A new technical support document issued by Apple, in addition to practical tests conducted by specialists, confirmed that the “Precision Finding” feature in modern Apple Watches, starting with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 and later, works efficiently with the new generation of the AirTag 2 tracking device. In contrast, it was found that the first generation of “AirTag” is not supported by this feature on the watch.
The technical reason behind the incompatibility
Apple has not officially stated the direct reason why this feature doesn't work with the older version. However, technical analysis suggests a difference in the chipsets used; the AirTag 2 is equipped with the second generation of Apple's Ultra Wideband chip, while the first version uses the first generation of the same chip.
Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology is known for its superior ability to pinpoint locations with centimeter accuracy by measuring the time it takes for a wireless signal to travel between devices, which distinguishes it from the less accurate traditional Bluetooth technology.
What is the advantage of “precise finding”?
The “Accurate Finder” feature is an advanced tool that guides you to the precise location of a lost item attached to your AirTag. It displays a directional arrow showing the path, as well as the actual distance to the item, on a compatible iPhone screen, and is now also available on a compatible Apple Watch.
Previously, this feature was available on the aforementioned Apple Watch models only for finding iPhones 15 or later. However, the watch did not support finding AirTag with this level of accuracy until now. As we confirmed, this new feature remains ineffective with the first-generation AirTag released in 2021.
Operating and setup requirements
To use the precise find feature with AirTag 2 and a compatible Apple Watch, your watch must be running watchOS 26.2.1 or later. Here are the steps to activate the feature according to Apple's instructions:
◉ Open Control Center on your Apple Watch.
◉ Scroll down and press the edit button.
◉ Press the Add button.
◉ Scroll down to access the Find Items option.
◉ Tap on Find Items, then select Find AirTag.
◉ Press Select, then select the desired item.
◉ Press the Done button twice to save.
How to use the feature to find your items:
◉ Open the watch's control center.
◉ Scroll down and press the Find AirTag button.
◉ Follow the instructions shown on the screen and move around until the watch connects to the “AirTag” device.
◉ Observe the distance and direction information displayed on the watch; the screen will turn green when you get very close to the object.
Important notes about performance
First-generation users: If you own the first generation of “AirTag”, you can still use the “Accurate Find” feature to locate it using an iPhone 11 or later, but you will not be able to do so via the watch.
Wider range: With “AirTag 2”, the precise finder feature operates at a range of up to 1.5 times greater than the first generation.
To take advantage of this longer range, you need a device with a second-generation broadband chip, such as an iPhone 15 or later, and an Apple Watch 9, Ultra 2, or later.
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