According to a new report by Bloomberg, Apple is expected to launch the next generation of its smart tracking tag, the AirTag, next year. The new model will reportedly include an upgraded chip with better location tracking capabilities—a necessary improvement given the increasing competition in the tracking device market.
Additionally, the report suggests we may see an updated design and a slightly more powerful speaker. Bloomberg emphasizes that Apple is currently in the final stages of production with its partners in Asia, and the launch is expected in the first half of 2025, likely around March.
Until Apple releases its refreshed AirTag, the Bluetooth tracking feature landscape for both Android and iOS will look significantly different. Last month, Google unveiled its new "Find My Device" network, which allows users to locate their phones using signals from nearby Android devices. Even Life360, the safety services company that owns Tile, is creating its own location-tracking network that uses satellites to locate its Bluetooth tags.
And what's happening with Apple? In last week's iOS 17.5 update, Apple finally enabled iPhones to display alerts for unwanted tracking by third-party Bluetooth tags. For instance, the iPhone will warn about the suspicious presence of a tracking tag nearby, even if it's not an AirTag, to prevent harassment and unwanted tracking.