Joe Rossignol
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it's now more than three and a half years old. While the AirTag hasn't received any hardware updates since then, there are rumors that a new version of the item-tracking accessory is in the works.
Below, we'll recap the rumors about the second-generation AirTag.
Timeline
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to release a new AirTag in mid-2025.
From his Power On newsletter last week:
In May, I reported that Apple was working on a new AirTag, codenamed B589, scheduled for release in the middle of next year. The accessory is currently in production testing, and Apple is preparing to bring it to market.
In October 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been delayed from the fourth quarter of 2024 to some point in 2025, but he did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans. Kuo and Gurman therefore agree that the new AirTag will arrive next year.
Features
In his newsletter last week, Gurman reiterated that the new AirTag will feature an updated chip with improved location tracking. If so, the AirTag could be upgraded to the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all iPhone 15 models last year.
Gurman also believes that the new AirTag’s built-in speaker will be harder to remove as an anti-stalking measure. Overall, though, he expects the new AirTag to be similar to the current model, so don’t expect any major design changes.
Finally, he said the new AirTag will feature “better range,” which could allow the pinpoint feature to work at longer distances.
Kuo previously said the new AirTag would have some integration with Apple’s Vision Pro headset, but he didn’t share any specific details.
Update – November 24: In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the AirTag 2 will still have a coin cell battery, rather than a rechargeable one. That’s not really a surprise, but now you know!
Tags: AirTag Guide, Mark Gurman [ 146 comments ]
