Apple's redesigned Siri Remote looks to be a massive upgrade over the previous version, but unfortunately, it's missing a key feature that many fans were hoping for — a U1 chip. Apple's U1 chip is what enables UWB (Ultra Wideband) technology on some of its products. In the case of the new Siri Remote, it was expected that U1 would be integrated for easy tracking of the remote through Apple's Find My app.
The new Siri Remote was announced at the Apple Spring Forward event on April 20 alongside the 2021 variant of the Apple TV 4K. Apple TV users have been complaining for years about the old remote, saying it was too thin, uncomfortable, and too limited in its functionality. For the most part, the new Siri Remote addresses all of those things. The confusing touchpad from the old remote has now been replaced with a d-pad and select button for more precise navigation, but Apple has retained some touch gestures for scrolling lists and scrubbing through video playback. There are also new power and mute buttons to control a user's television, the Siri button has been moved to the side, and the metal/glass design has been replaced with an aluminum unibody.
Unfortunately, UWB tracking didn't make the cut for the new Siri Remote. Apple didn't address this at all during its unveiling of the Apple TV 4K, and later in a statement to The Verge, Apple confirmed that there is no U1 chip in the remote. While Apple may eventually release an upgraded version of the new Siri Remote with this functionality, there's nothing to indicate that'll happen any time soon.
Why UWB Tracking Would Have Been Great For The Siri Remote
Apple first introduced the U1 chip in 2019 with the iPhone 11 series, followed by the iPhone 12 family and the Apple Watch Series 6. In those devices, U1 uses its UWB technology for more accurate AirDrop sharing. U1 is also found in the all-new AirTag accessory, and in that case, Apple harness UWB for extremely accurate and precise location tracking. If an AirTag is attached to a lost backpack, for example, the UWB technology allows users with a compatible iPhone to see the exact direction and distance between them and the AirTag. All of this is handled through the Find My app, giving people a single service for keeping tabs on their Apple devices, favorite contacts, and everyday items.
With that in mind, there was a lot of excitement that Apple would integrate U1 into this new Siri Remote. The new remote is still pretty slim and compact, meaning there's a good chance it'll continue to get lost in couch cushions and under people's rugs. If Apple had added a U1 chip to the remote, users would be able to track it down within a matter of seconds.
While someone could attach an AirTag to the Siri Remote and get precise Find My tracking that way, not including the tech directly in the remote itself seems like a huge missed opportunity for Apple. Then again, if the lack of U1 in the Siri Remote spurs more AirTag sales, maybe Apple knew exactly what it was doing.
Source: The Verge