When Apple launched AirTag in 2021, the corporate additionally unveiled its personal equipment for the tiny, hole-less tracker. Nevertheless, since then, neither AirTag nor its first-party equipment have obtained any main updates. However evidently Apple has now quietly discontinued one of many authentic AirTag equipment amid rumors of a brand new era of the merchandise tracker.
The unique AirTag Loop is not stocked in shops
As noticed by Macworld, Apple is not promoting an adjunct often called the AirTag Loop. The accent has disappeared from the corporate’s on-line retailer and is unavailable in lots of Apple Shops world wide.
Sources acquainted with the matter advised Macworld that shops haven’t obtained new AirTag Loop provides for months, and the product has additionally been faraway from the catalog, suggesting that it has been discontinued for good. Though Apple generally faces provide shortages that affect the provision of some merchandise, the corporate often makes it clear in its retailer when a product is quickly out of inventory, sources stated.
For these unfamiliar, the AirTag Loop lets customers connect the merchandise tracker to things similar to backpacks and suitcases. Apple initially provided each leather-based and silicone variations of the Loop, however in 2023, it discontinued the leather-based model after saying FineWoven as a substitute for its leather-based equipment. Nevertheless, whereas Apple changed the AirTag Leather-based Key Ring with a FineWoven mannequin, it by no means made a FineWoven Loop, as a substitute sticking with the silicone model as the one choice.
Apple’s FineWoven Key Ring for AirTag stays accessible each in retail and on-line shops.
At $35, the corporate’s official AirTag equipment price greater than an AirTag, however Apple additionally promotes third-party equipment which might be less expensive. In accordance with one other supply who spoke to Macworld, many purchasers who purchase AirTags are inclined to go for third-party equipment moderately than Apple’s personal.
You may nonetheless discover the unique AirTag Loop in another shops at costs as little as $13, probably discounted to filter remaining inventory.
The AirTag Loop is not offered at Apple Shops.
Foundry
AirTag 2: What to anticipate
Though the almost definitely cause Apple stopped promoting the AirTag Loop is its low recognition amongst clients, the corporate may additionally be gearing as much as launch a brand new model of AirTag with refreshed equipment within the close to future.
Based mostly on the most recent rumors, a 2nd-gen AirTag is already within the works and should launch later this yr. The brand new model is predicted to have an identical design to the present one however with an improved Extremely Wideband chip and prolonged vary. The iPhone 15 and later fashions embrace an up to date UWB chip with a spread of as much as 60 meters, in comparison with 15 meters for the chip contained in the 1st-gen AirTag. The expertise permits the Precision Discovering characteristic, which exhibits the gap between you and the merchandise you’re making an attempt to trace.
Different reviews counsel that AirTag 2 may even embrace stronger anti-stalking mechanisms, similar to higher protections to stop folks from disabling the tracker’s inside speaker.
