Misplacing items. One of life’s big frustrations. From the TV remote to your wallet or even your car keys - in most people’s hectic lifestyles, they don’t have time to start searching for it.
According to research by Pixie, a locator app for iPhones, 28% of Americans misplace their car and house keys every week - although, for me, it’s far more frequent than that. I’m a serial loser - which is why I view location trackers, such as Apple’s AirTag and Tile, as one of the best tech inventions of the 21st century.
They can be attached to your possessions, so if you can’t remember where you left the item you can use an app on your smartphone to make the tracker emit a noise to help you nose it down, as well as using an iPhone to guide you to the location (in the case of an AirTag).
Maddeningly, its location was constantly being updated as hordes of visitors with iPhones passed within close reach of the AirTag while taking part in a festive light trail.
However, even though I’d put the AirTag in lost mode - which means a message and phone number can be displayed if the AirTag is tapped on an NFC-enabled smartphone, which is most modern handsets - clearly the AirTag wasn’t visible as no-one rang me to say they’d found it.
Of course, I could have headed back to the forest and used the precision-finding feature, which uses Ultra Wideband radio technology to identify the distance and direction the iPhone is from the AirTag and displays a counter on screen to help you track it down.
However, the fact the forest is an hour’s drive away, coupled with the fact the AirTag was clearly buried deep in the undergrowth, meant I didn’t think it was worth the time and effort.
So I resigned myself to the fact that it was gone for good. However, more than two months later, it’s back in my possession and it's all thanks to Lost Mode and an extremely helpful member of staff.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
So, how did I get my AirTag back?
Last Sunday morning, I received a phone call, and being an unknown number I let the call go straight to voicemail - the last thing I wanted was to deal with cold callers on what was supposed to be a restful day. However, I soon got a voicemail notification - meaning it must be more than an unsolicited sales call.
The caller was Carl from Forestry England at Bedgebury National Pinetum and Forest visitor center, enquiring if I had lost anything, so I immediately rang back and explained I had indeed misplaced my AirTag there back in November.
Carl told TechRadar it has been handed in by another member of the public visiting the forest, although they didn’t provide any details about where they had found it.
I can only assume the finder either didn’t know what the AirTag was - but perhaps saw the Apple logo and assumed it was a gadget someone was missing - or they knew it was an AirTag but their phone didn’t support NFC.
“I didn’t know it had any value at first, but I realized it was something Apple-ish,” Carl told TechRadar.
He started searching the web and soon discovered the white disc was in fact an AirTag, and then was able to find instructions on how to interrogate it and discover any contact details associated with it.
Carl said he used the Tracker Detect app for his Google Pixel 4a initially but that didn’t provide much information.
“The app confirmed there was an AirTag nearby, but didn’t offer up any contact details,” Carl said.
He then held the AirTag near the NFC reader on the Pixel 4a, which loaded a web page explaining the AirTag had been lost and a request to call the telephone number on the website, so he did just that.
When I called back and confirmed I had indeed lost an AirTag, Carl said he would place the AirTag in an envelope marked with my name, and said I was free to collect at any point.
As I know exactly where the AirTag is now, I’ll be jumping in my car and heading straight to the visitors center to collect the envelope containing my location tracker and once again, pass on my thanks to Carl for taking the time to get in touch. This is far preferable to scabbling around on my hands and knees in dense forest trying to track down the AirTag myself.
This really does prove that lost mode can be vital in getting your AirTag back if you do misplace it.
Had I not switched it on, there would have been no way of knowing how to contact the AirTag’s owner, so the only way I would have been reunited with it was if I headed back to the forest to look for it myself - something which I’d deemed not worth the time and effort.
It takes just a few taps to switch on lost mode - open the Find My app, tap on the AirTag you have misplaced, and under the section marked lost mode, press enable and enter your phone number - but it could make all the difference in seeing your lost AirTag again.
There’s nothing more frustrating than misplacing an item; whether it’s the TV remote, your house keys, or your wallet. Spending time searching for the item, or worse, forking out to replace the item isn’t something any of us want to be doing.
According to research by Pixie, a locator app for iPhones, 20% of Americans misplace their wallet every week, and it costs a collective $2.7 billion a year to replace the items that are never found. So, when Apple launched the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe for the iPhone 12 last year, I was, well, surprised.
After all, it’s one thing storing your debit or credit card digitally on an iPhone through Apple Pay so it can only be used to pay for goods and services when Touch ID or Face ID is activated, but attaching your physical card to the back of your phone case with just a magnet. If you’re a serial loser like me, that’s asking for trouble.
However, this year Apple has taken a step towards fixing the issue by launching a new version of the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe, at the same time as the iPhone 13, which supports the Find My service. This means you can track its location if it becomes detached from the phone, in the same way as an Apple AirTag. Although, in my opinion it’s still missing one vital feature.
