AirTag 2 Rumors: What to Expect From Apple’s Next Item Tracker

It’s been four years since Apple introduced the AirTag, and it’s overdue for an update. Rumors abound that Apple will finally announce a new version of its item tracker later this year. Introduced in 2021, these little trackers allow you to locate everyday items like your wallet or keys utilizing Apple’s Find My app. This is useful in daily life, but it’s especially helpful when traveling. 

In the years since the first AirTags arrived, existing trackers like those made from Tile and Samsung have continued to grow. Google launched its own Find My Device network, with multiple companies offering trackers that work with both Google’s network and Apple’s too.

As Apple doesn’t usually leak information about its products beforehand, we don’t know much about the upcoming AirTag 2 yet. However, several rumors are floating around about it online, which we’ve compiled below. 

AirTag 2 design

There have been no rumors that the AirTag 2 will look too different from the original. It will likely have the same tiny circular shape that can fit easily into a pocket or compatible keychain loop. Some consumers have asked for physical changes like a built-in key hole or a flatter design — which we’ve seen in rivals made by Tile and Chipolo — but there’s no indication that Apple will follow these suggestions. 

Similarly, the AirTag 2 will likely continue to use a replaceable CR2032 3-volt coin battery instead of transitioning to a rechargeable model. However, there have been reports that the current AirTag isn’t always compatible with coin batteries that have a bitterant coating, so the company might alter it somewhat so that it will be. 

AirTag 2 features

More importantly, however, the new AirTag 2 might be more tamper-proof. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the second-generation AirTag will be more difficult for wannabe stalkers to hack. The AirTag has come under fire as a potential tool for stalkers, so Apple introduced safety features like sound alerts when it’s not around its registered owner. However, the speaker is apparently fairly easy to remove, which negates this effort. The idea is that the newer AirTag will have a speaker that is far more difficult to fiddle with. 

Another important upgrade is that the new AirTag could have a longer tracking range thanks to the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which is the technology that the AirTag uses to locate your stuff. (This chip is already in existing iPhones — it was introduced with the iPhone 15.) The longer tracking range of the new chip means you can keep track of your belongings at an even greater distance since it has three times the range of the original. This, along with a new onboard wireless chip, would certainly make finding items easier. 

Last but not least, there are rumors that the new AirTag will integrate with Apple’s Vision Pro augmented reality headset. It’s not entirely clear what this means, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has theorized that the location-tracking capabilities of the AirTag could be part of a spatial computing concept.

AirTag 2 price

So far, little has been said about the pricing of the second-gen AirTags. Currently, a single AirTag is $29 while a four-pack is $99. The AirTag 2 could retain the same price, but with the current on-and-off tariff situation, the cost is unclear. 

AirTag 2 release date

It’s widely rumored that the AirTag 2 will be released in the middle of 2025, probably in May or June. As Apple’s annual WWDC event takes place in June, that date seems highly likely.