It’s been a very long time since Apple launched the first and solely AirTag. Apple’s item-tracking accent hasn’t been up to date since 2021, nevertheless it appears like we’ll be seeing a brand new mannequin quickly. After many rumors about AirTag 2 coming someday this 12 months, the lately launched iOS 26 beta presents proof that Apple is certainly gearing as much as launch a brand new era of AirTag.
Based mostly on the iOS 26 code seen by Macworld, Apple has made under-the-hood modifications to how the system manages AirTags. As an illustration, the corporate has been engaged on enhancing the Bluetooth communication between Apple units and the merchandise tracker, which will definitely make utilizing the accent extra dependable. New battery-related options are additionally within the works.
As these options don’t appear to be enabled for the present AirTag, it’s not a stretch to imagine that they’re meant for a brand new model of AirTag.
Macworld has additionally realized that iOS 26 will make better use of Prolonged Precision Discovering know-how, first launched with the second era of Apple’s ultra-wideband chip, which is offered within the iPhone 15 and later. Gadgets with this know-how may be discovered with Precision Discovering as much as 60 meters away. In the meantime, AirTags can solely be discovered with Precision Discovering after they’re lower than 15 meters away.
In accordance with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the 2nd-generation AirTag (codenamed B589) can have prolonged extremely wideband vary, so this may clarify the modifications Apple has been engaged on for iOS 26. Just a few weeks in the past, Macworld reported that Apple had quietly stopped promoting the AirTag Loop, certainly one of its authentic equipment for the merchandise tracker. The transfer presumably comes as the corporate is planning an imminent launch of AirTag 2.Â
Every AirTag prices $29, however you may wish to wait a bit longer to purchase a brand new one, since there’s a excessive probability Apple will announce the AirTag 2 together with the iPhone 17 lineup in September.
