AirTag 2 Might Get Major Chip Upgrade to Match New iPhones

Apple first launched its object tracker, the AirTag, in 2021. Consistent with its usual approach, the company has not announced any plans for an upgrade. However, credible sources indicate that the AirTag 2 has entered the “manufacturing tests” phase, with a particular emphasis on enhancing privacy features.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has provided insights into the most significant hardware advancement expected for the second-generation AirTag. In his latest PowerOn newsletter, Gurman reveals that the new AirTag will be equipped with a more advanced UWB chip.

UWB, which stands for Ultra Wideband, is an innovative short-range radio technology that enhances spatial awareness. Within Apple’s ecosystem, this technology allows for Precision Finding, providing accurate distance and directional guidance for locating objects.

The goal of Precision Finding is to provide users with more accurate location and navigation instructions when they’re trying to track down lost devices. Currently, the feature presents visual indicators on the screen, including large directional arrows and distance estimations, along with auditory and haptic feedback.

What’s the performance expected from the new UWB chip in the AirTag 2? According to Bloomberg, it will be comparable to the one found in the iPhone 15. Notably, Apple integrated its second-generation Ultra Wideband chip in both the iPhone 15 and 16 series.

The UWB technology currently utilized in today’s AirTag operates effectively within a range of around 10 meters (approximately 30 feet). The upcoming second-generation UWB chip is rumored to extend this range to a remarkable 30 meters.

The UWB Precision Finding feature is compatible with the iPhone 11 and all subsequent models. On the iPhone 15 and 16 series, thanks to the second-generation UWB chip, the Precision Finding function also enables users to locate nearby friends via the Find My app.

In addition to the enhanced UWB chip, Apple is said to have redesigned the internal layout to make it more challenging to tamper with the speaker components. This update is meant to deter nefarious activities like stalking and theft.

In 2022, “silent AirTags” surfaced on platforms like Etsy and eBay, where the speaker kit was removed. These stealthy object trackers are much more difficult to detect without the beeping sound from the built-in speaker, particularly if the device is well-hidden.