iOS 18.6 code hints at AirTag 2, but when is it coming?

1 week ago 2

When leaker Kosutami claimed that Apple was planning a May or June launch of the next-generation AirTag, that broadly tracked with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman’s earlier report from November that Apple was aiming for a “around the middle” of 2025 release.

But now that we’re fast approaching the end of June and there are still no new AirTag, we have an update on Apple’s new release target for the long-awaited next generation of its tracker.

When is AirTag 2 coming?

We have some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that we are able to confirm that Apple has already set up compatibility with the 2nd-gen AirTag on iOS 18.6. This means that AirTag 2 shouldn’t require iOS 26, which would have been a pretty stingy cutoff.

Now the bad news: According to reliable 9to5Mac sources, Apple is now aiming at a Fall release, likely putting its announcement around the time of the iPhone event, which usually takes place in September.

Apple could announce the AirTag at an earlier date and save some iPhone-related software features until the fall, but our sources say this is unlikely. For now, consider September a safe bet.

What to expect from AirTag 2

Apple obviously hasn’t said anything publicly, but there has been no shortage of leaks on what to expect:

Improved connectivity and range: Leveraging the 2nd-gen UWB chip, the AirTag 2 is expected to match the advanced tracking and location capabilities introduced with the iPhone 15, raising the Precision Finding feature threshold to 60 meters, up from the current 15 meters for the 1st-gen AirTag.
Improved security and privacy: There have been cases of stalkers disabling the AirTag’s speaker, making it harder for victims to detect the device since they can’t trigger the alert sound used to help locate hidden AirTags. To address this, Apple is reportedly making the next-generation AirTag more tamper-resistant.
Improved battery management: In what hasn’t been previously reported, our sources tell us the new AirTag will introduce alerts for both low and very low battery levels, making it less likely for users to accidentally let a tracker go dead. This could hint at a need for better battery management, possibly due to higher power demands from the updated hardware.

Combined with the new anti-tampering design, we have a hunch that the second-generation AirTag might switch to a rechargeable battery, replacing the current CR2032 coin cell. However, beyond the more granular battery alerts, we were unable to confirm this with our sources.

Are you holding off on getting new AirTags? Do you plan on replacing your first-gen with the second-gen trackers? Let us know in the comments.