Apple AirTag 2 Reportedly Set to Launch in 2025 With 3 New Features

Your flight has just landed and you are waiting for your luggage at the baggage belt. But to your surprise, your luggage has been misplaced and the airline crew has no idea where it is. This is where Apple’s tiny gadget, AirTag, comes to the rescue.

An AirTag is a physical device that keeps track of your belongings. Apple introduced it in April 2021 and it has not received an upgrade since then.

However, Apple has ambitious plans for the next iteration of the AirTag. Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, has shared several updates about the AirTag 2.

Meanwhile, Apple has also announced a major update for the current AirTags with iOS 18.2 Beta.

In this article, we summarise all the new features coming to AirTag and everything we know about the Apple AirTag 2.

Apple and airlines to help you find your lost luggage

Apple will allow users to share their AirTag location with someone else to recover misplaced items easily. Once the item is reunited with the owner, location sharing will automatically turn off. The owner will also have the option to stop location sharing at any time. If not manually stopped, the feature will automatically turn off after seven days.

Apple’s primary focus will be on airlines, addressing the numerous cases where airlines cannot locate misplaced luggage. Over 15 airlines, including Aer Lingus, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Brussels Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Eurowings, Iberia, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, Turkish Airlines, United, Virgin Atlantic and Vueling, will start implementing this feature in early 2025.

This feature is currently in testing mode in iOS 18.2 Beta and will roll out to all users with the iOS 18.2 update. Only iPhone Xs and newer devices will support this feature.

What about the AirTag 2?

Mark Gurman, earlier in May, reported that Apple is working on a new generation of AirTag. The AirTag 2 with codename B589, which was in the testing phase with manufacturing partners in Asia, is now progressing towards mass production.

The AirTag 2 will retain the same design as its predecessor but will feature multiple internal upgrades. The new model will reportedly offer improved range and enhanced privacy features. It is also expected to include a new wireless chip, replacing the Ultra-Wideband (U1) chip in the current model.

Apple aims to address the misuse of AirTags, such as their use for stalking, by making the AirTag 2 more tamper-proof. The brand will make it it harder to remove the speakers, thus avoiding the legal challenges faced by the first-generation AirTags.

預測更新：
1. AirTag 2可能將在4Q24量產。
2. 我相信空間運算是Apple想建立的新生態，欲以Vision Pro為核心整合其他裝置，包括AirTag 2。
==

Prediction update:
1. AirTag 2 will likely go to mass production in 4Q24.
2. I believe that spatial computing is a new ecosystem that Apple wants… https://t.co/GXkDIYLz84

— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) August 2, 2023

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple intends to build an ecosystem around spatial computing, which will result in better integration of the AirTag 2 with the Vision Pro headset.

When is AirTag 2 launching?

Bloomberg reports that the AirTag 2 will launch in mid-2025. Meanwhile, Apple is gearing up to release multiple smart home products next year, including a display hub and a camera. Apple also has plans to launch new generation of iPhone SE with Apple Intelligence support in early 2025.

How much will AirTag 2 cost?

There are no updates on the pricing of the AirTag 2. The first-generation AirTag is currently available for INR 3,490, so we speculate the new version will be priced in a similar range.

That said, we will get to know about the actual pricing when Apple launches it officially next year.