The Battle of Bluetooth Trackers: AirTags vs. Tile vs. SmartTag

If your wondering which tracking device is best for me, we’ve got you covered as we present the different options and features available on the market.

Bluetooth tracking devices can help you track almost anything, from keys, phones, and other items, but which one is right for you? Apple Airtags are the latest to compete with Tile tracker tags along with Samsung’s SmartTag.

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Here are what’s available to you:

Apple AirTags:
Apple’s AirTags are discs about the size of a quarter. You can attach an AirTag to your keys, a bag, or anything else using one of the many accessories such as keychains, eyeglasses straps, and fabric mounts. The AirTag can be paired with Apple devices like your iPhone and works with the Find My app. 

After a simple setup, you can see your item’s last known location if you’ve attached an AirTag. If the item is within Bluetooth range, you can use the Find My app to signal the AirTag’s tiny built-in speaker to play a sound. AirTags also has Siri support, so your iOS assistant can help you locate lost things. Like many other Apple products, the tags won’t work with Android devices — but if someone with an Android device finds your lost tag, they can still hold it up to their phone with NFC and find details on how to contact you, as is the case for someone with an iPhone. 

One factor setting AirTags apart from the competition is Precision Finding, which works using Apple’s U1 chip and ultra-wideband technology. Precision Finding uses a combination of Apple’s ARKit software and the phone’s camera, accelerometer, and gyroscope to guide you to your AirTag using sound, haptic, and visual feedback. With the Find My app, you’ll get helpful notes like how many feet away your AirTag is and in what direction. Precision Finding also has a voice-over option to help low-vision or blind users.

Price: $29 each or $99 for a four-pack. You can purchase them via Amazon using these links:
Apple AirTag Single Pack ($29.99) – Apple AirTag 4 Pack(On Sale $89.99)

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Tile Mate:
Tile has been in the business for about 10 years, offering multiple tracker tags depending on the item you wish to track. You can choose between the basic Tile Mate, Tile Slim (a thin option for credit cards and laptops), Tile Stickers, performance and combo packs, and exclusive and limited edition designs. Each product is available in different colors and pack options.

Tile also has a dedicated app that will ring your Tile if it’s nearby. It also works the other way around. If you double-press the Tile button on the tag, it will make your phone ring. If you’re out of range, the app will show your Tile’s last place. If it’s lost, choose Notify When Found to get help from others using the Tile app anonymously.

The Mate can attach to most key rings and offers a 200-foot Bluetooth range. In addition, the Mate uses a CR1632 replaceable battery and is water-resistant. The Tile Pro is the next level up and offers a bit more durability, a 400-foot Bluetooth range, a louder ring, and a replaceable battery. Tile’s Sticker and Slim offer more variety for narrow spaces and actually adhere the tracker to an item. The Slim and Sticker are waterproof and also have a three-year built-in battery.

Price: $19.99 for Single Tile Mate, $16 for Single Tile Slim. You can purchase them via Amazon using these links: Tile Mate-Single ($19.99), Tile Slim – Single ($16.95), Tile Pro ($34.99)

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Samsung SmartTag:
Samsung recently launched its SmartTag alongside the new Galaxy S21 phones. Like AirTags, Samsung’s product competes with Tile to help locate lost items like keys, your phone, pets, and more. However, there’s a big catch: You can only use SmartTags with Samsung Galaxy phones. 

SmartTags connect to SmartThings Find, Samsung’s built-in hub for smart home devices. Unlike AirTags, Samsung launched different versions of SmartTag and SmartTag Plus. SmartTags use Bluetooth Low Energy as its connection standard, while SmartTag Plus uses ultra-wideband.

With the SmartThings Find app, tap the Find card and choose a device you’ve listed and want to locate. If you’re close, the screen will show a gauge to help you better find your item. You can also make it play a sound. If it’s really lost, other Samsung devices can anonymously help if they’re near the tag and let you know where it is. All this happens in the background and is encrypted. 

Price: $27.99 for a single SmartTag, $42.99 for a single SmartTag Plus.
You can purchase them via Amazon using these links: SmartTag – Single ($27.99), SmartTag + Single ($42.99)