Apple’s AirTags released last year remain discreet (too sometimes), but sales are on the rise. The brand is seriously considering launching a second version of its GPS tracker, according to analyst and Apple specialist Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple hasn’t announced anything yet about a potential update to the AirTags launched in April 2021. However, we can think that the company is seriously considering doing so, given the connected key fob’s sales forecast.
If Apple sells more AirTags, it will release the second version
It is Ming-Chi Kuo, analyst of new technologies markets and Apple specialist, who declares on Twitter that the AirTag 2 could be launched. According to him, “If AirTag shipments continue to grow, I believe Apple will develop the second generation“.
AirTag, which has not received much attention, has gradually grown in shipments since its release. Shipment estimates of AirTag reach about 20 mn & 35 mn units in 2021 & 2022, respectively. If AirTag shipments continue to grow, I believe Apple will develop the 2nd generation.
— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) June 19, 2022
He recalls that sales of Apple’s GPS tracker have been gradually increasing for a year, although he has “didn’t get much attention“. The sales estimates they give reach 20 million copies for 2021 and 35 million copies in 2022. Note that this is not a noticeable sales increase between the two years, the AirTag having been launched on April 30, 2021: this vintage therefore did not have a full year in terms of sales.
A priori, Apple is waiting to see if its sales will increase before making a concrete commitment to a second generation of AirTags. But one might think that Ming-Chi Kuo’s analysis is quite logical in itself. What we can now wonder about are the improvements that Apple could make to its AirTag.
The problem with the AirTag: tracking
Apple has resolutely changed the market for connected beacons, thanks to its fame, but also thanks to its billions of iPhones which make it possible to find AirTags. If the apple brand has not revolutionized the product, it has at least democratized it. During our test, we criticized the lack of a button to have a reverse search mode, in order to find your iPhone for example. Also, the AirTag does not have a notch to pass a key ring through.
However, the AirTag’s biggest problem had not been anticipated. Some users misuse it by tracking people without their knowledge. Apple is already doing several things to address this overriding issue. Now, if you slip an AirTag in your bag, for example, the iPhone can alert you with a notification. On Android smartphones, the beacon may ring after a while. The owner of an AirTag can be more easily identified by the police since Apple can provide information.
As we pointed out last March, it would be interesting for Apple and the other manufacturers of connected key fobs (Samsung, Tile for example), to work on an interoperability standard to facilitate the search for these trackers, but also the tracking alert.
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