It has been over 4 years since Apple launched the unique AirTag, and in Apple years, that is virtually a lifetime. Whereas the little tracker has develop into a go-to for locating misplaced keys, wallets, and baggage, it hasn’t seen a single main replace since its 2021 debut.
That form of delay is uncommon for Apple, which tends to refresh most of its product strains each couple of years. Now, as we head into summer time journey season, when merchandise trackers are extra helpful than ever, rumors are heating up {that a} second-gen AirTag may lastly be on the way in which.
Opponents like Tile, Samsung and Google have all made strikes to increase or enhance their monitoring tech since AirTags first hit the scene. In the meantime, Apple has stayed quiet, which is typical for the model, however trade whispers recommend we may see the AirTag 2 introduced later this yr.
From design tweaks to Discover My community upgrades, there’s lots of hypothesis round what Apple might be planning. This is what we all know thus far in regards to the prospects of an AirTag 2.
AirTag 2 design
There have been no rumors that the AirTag 2 will look too completely different from the unique. It’s going to probably have the identical tiny round form that may match simply right into a pocket or a appropriate keychain loop. Some shoppers have requested for bodily modifications like a built-in key gap or a flatter design — which we have seen in rivals made by Tile and Chipolo — however there isn’t any indication that Apple will comply with these recommendations.
Equally, the AirTag 2 will probably proceed to make use of a replaceable CR2032 3-volt coin battery as an alternative of transitioning to a chargeable mannequin. Nevertheless, there have been stories that the present AirTag is not all the time appropriate with coin batteries which have a bitterant coating, so the corporate may alter it considerably in order that will probably be.
Rival trackers like this one from Chipolo embrace a built-in gap for attaching to keychains.
AirTag 2 options
Extra importantly, nonetheless, the brand new AirTag 2 is perhaps extra tamper-proof. In keeping with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the second-generation AirTag will likely be tougher for wannabe stalkers to hack. The AirTag has come beneath hearth as a potential device for stalkers, so Apple launched security options like sound alerts when it isn’t round its registered proprietor. Nevertheless, the speaker is outwardly pretty simple to take away, which negates this effort. The concept is that the newer AirTag could have a speaker that’s far tougher to fiddle with.
One other essential improve is that the brand new AirTag may have an extended monitoring vary because of the second-generation Extremely Wideband chip, which is the expertise that the AirTag makes use of to find your stuff. (This chip is already in current iPhones — it was launched with the iPhone 15.) The longer monitoring vary of the brand new chip means you’ll be able to preserve observe of your belongings at a good higher distance because it has 3 times the vary of the unique. This, together with a brand new onboard wi-fi chip, would definitely make discovering gadgets simpler.
Final however not least, there are rumors that the brand new AirTag will combine with Apple’s Imaginative and prescient Professional augmented actuality headset. It isn’t completely clear what this implies, however Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has theorized that the location-tracking capabilities of the AirTag might be a part of a spatial computing idea.
Watch this: Apple’s Discover My vs. Android’s Discover My Gadget Community
AirTag 2 worth
To this point, little has been stated in regards to the pricing of the second-gen AirTags. At the moment, a single AirTag is $29 whereas a four-pack is $99(although a four-park can usually be discovered for $75 or much less at Amazon). The AirTag 2 may retain the identical worth, however with the present on-and-off tariff scenario, the price of the AirTag 2 is at the moment unclear.
AirTag 2 launch date
It is broadly rumored that the AirTag 2 will likely be launched in the course of 2025. Since Apple’s annual WWDC occasion will happen June 9, that date appears extremely probably for the announcement of the AirTag 2.
Apple AirTags: See considered one of Apple’s tiniest merchandise ever
