Huge news from the Apple rumor mill! It looks like Apple is getting ready to give some major refreshes to two of its smaller, but super popular, accessories: the AirTag and the HomePod mini.
The new AirTag was actually expected to launch way back this year, but it got quietly pushed. Now, we are looking at a launch sometime in the first half of 2026.
AirTag Upgrades Are Massive
When the new AirTag finally shows up, it's bringing some serious improvements. Think about quality-of-life stuff that makes tracking way less frustrating:
- Better Pairing: The connection process will be much smoother and faster.
- Enhanced Precision Finding: This is getting a major boost, making it way easier to pinpoint your lost item.
- Detailed Battery Reporting: You will finally get accurate battery level updates! That feature was unreliable before.
- Improved Moving: This is a cool, new feature. It means you will see the AirTag's precise location even when it's moving, like if it is in a car or on a bag at the airport carousel.
- Crowded Place Accuracy: Apple is focused on making the tracking reliable even in busy spots where a lot of signals are bouncing around.
The big question is whether the original AirTag can get any of these features through a simple software update. Some of the upgrades, especially the improved Precision Finding, probably need a brand new Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, so that might be strictly for the new model. The new tracker is even being internally labeled as the “2025 AirTag”, showing just how long it has been in the works!
HomePod mini: Just a Chip Swap?
Apple is also updating the HomePod mini soon. But this one sounds more like a pure performance upgrade.
The new HomePod mini is expected to swap out the old S5 chip (which has been around since the 2020 model) for the much newer S10 chip. That’s a huge jump in processing power! This should make Siri respond faster and improve overall stability. However, even with that powerful S10 chip, rumors suggest the speaker won't support the full Apple Intelligence features. Those are likely reserved for more advanced devices with bigger processors.
It looks like the first half of 2026 is going to be busy for Apple's smart home and tracking ecosystem.
Key Points
- The new AirTag is expected to launch in the first half of 2026, having been internally delayed from $2025$.
- New AirTag features include Improved Moving (tracking in motion), Enhanced Precision Finding, detailed battery reporting, and better crowded area accuracy.
- The Enhanced Precision Finding likely relies on an upgraded UWB chip, making some features exclusive to the new model.
- The HomePod mini is also getting an upgrade, primarily involving a chip swap from the old S5 to the much newer S10 chip.
- Despite the S10 chip, the new HomePod mini is not expected to support the full Apple Intelligence feature set.
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