Apple introduced its AirTags object tracker in its first spring event which took place last April 2021, giving users the ability to track their keys, pet or even vehicle using the tracking device.
With an Apple AirTag selling price of $ 35 each, or $ 119 a 4-pack, AirTags have become a tempting buy for many, but what other products are there on the market with similar capabilities? ?
Here is our ranking of the best alternatives to Apple’s AirTag tracker and see what features they offer and at what price you can find them in the market.
Best trackers: alternatives to the Apple AirTag
Apple AirTag
Before we dive into the alternatives, let’s see what Apple’s option looks like. AirTags were introduced in April alongside the iMacs, iPad Pro, and the updated version of Apple TV 4K.
The circular format tracker features a silver finish with the Apple logo, all encased in a circular white plastic border.
It is powered by a standard CR2032 battery which, exceptionally for Apple, can be user-replaceable for up to one year. An IP67 rating means that AirTags they survive water to a depth of one meter and up to thirty minutes.
AirTag uses Bluetooth to send its signal to iPhone, so you can know its location. If you have an iPhone 11 or later, you can use its ultra wideband technology to use the precision search feature which will guide you precisely to the AirTag.
If you are out of range of your AirTag, you can still find it using the ‘Search’ network normally used for iPhone, friends and family. This means that if another Apple device goes through AirTag, it will alert the “Searching” network of the location of the lost device.
One concern with trackers is the ability to track people without them knowing. For this reason, Apple places great importance on the privacy features it has built into its AirTags to prevent this from happening.
Basically, if an AirTag is moved away from the manager’s iPhone for a while, it will start to make a sound that will alert someone to its presence. We have an interesting article on 12 useful ways to use AirTags.
Chipolo ONE Spot
Chipolo has been marketing the ONE line for quite some time and it has proven to be a popular and reliable way to keep track of your most valuable items, even before Apple introduces its AirTags.
Now the company has added a new version in the form of ONE Spot, which is important because it supports Apple’s recently improved “Search” network. This means that you can use the “Search” app on your iPhone to see where it is located.
Like the AirTags, the ONE Spot has a replaceable battery, using the standard CR2032 variant. It also has an IPX5 waterproof rating, which is splash proof, but don’t put it on your pet if they like to dive in water.
the Chipolo A It is available in a wide range of colors, in place of the silver solitaire with a white border of the AirTag, and measures 37.9mm around its circumference, with a depth of 6.4mm. It has a hole so that it can be attached to a keychain without additional accessories.
With the dedicated app, you’ll receive alerts if you’re more than 60 meters from the ONE Spot, plus the added benefit of asking Siri to call the ONE Spot, which then activates a chime that sounds on the device.
Under these circumstances, you should be able to track down those elusive keys without any problems, as well as follow your pet when they wander away from you at night in the middle of a field or in a park.
Once out of Bluetooth range, Chipolo uses its community finder feature, where it marks the item as lost, then receives alerts if another Chipolo user approaches the item.
Of course, now that the Chipolo is on the “Search” network, it will also include any iPhone or other device that can communicate on the network. The standard ONE is now available, while the ONE Spot will have to wait a little longer.
Tile Pro
The Mate’s older brother is the Pro, which not only has slightly larger dimensions of 42mm x 42mm x 6.5mm (instead of 35mm x 35mm x 6.2mm), but also has a larger size. large tracking range.
The Pro can stay connected to your iPhone for up to 120 meters, which is twice as long as the ONE Spot and the Tile Mate. It also has a louder timbre, which makes sense, as you’ll have to hear it from further away.
The larger frame accommodates a larger capacity battery inside, like the CR2032, the same as the ONE Spot and AirTag, which should work for about a year.
However, other than these details, it is very similar to the Mate. This means water resistance in basic mode, and still the need for a premium subscription if you want more advanced and intelligent alerts.
Like Tile Mate, Tile Pro it is not, and probably will not be, compatible with Apple’s “Find” network. You can buy it in black or white finishes with packs of 2 for $ 59.99, or a pack of 4 for $ 99.99.
Vodafone curves
As a somewhat different alternative to what has been seen so far, the Vodafone Curve tracker arrives as a tracking device that lets you find, locate or always be in contact with people.
In fact, it’s part of a new approach in that it still acts as a tracker but doesn’t use Bluetooth. Instead, it uses a SIM card inside the device which then uses the operator’s network to geotag the Curve sensor.
While this gives you a much greater range than Bluetooth, it does require you to subscribe to a dedicated SIM data plan, which will cost you $ 2 per month with a minimum 24 month contract associated with the Vodafone Smart SIM plan.
The Curve has an IP67 water resistance rating, like AirTags, it has a rechargeable battery that lasts about 7 days on a single charge, as well as a quick alert button that can instantly send your location details. .
The circular frame has a circumference of 42.1mm and a thickness of 16.4mm, with a weight of 30 grams. It is available with two finishes in black or gray and as it seems obvious, its operation is subject to the coverage of the Vodafone network and the GPS signal.
Tile Mate
One of the most recognizable names in the Bluetooth tracker market is Tile.
The company has been a pioneer in this field, with a square design concept that makes the trackers instantly recognizable.
The Tile Mate is the cheapest offering in its current lineup, but it does offer a lot of really useful features. Powered by a replaceable CR1632 battery, which is expected to last a year, the Tile Mate can track objects up to 60 meters away.
Outside of this range, you can follow the Mate through other Tile users, with any Tile device activating an alert if it passes near their device. Unlike the Chipolo ONE, you don’t get smart alerts telling you it’s out of range.
This is an optional Premium feature in the app that costs an additional $ 2.50 per month when paying for the service. One advantage of the subscription is that you get a free battery replacement, although the batteries are very inexpensive.
Tile’s website lists the Mate as water resistant, but doesn’t give more details. Therefore, we assume that it will withstand light splashing and exposure to water, but will not withstand submersion. Tile Mate is not, and probably will not be, compatible with Apple’s “Find” network.
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