MagSafe is a small magnetic coil in the back of the iPhone that ensures the smartphone can be wireless charged without having to worry about positioning the handset on an exact spot on a wireless charger. It also provides scope for various accessories to be attached to the back of the smartphone too - one of which is this card holder.
I’ve never been a fan of phone cases that have slots so you can store your credit cards - for me it feels like I’m bundling too many important items together, and if I misplaced them, it would result in a big headache. However, when Apple launched the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe last year, I tried to persevere with it.
MagSafe creates a strong connection between the wallet and the phone, so there’s no fear of it sliding off the phone for no reason, but when my phone was in the bottom of my bag and jangling around with other items such as make-up, keys, anti-bacterial hand gel and the like, I found there were occasions when it did detach from the phone accidentally.
There’s also no way to get your credit card or ID out of the wallet without removing it from the phone first, which, for me at least, increases the chances of placing it down in a shop or cafe, and forgetting to pick it back up again.
However, a re-designed version of the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe, which was launched at the same time as the iPhone 13 and is available now from the Apple store supports the Find My app.
This means you can see its last location on a map in the app and get a notification when the wallet has become detached from your smartphone for longer than one minute. However, unlike AirTags you can’t make the wallet emit an electronic beep to help you find it easier if you’ve misplaced the wallet in your home.
Nor does it have the Precision Finding feature, which uses Ultra Wideband radio technology to identify the distance and direction your iPhone is from the item, and display the information on-screen alongside haptic feedback to help you locate the AirTag.
However, these aren’t my biggest concerns - instead it’s that the Apple’s Find My device network can’t be harnessed to help reunite you with the wallet if it really is lost, rather than just temporarily misplaced.
An AirTag that can’t be found can be placed into Lost mode, and if another device in the Find my network - be it an iPhone, iPad or even your AirPods - passes by the AirTag, you’ll get an anonymous update on its location. This would come in extremely handy, for example if I’d left the wallet in a shop where I’d removed it to pay for something, and then returned home. Instead, if this did happen, I’d have to follow the tried and tested method of retracting my steps.
However, there is something that AirTags offer that is also totted by the wallet - the ability to assign your phone number to the accessory. In the case of the wallet, this means if anyone finds it and attaches it to their phone, a notification with the phone number will be displayed on screen, asking them to call you. However, unlike with AirTags, when we tried tapping the wallet on the top of another iPhone, and an NFC-enabled Android smartphone, this message wasn’t displayed.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
How to use Find My to locate your MagSafe Wallet
Find My for the MagSafe wallet is extremely easy to set-up. As soon as you place the wallet accessory directly on the phone or on a MagSafe compatible case, the phone will identify the wallet and ask if you want to add it to Find My. That’s it, then you can leave it alone until the worst happens and you need to locate the wallet.
To do this, open the Find My app and tap the devices tab. In the list you’ll see the wallet, with the location and the time it was last connected to your iPhone. Tap the wallet from the list and you’ll be able to see a map with the location pinpointed - giving you somewhere to start your search at least. From here you can get directions in Apple Maps and also adjust whether you get a notification if the wallet becomes detached from the phone, as well as if you want your phone number to be displayed when someone attached it to their iPhone.
For some people the idea of the MagSafe wallet will make perfect sense. No more frayed slots on your phone case because you’ve pushed a card in and out too many times, and for those that want to travel light it means you can leave your usual wallet at home - it can fit up to three cards comfortably.
However, at $59 / £59 / AU$95 - which is around the same price as a card holder from designer leather good brand Coach - the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe is certainly not something you’d purchase on a whim.
Right now, however, I would rather stick with Apple Pay, which allows me to keep digital copies of my credit and debit cards as well as loyalty cards and keep my traditional purse for ID, well at least until the iPhone Leather Wallet with MagSafe has all of the AirTag features baked in.
We’ve all been there; whether it’s losing the TV remote right before a movie night or not knowing where you’re keys are when you’re already running late it’s frustrating. With the Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, and Tile trackers it’s no longer necessary either.
According to motoring organization, the RAC, 43% of drivers regularly spend an average of two minutes 10 seconds every day looking for their car keys, adding up to hours over the year. With these devices, you can greatly cut down that time.
But which tracker is best for your needs? While these small devices can all be attached to your keys, bags and put inside wallets there are some subtle differences that will make one better for you than another. We’re here to compare them all so you know if you should go with Tile, Apple, or Samsung to keep an eye on your stuff.
Best AirTag, SmartTag and Tile deals
If you’ve already decided which trackers you’re a fan of then here are the best deals we’ve found for Tile, AirTags, and SmartTags in your region.
FAQ
What is a location tracker?
A location tracker is a small Bluetooth gadget the size of a keyfob that can be clipped or stuck to personal possessions to ensure if you misplace the item, it can be found quickly with the help of your smartphone.
