Apple recently launched the second generation of its AirTag tracking device, but one highly anticipated feature was omitted from the new product. What was this feature we were all waiting for? And why didn't it come with the AirTag 2?
Apple has launched the second generation of its AirTag tracking device with a number of important improvements, including:
◉ Improved location accuracy, where location accuracy has been improved by 50%, meaning you will be able to find your lost items more accurately and over a wider range.
◉ Enhanced Bluetooth technology provides a greater connection range, allowing you to track your belongings from a greater distance.
◉ 50% louder speaker, so you can hear the AirTag much louder than the old device. The second generation comes with a 50% louder speaker, making it easier to locate it by sound.
◉ Of course, there are always other internal improvements that enhance overall performance and battery efficiency.
The missing feature
There were many rumors about the integration feature with Vision Pro glasses, as part of its spatial computing ecosystem.
In August 2023, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo indicated that the second-generation AirTag would feature improved integration with the Vision Pro. Kuo didn't provide any further details at the time, but this functionality was a major focus of the rumor mill surrounding the device prior to its release.
However, the final product released does not include this feature. It's possible that Apple will add deeper AirTag integration with Vision Pro in the future via software updates to VisionOS, perhaps VisionOS 27 or later.
What about the new generation of AirPods Pro headphones?
It's worth noting that Kuo also hinted at another product that would feature similar integration with Vision Pro. Last year, he explained that the next generation of AirPods Pro would include a "significant hardware upgrade" in the form of infrared cameras. These cameras are expected to integrate with the Vision Pro M glasses to provide enhanced spatial experiences.
“The new AirPods are expected to be used with future Vision Pro to enhance the user experience of spatial audio and strengthen the spatial computing system. For example, when a user watches a video using Vision Pro and wears the new AirPods, if the user turns their head to look in a certain direction, the focus can be on the sound source in that direction to enhance the audio experience and spatial computing.”
While rumors of infrared cameras are now widely confirmed, Vision Pro integration remains uncertain. With the absence of Vision Pro integration in the AirTag 2, a similar feature in the AirPods Pro is now in doubt, especially as Apple seems to be downplaying Vision Pro's importance with no new glasses currently in active development.
Despite lacking the much-anticipated Vision Pro integration, the AirTag 2 still represents a significant improvement over its predecessor thanks to enhanced location accuracy, longer Bluetooth range, and a louder speaker. Not all the features we're looking forward to may be available at launch, but Apple often reserves some surprises for future software updates.
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