The idea is that when one of your prized possessions goes missing, a $30 Bluetooth tracker can help you find it. There are four consumer Bluetooth trackers rounding out the most popular and worthwhile devices to find missing or stolen property.
We already know that many are effective. Stolen cars have been recovered with AirTag and Tile trackers. People are getting creative about where they attach them aside from keys. Personally, I use Bluetooth trackers in my wallet, car, bike, e-scooter, golf clubs, surfboard bag, travel bag, backpack, luggage and the most useful one is attached to our dog.
In testing Bluetooth trackers, range, battery life, reliability, ease-of-use and tracking network performance play key roles.
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At $29 for a single AirTag, Apple’s tracker takes advantage of a network of a billion devices.
Every time an AirTag comes within range of an Apple product such as iPhone, iPad, Watch and Macbook computer, it registers the current location to the Cloud making it a superior technology especially given the fact that it has a replaceable battery that lasts a year according to Apple.
One drawback is that an AirTag cannot be shared with other people. We have an AirTag on our dog, but only one of us in the family can see where she is.
Other Bluetooth competitors may have thinner styles, but must be replaced when dead and are not as effective at pinging locations. That’s why this is undoubtedly the winning pick for the best Bluetooth tracker – especially if you are an iPhone user.
- Single AirTag: Small, coin-shaped tracking device made from plastic and stainless steel to work seamlessly with an iPhone to help you keep track of your personal belongings using the Find My app.
- Four-pack of AirTags: A four-pack of AirTags is a bundle of four small, coin-shaped tracking devices.
Related:
Did you know you can use Apple AirTags with your Android phone?
I’ve been testing Tile trackers which were first to burst out to wide success years ago. I still have a slim Tile tucked in my wallet which I’ve successfully used to locate when it slipped under a car seat. It’s got an impressive 250-foot range for local discovery of missing items that will beep to help find them.
Far away, the Tile Mate connects to other Tile owners through the Tile app and reports its last location each time to the Tile Network. That same network helped me reunite with a small travel pouch I had left onboard an aircraft.
I could see it sitting inside JetBlue’s lost and found at JFK even though the airline representative did not know it was there – until it beeped.
For features such as alerts when an item is left behind, Tile requires a premium subscription which Apple does without a fee. Tile Mate non-replaceable battery designed to last up to 3 years. If it’s anything like previous Tile trackers’ power performance, it may exceed expected battery life.
Apple AirTag knocked Tile out of the top spot but comes in as a solid #2 recommendation for Apple iPhone user and #1 best Bluetooth tracker if you own an Android phone.
There are several models of Tile available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Some of the most popular Tile models include:
- Tile Pro: This model has the longest range and the loudest ring of all Tile models. It is perfect for keeping track of your keys, backpacks, and other items that you carry with you on a daily basis.
- Tile Mate: This model is a versatile tracker that is perfect for keeping track of your keys, wallet, and other everyday items. It has a range of up to 200 feet and a loud ring.
- Tile Slim: This model is a sleek tracker that is designed to fit into tight spaces like your wallet or passport holder. It has a range of up to 200 feet and a loud ring.
- Tile Sticker: This model is a small adhesive tracker that can stick to almost anything. It has a range of up to 150 feet and a loud ring.
This latest design from Chipolo now works with Apple Find My network. That means it can act like an AirTag, but does not perform as well in a number of areas.
I do love its keyring hole that is missing from AirTag, but other shortcomings can’t be ignored which include the fact that it’s larger in size, not very solid feeling, has spotty performance and it is not as precise with location tracking.
Of all the Chipolo versions, this one is better with its functionality into Find My network, but not a compelling enough price to beat AirTag.
Pair with any Android 11 or higher phone to find things. SmartTag+ is easy to setup and configure in the SmartThings app from Samsung.
It has added functionality to make the button on the SmartTag+ control other connected devices acting like a remote switch. A unique AR interface visually guides you to missing keys or any nearby object by showing the way. These two standout features are great but not good enough to make up for other shortfalls.
Battery life of 6 months is short by comparison with a number of online customer reviews sharing that the real-life replaceable CR2032 battery life can be as short as 2 months at times.
There are reports that the SmartTag+ is not compatible with Verizon devices when using the SmartThings app even when signed into your Samsung account without going through an arduous 30-step instruction list provided by Verizon. A Samsung support page still shows that “SmartThings is not compatible with Verizon devices.”
Get the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+
Samsung has introduced the SmartTag2, an electronic tracking tag with a new design featuring a meta-reinforced ring, making it easier to attach to items like bags and luggage. The SmartTag2 comes with several enhancements:
Lost Mode: Users can link their contact details to the tag. If someone finds the tag, they can scan it using any smartphone with an NFC reader and web browser to access the contact information. This feature is particularly useful for pets, ensuring the owner’s contact details are readily available if the pet goes astray.
Compass View and SmartThings Find App Upgrades: For Samsung smartphone users, Compass View offers directional cues and distance details to help locate the SmartTag2. The SmartThings Find App now includes a screen shortcut and full-screen map view.
Extended Battery Life: The SmartTag2 boasts an impressive 700-day battery life in Power Saving Mode and 500 days in Normal Mode.
Automatic Re-syncing: This feature allows for smooth transitions when switching phones.
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