The new iPhone 15 has a hidden feature that many people don’t know about, and it can save you valuable time: the Ultra Wideband chip, known as U2. This chip is present in all the new iPhone 15 models and may not generate as much buzz as other upgrades, but it’s certainly worth your attention.
U2 is the second generation of the Ultra Wideband chip, with its predecessor, the U1, first appearing in the iPhone 11 in 2019. The U1 chip worked in conjunction with Apple’s AirTag key finder to pinpoint the distance and direction of lost items and simplified file transfers through AirDrop.
What sets the U2 chip apart is its ability to enhance location tracking within the Find My app, especially in crowded spaces when trying to locate friends. When both you and your friend have iPhones equipped with U2 chips, you can take advantage of a feature called Precision Finding. This feature enables you to select a location your friend has shared with you. Your iPhone will then provide directional arrows and distance information, guiding you to your friend’s location.
However, there’s a limitation: Precision Finding requires both iPhones to have U2 chips, meaning it won’t work if your friend has an older iPhone or an Android device.
The usefulness of the U2 chip extends beyond iPhones; it’s gradually finding its way into other Apple devices, such as the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. This means you can utilize Precision Finding on your Apple Watch to locate your iPhone, provided it’s an iPhone 15 or a future model equipped with a U2 chip.
Even the HomePod, equipped with Ultra Wideband technology, gets in on the action. If you have an Apple Watch 9 nearby while a HomePod is playing audio, it triggers the Now Playing feature on your watch, allowing you to control playback.
In summary, the U2 chip in the iPhone 15 and other Apple devices significantly improves location tracking, making it a valuable feature for locating friends and lost items in crowded places. It’s a noteworthy upgrade to consider when upgrading your Apple devices.