How does it work?
The tracker forms a Bluetooth connection with your smartphone or tablet, and if you do misplace the item it’s attached to a companion app you can play a tune on the tracker so it’s easier to find, with an indicator of how close or far you are from the item displayed on your phone’s screen.
If the item is out of Bluetooth range, you can see its last-known location on a map, and mark it as lost. If other users pass close to your lost item, its location will be identified and you’ll be alerted to its new location.
What can it be attached to?
Anything you don’t want to lose. Some location trackers have loops so they can be connected to keys or bags, while others can be slotted into wallets and some even have an adhesive pad on the back so they can be stuck to items like remote controls - the possibilities are endless.
Do they require a subscription?
Location trackers can be used free of charge once you’ve purchased the device itself, however, some offer a subscription service that provides a history of its movement, potentially making it easier to find.
(Image credit: Tile)
Smartphone compatibility
Honestly, the biggest factor at play when comparing these trackers will be what kind of smartphone you have. That’s because the Apple AirTag and Samsung SmartTag are only compatible with their respective brand’s smartphones.
If you aren’t on an iPhone 13 (or at least an iPhone running on iOS 14.5 or later) then the AirTag will be useless to you; the same goes for the SmartTag if you aren’t on a Samsung device that supports Android 8 or higher you’re out of luck.
Tile trackers on the other hand are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. This makes them perfect for platform-agnostic users who like to be able to switch smartphone brands when new tech comes out as well as those using Google Pixels and other phones from brands without dedicated trackers.
(Image credit: Apple)
Design
Tile offers the most variety in design across their trackers which makes different models perfect for different use cases. The Tile Mate and Tile Pro have a hole punched in them meaning they’re great for attaching to keys, and they’re sturdy enough to be dropped inside a bag too.
Meanwhile, the Tile Slim is shaped like a credit card - making it a perfect fit inside any purse, wallet or passport holder. Last but not least the Tile Sticker has an adhesive edge allowing you to stick it to anything from TV remotes to glasses cases.
The Galaxy SmartTag comes with two fairly similar-looking designs, both of which strongly resemble the Tile Mate. This makes them perfect for slipping onto a keyring or putting in a bag but not much else.
The AirTag from Apple is the only one that can’t be put on a keyring without paying extra for a keyfob attachment from Apple or a third-party vendor. They’re a disc shape that measures 3.19 x 3.19 x 0.8cm. This makes them about the size of a quarter or £2 coin so you should find space from them in a wallet, purse, or slipped into a bag.
The most recent 2021 range of Tiles and the Apple AirTags all have an IP67 waterproof and dust resistance rating, so they can withstand up to 1m of water for no longer than 30 minutes.
Unfortunately, the Galaxy SmartTags are only rated IP53, that’s a fair drop down and may make you want to reconsider relying on these trackers in the outside world.
Thankfully the SmartTag gains a few points back for having a replaceable battery that lasts for up to one year depending on use. This is the same as the Tile Pro and Apple AirTag. The Tile Mate, Slim, and Sticker on the other hand feature non-replaceable batteries that support up to three years of life.
It’s a shame you’ll have to trash these trackers when the three years is up but the advantage is you’ll then be able to try out whatever new upgrades and features Tile has added over the past few years since you last upgraded.
Of all the available trackers the Tile Sticker is definitely the most versatile with its adhesive side that lets you stick to pretty much anything - though you will need to replace it completely when the battery runs dry.
If you’re just looking for something to go in your bag, on the other hand, wallet or on your keys specifically you’ll be able to choose a tracker from Tile, Apple, or Samsung.
(Image credit: Samsung)
Price
AirTags and SmartTag are the more expensive of the three trackers for the most basic model, with a single AirTag priced at $29 / £29 / AU$45, while a four-pack will set you back $99 / £99 / AU$149 and are available now.
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag retails for $29 / £29 (roughly AU$40) while the SmartTag+ goes for $39 /£39 (around AU$55).
You can pick up any of Tile’s 2021 models today from its official store with the Tile Mate costing $24.99 / £19.99 / AU$34.95, the Tile Slim $34.99 / £29.99 / AU$44.95 and Tile Sticker $29.99 / £24.99 / AU$34.95. The premium Tile Pro will set you back $34.99/ £29.99 / AU$49.95.
We should add that the AirTag might be a little more expensive depending on your intended use. If you want to use it on your keys then a fob will set you back around $30 / £30 / AU$40 for an official Apple accessory - you can find third-party options available for a bit less though.
What that all means is that for the best price you want the Tile Mate costing $24.99 / £19.99 / AU$34.95, with the Tile Sticker and Samsung Galaxy SmartTag coming in at second and third respectively for affordability.
