Apple launched the AirTag back in 2021, and as useful as it still is, it seems to be high time for Apple to release a new version of its item tracker. According to a new report from 9to5Mac (link), Apple is likely to launch AirTag 2 in September this year.
The timeline mentioned in the report puts the AirTag 2’s launch right around the time when Apple releases its iPhone lineup every year, so we might get the new device alongside the iPhone 17 Pro. Further, the report mentions that code found in iOS 18.6 confirms that the AirTag 2 will indeed work with iPhones running iOS 18.6 and Apple will not limit the device to iPhones running iOS 26.
AirTag 2 Features
As for the features, there are plenty of fairly confident predictions we can look at. The new AirTag will come with improved range for the ultra wide band based precision finding feature. Where the original AirTag had a range of 15 meters for UWB based precision finding, the AirTag 2 is expected to increase that to 60 meters.
The AirTag 2 is also expected to have a new “Very Low Battery” alert. This new alert will join the already available “Low Battery Alert” that the current gen AirTag offers when its battery is running low. 9to5Mac’s report states that this might hint at a rechargeable battery in AirTag 2. However, take that with a pinch of salt, since the report itself goes on to mention that 9to5Mac wasn’t able to confirm this with its sources. What’s more, in a newsletter from last year, Mark Gurman has already claimed that Apple will not be switching to a rechargeable battery in AirTag 2.
Toasty Take
The AirTag is one of those tiny gadgets that I have been using every day for the last few years, and it’s actually come in very handy on those rare occasions when I have left my keys somewhere and forgotten about them. A new, improved AirTag 2 does make me more excited than I thought it would, and with the improved range it should be even more useful.
Moreover, the very low battery alert will definitely be useful as well. The last time I had to change my AirTag battery, I waited a month after the “Low Battery” alert, and ended up changing the CR2032 battery pre-emptively out of fear that I might have a dead AirTag on my key chain.
The Very Low Battery alert can offer me the peace of mind that I don’t need to change the battery yet until I get that alert.