Bluetooth trackers - Tile vs Apple

flaneurs_lobster

Putting a new post on the last thread I could find about (Bluetooth) trackers.

Interesting how fast the product lines have moved in the last 2.5 years, with generic Google Find Hub devices pretty much replacing the exclusive (literally) Samsung/Tile etc trackers.

I haven't looked for numbers but I bet Android trackers must be near parity with Air Tags.

UWB seems to have been a technology gone too far, with almost no hardware support, it's use seems to be confined to keyless cars.

Anyways, from Thursday 28May26 Lidl have Apple/Android trackers for £4.99 (with a Lidl card)

https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/tronic-smart-tag-finder/p10048382

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82011389#Comment_82011389

I doubt it given the head start that Apple has, according to Gemini they state that there is between 5-12m android find my hub beacons whereas apple has sold circa >100m AirTags… obviously some will have died, been binned, lost etc but with more than 10x the number of sales I'd say they are still the very dominate force plus some third part items can in principle worth with both network though you have to lock to one in setup which isnt included in the Apple count.

The problem is that Apple leads in most "developed" country where people have disposable income to buy toys like trackers. Android absolutely dominates in other places but when a chipolo Pop is the same as a weeks salary buying them is harder

missile

I bought ATUVOS Smart Air Tag and Wallet Tracker Card. Wallet Tracker is same size as a credit card and lives in my suitcase. Battery lasts 12months plus and is rechargeable

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82011389#Comment_82011389

I'm missing something, clearly.

Because I click that link and I saw no Apple tracker (airtag) for £5.

In our household we've Tile from years ago, Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 1 & 2 and also Apple Airtag 1 & 2. The AT2 is yet to be used as it only came yesterday.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82011942#Comment_82011942

Not surprising since the link is to a Lidl (branded 'TRONIC') smart tag finder.

Mention of Apple/Android refers to their respective 'Find Me' networks upon which such generic trackers work.

Interesting thing about it is the price, I've not seen even the cheapest of the no-name Chinese trackers for less than a tenner.

If there's a decent uptake of these trackers and this means that there is a corresponding increase in the number of devices contributing to the Big Find Me Network then this will increase the effectiveness to all users.

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82011955#Comment_82011955

It wasn't all that long ago that my employer bought a load of cheap bluetooth trackers off Amazon because someone lost a set of keys.

The ones they got looked not too dissimilar to the AUTOVOS one that missile posted earlier (but wasn't AUTOVOS).

They were beyond terrible. They got binned after a day because they were just useless.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013238#Comment_82013238

TBH, Bluetooth trackers all look the same, they are the least exciting gadget that a retailer can try to shift.

Maybe people read the specs and can be persuaded that Bluetooth 6.0 is much better than 5.4 or that a rechargeable battery is better than a replaceable.

The manufacturers seem to rely on gimmicks like pretty colours, beeps, flashy lights or - of course - an Apple logo.

I'll go out tomorrow and try to buy that £5 Lidl job, might be binnable crap but worth a punt I reckon.

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013252#Comment_82013252

I suspect you will but please post back your findings.

As said, I've got 3 of the big name trackers. I've never ran a test on them side by side seeing the distance of them or whatever other comparison but they do the job I look for.

I think the tile was less than £20 at the time. I got the pro I think it is, the one that looks like an after 8 mint.This was back before prices of everything started getting beyond a joke.

I've only ever bought the Apple Air Tags in sale so somewhere above £20 but less than the usual £29.

The Samsung ones were £13-£14.

I've used Tile and Samsung, the wife has used Tile & Apple.

I found the Tile had decent connection but it had an annoying issue with the battery where you'd put a new one in & it said it needed a new one, despite resetting it. Some wont mind because they know a new battery is in but this bugged me.

The Samsung was decent but I found the connection faffy. I also thought it seemed to chew through batteries like nobodies business. Small price to pay for knowing where my keys are & it's saved me a time or two.

The Apple ones from what I've seen are quite good. I just personally don't like how you have to buy an additional thing to attach them to your keys but at the same time there's all manner of different type attachments for different uses so +/- to it.

missile

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82013238#Comment_82013238

Hi, As OP said they all look the same. I have both Apple Airtag and Atuvos. They both work very well for me. Apple lasts circa 12 months and Atuvos 12+ months before recharge. I guess battery life will be reduced if constantly used to check location of the tag?

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82014268#Comment_82014268

No, the beacon is passive, it continuously is broadcasting its existence irrespective of if anything is in range to pick it up or not. It's the phone (or tablet, laptop etc) that detects the beacon that actually determines the location not the beacon.

Playing its sound will drain the battery quicker