What to expect from Apple’s new AirTag 2

Apple’s AirTag wireless tracker has become almost a must-have accessory for frequent flyers and even infrequent travellers who are wary of their checked luggage going astray.

The advanced button-sized gizmos debuted in 2021, which proved to be perfect timing given the post-pandemic surge in both travel and lost bags.

Now Apple is prepping a smarter AirTag 2 to launch in the middle of 2025.

According to Bloomberg’s reliable Apple reporter Mark Gurman, the AirTag 2 has already “progressed in manufacturing tests” (under the product codename of B589) with advances in three key areas.

A new ultrawide-band chip in the AirTag 2 will allow for up to triple the precision-finding range of the first-gen AirTag.

This means you’ll be able to detect the location of an AirTagged item from 30 to 90 metres away, compared to 10-30 metres for the original AirTag.

The AirTag 2’s range-boosted ultrawide-band chip is expected to be accompanied by an improved wireless chip to boost location-finding accuracy in less densely populated areas.

Those are primarily areas with fewer iPhones and other devices in Apple’s Find My network, which uses Bluetooth wireless technology to effectively ‘crowdsource' your AirTag searching.

Finally, Apple plans to beef up AirTag privacy with stronger anti-stalking features.

Stalking and stealthy user-tracking has been unwelcome side-effects of the AirTag.

Given Apple's continued focus on privacy as a cornerstone of its devices, platform software, and the entire Apple ecosystem, it should come as no surprise to see the company strengthen AirTag privacy and potentially address customer concerns which may have stymied AirTag sales.

As previously reported, Qantas is working with Apple to help travellers find missing luggage fitted with an AirTag wireless tracker.

The collaboration – which is expected to see AirTag awareness built into the Qantas app – is expected to go live early next year.

Read more: Qantas will use Apple AirTags to help find your lost bags