The ‘AirTag 2’

Don’t expect this one to get much fanfare, but Apple has reportedly had a next-generation AirTag in the works for a while, and most suggest it will launch this spring.

The so-called “AirTag 2” is expected to look nearly identical to the current one, with most of the real changes under the hood. However, don’t expect this to be compelling enough to make you throw out your old AirTags and rush out to buy the new ones.

At most, the rumors say we’ll get improved tracking range and practical privacy improvements to help prevent Apple’s trackers from being abused by stalkers and car thieves. This includes making the more tamper-proof so hackers won’t be able to disable the built-in speaker (which may also get louder). Apple will also likely use its more modern “U2” ultra-wideband chip that first came to the iPhone 15 lineup in 2023.

One thing the new AirTags aren’t expected to get is a rechargeable battery. By most reports, they’ll still be powered by the same CR2032 lithium coin cell as the current ones. Those typically last a year even, and there’s a possibility Apple could improve the power efficiency to extend that life even further.