Apple initially released the AirTag in April 2021, the device not receiving any hardware updates in more than three and a half years since the launch.
Even so, a new version of the hardware is rumored to be in development.
Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is aiming to release a new version of the AirTag in mid-2025:
“In May, I reported that Apple is working on a new AirTag — code-named B589 — for release around the middle of next year. That accessory has now progressed in manufacturing tests, and Apple is getting ready to bring it to market.”
As of October 2023, noted Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been postponed from the fourth quarter of 2024 until some point in 2025. Kuo did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans.
In his recent Power On newsletter, Gurman reiterated that the updated AirTag will feature an upgraded chip with improved location tracking. The device could offer access to Apple’s second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all four iPhone 15 models in 2023.
Gurman also believes the new AirTag’s built-in speaker will be more difficult to remove, as an anti-stalking measure. Overall, he expects the new AirTag to look similar to the current model, so do not expect major design changes.
Finally, Gurman noted that the updated AirTag could feature “better range,” which would allow the Precision Finding feature to operate at longer distances.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.