toward Trump's ballroom project, and Cook presented Trump with a glass plaque that included a 24-karat gold base. Prior to when Trump took office, Cook personally donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration.

The Melania Trump documentary is set to debut in theaters on January 30, with a premiere set for January 29 at The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts. Amazon paid upwards of $40 million to fund the documentary, which tracks Melania from the 2025 presidential campaign to inauguration day. Director Brett Ratner reportedly spent months living at Mar-a-Lago to make the film.

"Melania" is Ratner's first directorial project since 2014 because he was accused of sexually assaulting six women back in 2017, and Warner Bros. cut ties with him.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Apple today provided the third beta of an upcoming macOS Tahoe 26.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the update coming a little over a week after the launch of the second beta.

Developers can download the ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 update by opening up the System Settings app, selecting the General category, and then choosing Software Update. Beta Updates will need to be enabled, and a free developer account is required.

There's no word yet on what's included in ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3, and no new features were found in the first two betas.

We'll likely see Apple release ‌macOS Tahoe‌ 26.3 at the end of January given past launch timelines.

Apple today seeded the third betas of upcoming iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after the release of the second betas.

Registered developers can download the betas from the Settings app on the iPhone or iPad by going to the General section and selecting the Software Update option.

iOS 26.3 adds a new tool for transitioning from an ‌iPhone‌ to an Android device. Transfers can be initiated during the device setup process, and moving data from one device to another can now be done without having to download a specific app.

Apple's transfer process supports moving photos, messages, notes, apps, passwords, phone number, and more.

The update also includes a Notification Forwarding setting for third-party wearables in the European Union, and there are some minor changes to the Weather wallpaper. More information on what's changed can be found in our iOS 26.3 beta 1 feature list.

Apple is expected to release the iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to the public at the end of January.

Apple today provided developers with the third betas of upcoming watchOS 26.3, tvOS 26.3, and visionOS 26.3 betas for testing purposes. The software comes a week after Apple provided the second betas.

The software updates are available through the Settings app on each device, and because these are developer betas, a free developer account is required.

We don't know what new features might be added in watchOS 26.3, visionOS 26.3, and tvOS 26.3, and nothing new has been discovered so far. Apple doesn't typically provide release notes for betas, so we might not know what's new until the software updates see a public launch unless there are outward-facing changes.

The software updates will probably launch right around the end of January based on past release timelines.

Best Buy today kicked off a new 48-hour flash sale with sitewide discounts on a huge collection of products. This includes some notable markdowns on Apple products like the 11-inch iPad and AirPods Max, both of which are seeing their lowest prices of 2026 so far during this event.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Specifically, you can get the AirPods Max for $429.99, down from $549.99, a deal that beats Amazon's current price by about $20 and is an overall solid second-best price. Even better, Best Buy has every color of the USB-C AirPods Max on sale at this price.

Best Buy also has Apple's 128GB Wi-Fi 11-inch iPad for $299.00, down from $349.00, as well as the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad for $399.00, down from $449.00. These are both second-best prices on the iPad, but some of the first markdowns on this model so far this year.

Finally for Apple deals, Best Buy has the previous generation Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $549.00 today only, a massive discount on the original price of $799.00. This includes both Natural and Black color options, and it's the best price we've ever seen on this model.

There are plenty of more deals to browse during this event, including up to 50 percent off select TVs, up to 60 percent off audio products, and more. If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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Apple offers a Share Item Location feature in the Find My app that allows you to temporarily share the location of an AirTag-equipped item with others, including employees at participating airlines. This way, if you put an AirTag inside your bags, the airline can better help you find them in the event they are lost or delayed at the airport.

Given that Apple announced the AirTag 2 today, we have resurfaced a list of airlines that support the feature, but keep in mind that it also works with the original AirTag and third-party trackers with Find My support, such as those sold by Chipolo and Pebblebee.

Below, we have listed most of the airlines that support the feature:

• AJet
• Aer Lingus
• Air Canada
• Air France
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• American Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Breeze Airways
• British Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• Condor
• Copa Airlines
• China Airlines
• Delta
• Eurowings
• Finnair
• Flair Airlines
• Iberia
• JetBlue
• KLM
• LATAM Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Pegasus Airlines
• Porter Airlines
• Qantas
• Saudia
• Singapore Airlines
• SunExpress
• SWISS
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• Virgin Atlantic
• Vueling
• WestJet

In its AirTag 2 press release, Apple said it has partnered with more than 50 airlines, so there should be around 15 more that support the feature soon.

How to Use the Feature

iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can generate a "Share Item Location" link in the Find My app. Anyone they share the link with can then view a web page with a location of the item on a map. The page will automatically update with the item's latest known location.

The item's location stops being shared "as soon as a user is reunited with their item," or automatically expires after seven days.

On the iPhone, the feature was introduced on iOS 18.2, but Apple says the AirTag 2 requires an iPhone running iOS 26.2.1 or later. If you are still running iOS 18.2 through iOS 18.7.4, you will need to use the original AirTag or a supported third-party tracker.

AirTag 2: Hands-On Photos

From the Tray Table's Zach Griff has shared some AirTag 2 hands-on photos.

Apple today released watchOS 26.2.1, a minor update to the watchOS 26 update that came out last year. watchOS 26.2.1 comes six weeks after Apple released watchOS 26.2.

watchOS 26.2.1 can be downloaded for free on an iPhone running iOS 26.2.1 by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update, or initiating an update in the Settings app on the watch. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery and it needs to be placed on a charger.

