Apple’s next AirTag could arrive in 2025

Maybe you haven’t even thought about replacing your AirTag yet, but Bloomberg reports that Apple is working on a new one that could arrive in mid-2025. The new AirTag will feature an updated chip with better location tracking – an improvement that may be needed as competition among tracking devices increases.

When Apple releases its updated AirTag, the Bluetooth tracking landscape will be very different on Android and iOS. 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 security services company that owns Tile, is creating its own location tracking network that uses satellites to locate your Bluetooth tags.

In last week’s iOS 17.5 update, Apple finally started allowing iPhones to show unwanted tracking alerts for third-party Bluetooth tags. If an unknown AirTag or other third-party tracker is found on an iPhone user, they will receive an alert and can play a sound to locate it. The feature is part of an industry specification designed to prevent stalking on iPhones and Android devices. Several companies that make Bluetooth tracking devices, including Chipolo, Pebblebee and Eufy, are on board with the new standard.