Apple's new Siri Remote adds Precision Finding, but the feature won't work with iPhone 15 or iPhone 16 models, even though they support advanced Ultra Wideband tracking. The updated remote, introduced alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV, offers more precise location guidance through Find My and a built-in speaker that can play a sound when the remote goes missing.
However, Apple's compatibility requirements exclude several relatively recent iPhones, including models that already support advanced location tracking with other Apple accessories. According to Apple's footnotes, Precision Finding requires an iPhone Duo, iPhone Air, or iPhone 17 or later, excluding the iPhone 17e. Compatible iPhones must run the latest version of iOS, and availability varies by region.
The restriction is particularly notable because the iPhone 15 lineup and most iPhone 16 models already feature Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip. Those iPhones support expanded Precision Finding with the AirTag 2, but they can't use the new Siri Remote's Precision Finding feature. Apple hasn't explained why the remote requires newer iPhones despite the tracking capabilities of earlier models.
Owners of older iPhones aren't entirely out of options. Since iOS 17, Apple's existing remote finder has helped users locate second-generation and newer Siri Remotes using proximity indicators. The new Siri Remote is compatible with Apple TV HD and every Apple TV 4K generation, and Apple will sell it separately for $299 with the new Apple TV 4K, which is available for preorder starting October 13, with availability beginning November 13.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing