AirTags 2: Can be located up to 30 meters away with centimetre precision
The rumors surrounding the AirTags are becoming more concrete. Now there is new information about the range for locating them.
(Image: tre / Mac&i)
According to a media report, the next generation of AirTags will be detectable from three times as far away. There had previously been speculation that Apple could release a second generation of AirTags with a new ultra-wideband chip in 2025.
The details that have now been published clarify this information. The US financial news agency Bloomberg reports that the chip used will be the same as that used in Apple's smartphones since the iPhone 15. According to Apple, the U2 has three times the range of its predecessor, the U1. In meters, this means that devices equipped with it can be located to within a centimeter from a distance of up to 30 meters.
U2 chip introduced in the iPhone 15
The U2 has been installed in all subsequent smartphones since the iPhone 15. It is also found in the Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 10 as well as the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
According to rumors, there will be no other major changes beyond improved discoverability. Apple is still planning to integrate the speaker into the AirTags in a different way so that it cannot be easily removed by stalkers. Among other things, the speaker is used to alert people to AirTags if they have been placed in bags or items of clothing for the purpose of unwanted tracking, for example. The appearance of the second AirTag generation should be similar to the first.
First AirTag in April 2021
The first AirTag was launched in April 2021. It connects to nearby Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads and Macs via Bluetooth and can use them to communicate its position in Apple's "Where is" network. Users can view this via the app or website.
Videos by heise
The next generation of AirTag is currently expected to be launched in mid-2025. According to rumors, the often-heard wish that the CR2032 batteries would be replaced by a permanently installed rechargeable battery does not seem to be fulfilled.
Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt
Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen.
Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass mir externe Inhalte angezeigt werden. Damit können personenbezogene Daten an Drittplattformen (heise Preisvergleich) übermittelt werden. Mehr dazu in unserer Datenschutzerklärung.
(mki)
