Apple AirTags 2 may launch next year — what we know so far

AirTag
(Image credit: Apple)

Apple is gearing up to launch the AirTags 2 in the fall of next year, if rumors circulating on Twitter are to be believed.

Noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo  has shared a prediction that mass production of the second-generation AirTag is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Kuo believes Apple has plans to utilize AirTags outside of usage within the Find My application, saying they will be more closely integrated with Apple's upcoming Vision Pro headset as part of a spatial computing ecosystem. However, specific details on additional features for the item tracker have not been disclosed.

The current AirTag, released in April 2021, is priced at $29. According to Kuo, AirTags have quietly gained sales momentum, with estimated shipments reaching about 20 million units in 2021 and 35 million units in 2022. AirTags tap into Apple's vast Find My network and use Bluetooth and ultra wideband technology.

While intended to track wallets, bags, and purses, AirTags have received some past criticism over potential unwanted tracking. As a result Apple added safeguards like notification alerts and has also formed an alliance with Google to prevent stalking

The iPhone 15 models will likely feature an upgraded ultra wideband chip, the same type of chip used in AirTags, so it's possible Apple may also be planning to use the new UWB chip in both the new iPhones and the upcoming AirTag. The current AirTag utilizes Apple's U1 chip for Ultra Wideband, allowing for the Precision Finding feature that displays the distance and direction to the AirTag in the Find My app.

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Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne
Phones Writer

Elliot MulleyGoodbarne is a Staff Writer at Tom’s Guide covering news, reviews, buying guides with wit and charm. He has had a keen interest in mobile, tablets, laptops, and everything in between since his first phone, the Samsung U600. Starting at Mobile News, Elliot has been writing about mobile and the business of technology since 2016, and has edited four trade magazines in that time, attending award shows for three of them. He has attended a range of industry events including 5G launches, device announcements, and trade events, where he developed a nose for picking up on trends, interviewing executives, and networking with the tech community. In his spare time, Elliot can usually be found watching, playing, or attending sporting events. With season tickets to West Ham United and Surrey County Cricket Club he often spends weekends in winter in a foul mood and evenings in the summer with a smile on his face. Outside of sport Elliot enjoys cooking, pubs next to rivers, and chilling out with a G&T, Whiskey, or Port after a solid week of excellence.