It’s been more than four years since Apple launched the original AirTag. In Apple years, that’s practically a lifetime. While the little tracker has become a go-to for finding lost keys, wallets and luggage, it is severely overdue for an update.
That sort of delay is unusual for Apple, which tends to refresh most of its product lines every couple of years. Now, as we head into summer travel season, when item trackers are more useful than ever, rumors and hints are heating up that a second-gen AirTag might finally be on the way.
Since AirTags first hit the scene, competitors like Tile, Samsung, and Google have all made moves to expand or improve their tracking tech. Meanwhile, Apple has stayed quiet, which is typical for the brand, but industry whispers suggest we could see the AirTag 2 announced later this year.
From design tweaks to Find My network upgrades, there’s a lot of speculation around what Apple could be planning. Here’s what we know so far about the possibilities of an AirTag 2.
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 a 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.
Rival trackers like this one from Chipolo include a built-in hole for attaching to keychains.
AirTag 2 features
Macworld has reportedly examined the code in the upcoming iOS 26 and found evidence that Apple has changed how it manages AirTags. Bluetooth communications between Apple devices and the trackers will be improved, making them more reliable, and there are new battery-related features, too. iOS 26 also apparently utilizes Extended Precision Finding more, which would enable longer range tracking for up to 60 meters. Current versions of the AirTag only have Precision Finding of up to 15 meters.
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 backs up the earlier leak from MacWorld that it would have Extended Precision Finding enabled. This, along with a new onboard wireless chip, would certainly make finding items easier.
According to a recent report from 9to5Mac, the new AirTag will have alerts for low and very low battery levels. This way, you’ll know to replace the AirTag’s batteries before it goes completely dead.
There are also 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.
Watch this: Apple’s Find My vs. Android’s Find My Device Network
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(though a four-pack can often be found for $75 or less at Amazon). The AirTag 2 could retain the same price, but with the current on-and-off tariff situation, the cost of the AirTag 2 is currently unclear.
AirTag 2 release date
A few weeks ago, it was widely rumored that the AirTag 2 would be released around WWDC 2025. But since that date has come and gone, that rumored release date has changed. There are now reports, according to a 9to5Mac source, that Apple is looking to release the new AirTag 2 around the time of the upcoming iPhone event, which usually takes place in the fall.
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