Apple readies a new AirTag for 2026 with better Precision Finding and UWB tracking, while HomePod mini adopts an S10 chip but still skips Apple Intelligence.
© Apple
Apple is preparing updates for two of its smallest devices—the AirTag tracker and the HomePod mini smart speaker. According to sources, the new AirTag was originally planned for this year, but the release has been quietly pushed to the first half of 2026.
The refreshed AirTag is expected to offer a more streamlined pairing process, an improved Precision Finding mode, and more detailed battery level indicators. There is also mention of a feature called Improved Moving, which appears designed to track a tag more accurately while it’s in motion, not only when it’s stationary. Separately, Apple is working to improve tracking accuracy in crowded places, where an AirTag can currently get lost amid many nearby devices.
It remains unclear which of these capabilities might reach the current AirTag via software updates. In particular, the enhanced Precision Finding will likely hinge on a new UWB chip, making it an exclusive for the next-generation tracker.
In parallel, Apple plans to refresh the HomePod mini. In this case, expect more of a technical update than visible design or functional changes. The new version is set to adopt an S10 chip, replacing the aging S5 that has powered the HomePod mini since its 2020 debut. Even with the new processor, the device, by all indications, will not support Apple Intelligence features.
Taken together, the strategy points to steady refinement rather than sweeping change—tightening accuracy, stability, and the internals while preserving the familiar character of these accessories.