Mark Gurman, journalist at Bloombergmentioned the arrival of the AirTag 2, the new generation of Bluetooth beacons from Apple, in its Sunday newsletter. After having waited a long time, the Cupertino giant would finally be ready to put a new connected beacon on the market. The usual production tests of the device (code name B589) are already underway.
The informant is counting on a launch “around the middle of next year”. This is consistent with all previous leaks, including predictions from analyst Ming-chi Kuo. As a reminder, Apple launched the first generation of AirTag in March 2021. This device, which helps find a lost object via the Locate network, quickly experienced resounding success around the world with more than 50 million units sold in a year.
Also read: iOS 18.2 update allows you to share the location of a lost AirTag with an “airline”
What's new for the AirTag 2?
To improve the AirTag, Apple focused on three main axesstarting with “better reach”, says Gurman. It should therefore be easier to find the trace of a lost AirTag by going to the Find application.
According to previous rumors relayed by Mark Gurman, Apple would allow objects located 60 meters away of your iPhone. Currently, only accessories located within a radius of 10 meters can be spotted very precisely. This is a development that should greatly make life easier for users.
In order to improve the range, Apple would rely on a new integrated wireless chip. We can expect to discover an Ultra-wideband (UWB) 2 chip there, like that of the latest iPhone and the latest Apple Watch.
Finally, the AirTag would benefit fromimproved privacy. Unsurprisingly, Apple has taken into account all cases of misuse of its connected tags. Shortly after its release, the AirTag was massively diverted from its initial functions by malicious individuals. Many of them have used the Bluetooth beacon as aa spy tool. This is particularly the case for car thieves or stalkers who use it to track their prey.
To combat these abuses, Apple plans to make it difficult to remove the speakers of the AirTag. Some people have indeed found a way to bypass Apple's security mechanisms. The AirTag is indeed designed to ring if it is separated “for a certain time of its owner”. To prevent the ringing from alerting victims to the presence of the tracker, some individuals simply removed the speakers. A veritable black market for modified AirTags has even emerged, notably on eBay.
An unchanged design
On the other hand, Apple would not have not reviewed the design of the accessory. We should therefore find a rounded tag flanked by the Apple logo. No flat AirTag, easy to slip into a wallet, as offered by several third-party brands, would be on the Cupertino company's program.
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Source :
Bloomberg
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