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AirTag 2 Expected to Launch Next Year With 'Considerable' Upgrade to Item Tracking

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Apple plans to release a second-generation AirTag next year with "considerably" longer range for item tracking, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

AirTag-2-Mock-Feature.jpg

In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new AirTag will use Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, or equivalent technology. The chip debuted last year in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple said it offers up to three times the range as its first-generation Ultra Wideband chip in the current AirTag. Indeed, Gurman said the new AirTag should offer triple the range as the current model.

On the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, there is a Precision Finding feature that can help you to find your friends in busy places, and it offers up to approximately 60 meters (around 200 feet) range. The new AirTag could offer similar range.

Last month, Gurman said the new AirTag will be released around mid-2025. In addition to longer range, he said the new AirTag's built-in speaker will be more difficult to remove, as a stalking-related safety measure. Overall, though, he does not expect the accessory to receive any major design changes when it is updated next year.

Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so there will have been around a four-year wait for the second-generation model.

Article Link: AirTag 2 Expected to Launch Next Year With 'Considerable' Upgrade to Item Tracking
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/15/airtag-2-longer-range-rumor/
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Reactions: SFjohn
Yes, I’ve been waiting four years for a better model instead of snatching up the chance to make the most of what was available at introduction. Sheesh, this constant hankering for more more more is gross.
 
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Reactions: tmaxxtigger
Years from now we'll see a photo like that and remark about how thick iPhones used to be.
 
Momax Pro Mini item trackers are superior to AirTags in every way: flat, waterproof, lanyard hole, cheaper, louder, and rechargeable. Since I'm sure Apple doesn't want to change the form factor with the AirTag2, I'm sure they will remain behind.
 
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Reactions: Vasilioskn and Skimac
It’s nice to be able to use an AirTag to track your items, specially stolen ones.

A stalker might go above and beyond to use such device for tracking. So Apple is just making it bad for 99.999% of the regular people who use it for tracking their OWN stuff.
 
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surfzen21 said:
I hope they increase the price! :cool:
Click to expand...
I hope too! It's about time they start to increase the prices of their product. It will automatically position themselves as being "above premium". Working a few extra hours to be able to afford these products will also make them feel more "special" to us!
 
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jbattan said:
Momax Pro Mini item trackers are superior to AirTags in every way: flat, waterproof, lanyard hole, cheaper, louder, and rechargeable. Since I'm sure Apple doesn't want to change the form factor with the AirTag2, I'm sure they will remain behind.
Click to expand...

It does, however, seem to lack precision tracking, making it less useful for me in finding things like keys.
 
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There is a very good chance there is a redesign such that if the speaker is removed, the device no longer functions. At least, that is what I would assume. Apple probably is quite unhappy with people ripping out the speaker to thwart any detection, against Apple's intent to stop malicious use.
 
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Reactions: pmhparis, danifd and BugeyeSTI
They're going to step up the tracking notifications so EVERYONE around you gets notified when one of these puppies comes into the area. Can't have these things around without letting everyone know there's a tracking device for the 0.00001% of users that use it for stalking. I bet Tim is petrified of the public knowing what he does and where he goes throughout the day.
 
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tothemoonsands said:
There is a very good chance there is a redesign such that if the speaker is removed, the device no longer functions. At least, that is what I would assume. Apple probably is quite unhappy with people ripping out the speaker to thwart any detection, against Apple's intent to stop malicious use.
Click to expand...
its honestly pretty dumb... there are better tools for stalking that won't alert people like GPS LTE based car trackers.

I just want one on my bike so I can have a hope of finding it if stolen...
 
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I imagine these trackers don't send out a continuous signal, but instead send "pings" out that can be tracked. That would keep energy usage way down. Can anyone confirm?
 
This is practically-unknowable, but: It would be interesting to know what percentage of AirTag owners use their AirTags for stalking. Whatever the percentage is, I imagine it’s a fraction of a fraction of a percent. Maybe even a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent. But, of course, I have no way of knowing that.

It’s kind of like the drones in the night sky that people are concerned about right now. It seems that most of them are misidentified authorized-to-fly manned-aircraft, while maybe only a small percentage are actually drones. Seemingly the new version of alien UFOs in the night sky. (But getting off topic now, lol.)
 
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