Today's update enables Precision Finding for the new AirTag 2 on the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later. Prior to now, Precision Finding for the AirTag has been limited to the ‌iPhone‌.

It is not yet clear if the update enables Precision Finding on Apple Watch for the original ‌AirTag‌, or if this is a feature limited to the new ‌AirTag‌ 2.

According to Apple's release notes, watchOS 26.2.1 also includes unspecified bug fixes.

Apple today released iOS 26.2.1 and iPadOS 26.2.1, minor updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems. The new software comes a month after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2.

The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

iOS 26.2.1 adds support for the next-generation AirTag that Apple introduced today. The AirTag 2 features a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, improving the Precision Finding feature.

The update also includes unspecified bug fixes, according to Apple's release notes.

Apple also released iOS 18.7.4, iOS 16.7.13, iOS 15.8.6, and iOS 12.5.8 for older iPhones unable to run ‌iOS 26‌.

Apple is developing a much thinner Face ID hardware module in an effort to reduce the space its facial authentication system takes up in the iPhone Air, a known leaker on China's Weibo social media platform today suggested.

According to Instant Digital, Apple has requested an "ultra-thin" Face ID component from suppliers that will allow the device to accommodate an ultra wide-angle lens in addition to the existing single main lens.

A redesign that includes a second camera is said to be one way that Apple thinks it can address user complaints that the iPhone Air, while an impressive design feat, has led to too many hardware compromises, especially given the $999 price tag.

Multiple technologies are housed in the plateau of the iPhone Air to maximize space for the battery, so Apple would presumably need to redesign the internals considerably to fit in another camera. Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station in November said Apple was focusing on making the device ultra-thin and lightweight in order to do just that.

The claim was soon followed by a report by The Information suggesting a second camera for the device was indeed in development.

For its rumored upcoming foldable iPhone, expected later this year, Apple has reportedly chosen to integrate Touch ID into the side button, rather than use Face ID, in order to make the device as slim as possible. Designing a smaller TrueDepth camera system could arguably see a next-generation model switch over to facial authentication.

Today's leaker speculates that an ultra-thin Face ID module could even eventually find its way into a MacBook, but there are no active rumors that indicate this is something Apple is working on.

In 2022, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple tested Face ID for the iMac, but the technology necessary to embed the authentication hardware into a thin notebook display simply wasn't available, and the biometric system has yet to be added to any Mac.

Around the same time, a marketing employee for Apple argued that Touch ID is more convenient, since the button is near your hands. Of course, that does not rule out the possibility of Apple adding Face ID to a Mac in the future.

The latest claim doesn't point to any imminent product changes – the second-generation iPhone Air is not expected until next year – but it does suggest Apple is actively reassessing how its Face ID hardware is packaged. Watch this space.

The new AirTag that Apple unveiled today features a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, enabling the Precision Finding feature to work up to 50% farther away from an item compared to the previous AirTag, according to Apple. However, you need a compatible iPhone model in order to take advantage of this improvement.

The improved Precision Finding requires one of these iPhone models:

• 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 Finding at longer distances is limited to the iPhone models listed above because both the AirTag and the iPhone need Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which was introduced starting with the iPhone 15 series.

Note that the lower-end iPhone 16e does not have a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.

Precision Finding at the previous distances is still supported on the iPhone 11 and newer.

The new AirTag also has an upgraded Bluetooth chip for improved overall range outside of Precision Finding mode, with an iPhone 11 or newer.

The new AirTag is available to order on Apple.com and in the Apple Store app starting today, and it will be available at Apple Store locations later this week. In the U.S., pricing remains set at $29 for one AirTag and at $99 for four.

Apple considered introducing a new Apple Intelligence feature that would dynamically re-arrange apps on the Home Screen.

The detail emerged in a report last week from The Information, which said that subordinates of software chief Craig Federighi approached him with proposals for an AI-powered iPhone ‌Home Screen‌. The feature would dynamically change the locations of apps on the ‌Home Screen‌ according to users' needs. Federighi reportedly rejected the idea, believing that it would disorient users, many of whom rely on knowing the fixed location of apps on their ‌Home Screen‌ for quick access.

With iOS 26, Apple prioritized new ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features that included Live Translation, more powerful Visual Intelligence, ChatGPT image generation in Image Playground, and actions in Shortcuts. Broader and more capable ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features are expected to arrive later this year with iOS 27, such as a Siri chatbot powered by Google Gemini.

The rest of The Information's report focused on how Apple restructured its artificial intelligence strategy under Federighi, accelerating plans to overhaul Siri by relying on external AI models after years of internal delays and organizational friction.

Apple's AirTag 4-Pack is available for $69.99 today on Amazon, down from the original price of $99.00. Free shipping options have a delivery estimate around January 31, while Prime members should be able to get it delivered a few days sooner.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Overall, this is a solid second-best price on the AirTag 4-pack that's within $7 of the Amazon all-time low price, which we last tracked during the holiday season. We're not tracking any notable deals on the AirTag single pack right now.

Apple just announced a new model of the AirTag, which is set to feature longer range for item tracking, a louder speaker, and the same $99 price tag for a 4-Pack. The first generation model is still a solid Bluetooth tracker, particularly at Amazon's $29 discount this week.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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