In addition, we regularly see Tile and Samsung discounts especially around sales periods like Black Friday. This means you can save even more compared to AirTags -with Apple only really offering discounts on products just before a new version is set to release.
(Image credit: Tile)
Connection and tracking
With all those other questions sorted it’s time to look out how well these trackers stack up against each other in terms of their tracking performance.
The Tile Pro, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, and Apple AirTag all offer impressive ranges which are boasted to reach around 400ft (or over 100m). In practice (especially if there are walls between you and the trackers) you might find that these figures aren’t the most accurate but even in a large house you shouldn’t have trouble finding your lost things.
The Tile Mate, Tile Slim and Tile Sticker only offer a range of 250ft (around 75m) but actually we found this to be more than sufficient most of the time for regular use.
While these trackers are great for finding stuff at home, you’ll also want to know how effective they are at helping users find items they’ve lost in the outside world.
All the trackers rely on an anonymous network of users to be able to find them. For Apple AirTags it’s every iPhone user that signs up to the Find My service while with Samsung SmartTags the network is every user who has agreed to be a Find Node.
Tile Trackers rely on people who have installed the Tile app as well as a growing number of third-party partners such as Amazon Sidewalk in the US - allowing Amazon devices to extend the range of the Tile network if users opt-in.
From our testing in the UK, we found it took around 30 minutes for an AirTag to be detected by a passing iPhone, while the Tile didn’t get picked up for around 12 hours. However, for the best data we’d need to lose hundreds of trackers all over the world
Instead of doing that we’ve asked Tile, Apple and Samsung for information on the rate at which users find lost objects. So far Tile has let us know that trackers that are registered as lost (that means they weren’t within BlueTooth range of their owner) find their way home over 90% of the time.
As we receive information from Apple and Samsung we’ll update this page.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Features
Beyond basic BlueTooth tracking, these tags also offer a few extra features to help make them more usable and findable to their owners.
For Apple AirTags and Galaxy SmartTag+ its ultra-wideband tracking. If you have an iPhone 11 or above - or the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21 Plus, and Galaxy S21 Ultra - you’ll be able to use precision finding to be guided to the missing tracker by following directions on your phone. For this to work you will have to be within around 30ft / 10m of the tracker.
Currently, Tile doesn’t offer a tracker with UWB support, but it plans to launch the Tile Ultra with the feature in 2022.
Tile trackers do however have a feature that lets you double-tap the Tile logo (or a side button on the Tile Sticker) that will allow you to locate your phone by making it ring if it is within BlueTooth range of the tracker. This ‘reverse tracking’ feature is also present on the Samsung Galaxy SmartTags by double-tapping the Samsung logo.
Additional Tile and AirTag trackers allow those from outside the network to find out how to return your stuff to you. For the Tile Slim, Mate, and Pro it’s via a QR code on the back - when the Tile is registered as lost you can optionally provide basic contact info so that someone can let you know they have your lost item.
With the AirTag it’s via NFC scanning, which again allows others to see your basic contact info if you allow them to.
Overall we’d say it’s a tie in terms of additional features however we’d maybe have to give it Tile right now. While UWB tracking is cool you have to be quite close already to make it effective, when you’re within 30ft a ringing tracker is just as easy to locate.
The reverse track tool is genuinely very useful when you have your wallet and keys but not your phone, and the QR code is a lot easier for people to spot and scan than an NFC chip - which makes it much easier for less tech-savvy good samaritans to help you out.
Tile can also show a 30-day location history for its trackers, but you’ll need to subscribe to Tile Premium for $2.99 / £2.99 / AU$2.99 a month - it will also warn you if you’ve left the house without an essential Tile, such as the one attached to your wallet or house keys, a feature not offered by AirTags or Galaxy SmartTags.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
Privacy
The growing popularity of trackers has also understandably meant a growth in concerns over privacy.
To combat this Apple has put in place several measures. An AirTag can only be set up by its owner, it can’t be activated on behalf of someone else, and iOS devices can identify and alert their owner if an unknown AirTag is traveling with them regularly.
If you aren't an iOS user the AirTag will eventually start playing a sound if it’s been separated from its owner for a long period of time but still moves location.
Tile plans to introduce its own measures very soon too. The Scan and Secure feature has been created with guidance from an advocacy organization that specializes in domestic abuse and the misuse of technology. The feature will allow users of the Tile app to scan for and detect nearby Tile devices and identify to find out if unknown devices could be tracking them.
Scan and Secure will be compatible with all but the very oldest Tile trackers – which only make up about 3% of those in circulation. Additionally, you won't need to sign up for a Tile account or use the trackers yourself to use Scan and Secure.
A similar feature called Unknown Tag Search has been added to Samsung's SmartThings app however we couldn't work out how to use the feature on our Google Pixel Android phone.
Apple has plans to launch an Android app of its own to find nefarious AirTags but that hasn't launched yet.
