If you quizzed me about the improvements in all four models of the new iPhone 15, you would have to wait a long time before anyone would mention the new Ultra Wideband chip. While it may not have the publicity and visual impact of Apple's change from USB-C to USB-C from Lightning or a more pronounced side profile, the updated UWB chip in the latest iPhones is hard to miss.

This is because the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that Apple has included in all new models, from the entry-level iPhone 15 to the ultra-premium iPhone 15 Pro Max, makes it easier to track people and things--at least those people and things are also using the new Ultra Wideband chipset.

Recall, Ultra Wideband has been part of Apple's iPhone setup since its inclusion in the iPhone 11 in 2019; its chip, known as U1, works with Apple's AirTag key finder to determine the distance and and direction to the lost item. It also leverages AirDrop to simplify file transfers.

The second generation Ulta Wideband chip is called U2. Yes, the rock band U2, and if you remember Apple's controversial uploading of U2's latest album to people's phones without permission in 2014, at least this new U2 will be something you'll be glad to find on your iPhone.

The U2 chip will improve the accuracy of location tracking found in the iPhone's Find My app, especially the Find My Friends feature. According to Apple, the new chip will allow for what is called "precision finding" and will reportedly help users more easily locate friends already registered in the "Find My Friends" app when they are in crowded places.

I haven't had a chance to use the U2-enhanced Find My, but according to the iPhone 15 demo Apple gave on stage, it will allow you to tap on the location your friends have shared with you. an arrow will appear on the iPhone screen to indicate which direction to head. The distance is also displayed. The distance is also displayed and counts down as you approach the correct location.

There is, of course, a catch: for Precision Finding to work, both you and your friend must be using an iPhone with a U2 chip. So a friend carrying an iPhone 14 or earlier, or an Android device, could get lost in the crowd.

Still, the value of Precision Finding should become apparent, especially if the feature works as advertised. I have been to amusement parks, aquariums, downtown, and other public spaces with my family, and despite our best efforts, if someone falls behind or wanders off, we get separated; with the Precision Finding feature on a U2-powered iPhone, we can frantically text Instead of frantically texting back and forth, we should be able to find each other with a minimum of fuss.

The usefulness of the U2 chip should grow even greater with its inclusion in future iPhones. However, the U2 chip is also finding its way into other Apple devices: the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, which were announced at the same time as the iPhone 15 series, both feature the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip as part of the new S9 processor as part of the new S9 processor.

It also brings precision findings to the Apple Watch, especially as it relates to the iPhone. My wife's favorite Apple Watch feature is the ability to press a button on the smartwatch and the iPhone pings from across the room.

Apple Watch 9 owners will be able to take it a step further and use the watch's U2 chip to provide on-screen directions for finding people, just as it does on the iPhone 15. Again, this feature requires the iPhone 15, but will probably be extended to more devices as the U2 chip becomes more widely used.

The HomePod, which also has UWB, will join in on the action. Wearing an Apple Watch 9 within about 1.5 meters of a HomePod that is playing audio will activate Now Playing on the watch and control playback.

The fact that the U2 chip is bringing new and enhanced features to multiple devices suggests that this is not a one-off for Apple, even if they have to wait four years between UWB upgrades. I don't have any special insight, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is an AirTag update at some point next year with U2-related improvements.

No one would argue that the new ultra-wideband chip is the most important addition to the iPhone 15. iPhone 15 Pro has the powerful A17 Pro chipset, while the standard phone has a much improved camera and dynamic island functionality. But the arrival of the U2 chipset shows that Apple is trying to improve every inch of its phones, not just the high-profile changes. And sometimes these improvements extend beyond the iPhone to other Apple products as well.