Apple’s AirTag item tracker debuted back in April 2021 and has not since an update since then. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports we’ll see a second-generation AirTag debut in mid-2025.
Gurman’s comments appeared in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:
In May, I reported that Apple is working on a new AirTag — code-named B589 — for release around the middle of next year. That accessory has now progressed in manufacturing tests, and Apple is getting ready to bring it to market.
Gurman’s comments jibe with the October 2023 comments from Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said delays in the mass production of the second-generation AirTag would delay the debut of the new tracker tags until some time in 2025.
Kuo also said he believes the new AirTag will have better integration with Apple’s upcoming Vision Pro headset, as part of a spatial computing ecosystem. However, Kuo did not provide any additional details or mention any other potential new features for the item tracking tag.
In his newsletter, Gurman reiterated his previous claims that the new AirTag will feature an upgraded chip, bringing enhanced location tracking capabilities. It’s possible that this means the AirTag could be updated with the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in the iPhone 15 lineup last year.
He also said the new AirTag will feature “better range,” which could allow the Precision Finding feature to work at farther distances.
Gurman also believes the new AirTag’s built-in speaker will be more difficult to remove, as an anti-stalking measure. However, he doesn’t expect external design changes, so don’t expect any major external differences.