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Apple's next generation of AirTags might come with better range, improved privacy features, and a wireless chip, Bloomberg reports.
The updated AirTag has been in the works for quite some time. Now, it's passed its manufacturing test and is headed for a mid-2025 release, as was previously suggested back in January.
Stalkers have reportedly used AirTags to follow victims without knowledge. A common tactic involves removing the device's speaker to avoid detection. To counter this, Apple is making it more difficult to pull out the speaker on the next-generation AirTags.
The upcoming AirTags will also get a wireless chip and increased Bluetooth range.
AirTags were launched in 2021 and haven't received a major upgrade since. Over the years, Apple has added features to try to make the device easier to detect and harder for stalkers to use successfully, but none of them seem to have addressed the issue completely. The company is currently facing a class-action lawsuit over the AirTag's safety, with an amended complaint even claiming that the device facilitated murders.
The next-generation AirTag is one of the many devices Apple plans to launch in 2025. Next year will mark Apple's foray into the smart home devices market, with an iPad-like smart home controller expected in March and a table-top robot later on. M4 MacBook Air and iPhone SE4 are expected early in the year, while the iPhone 17 will get a September release as is customary for new iPhone models.