Need a tracking device for your car keys, wallet, or bag of precious gems? Apple AirTags are cool, but here’s five great alternatives.
Losing material goods is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn’t mean we should just lay down and wait for an item to disappear. Instead, we should spend our time investing in handy tracking devices. Apple’s AirTag lineup is one of the best-known options, but there are plenty of other brands to choose from, too. Whether you need to keep tabs on wallets, car keys, or other important possessions, these five AirTag alternatives are easy to set up, simple to use, and above all, reliable.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2Best AirTag alternative for Samsung users
One of the best things about the AirTag is that it has a very wide network, given how prevalent Apple devices are, so anybody switching might be very aware of not having access to the same network. Luckily, the Samsung network has also become quite large, given that its devices have become similarly common around the world, and it is one of the best Bluetooth trackers. To that end, the Galaxy SmartTag2 is an excellent alternative to the AirTag, which won’t impact things like access to a large network, which might be a problem with some other devices.
Another big positive of the SmartTag2 is that it has a much longer battery life compared to the AirTag, which can last well over 500 days compared to the roughly 365 days of the AirTag. Luckily, both devices use a CR2032 battery, so it’s easy to find and replace, but the fact that you don’t have to do it as often is a nice touch. It’s also worth mentioning that the SmartTags 2 is quite rugged and has IP67 resistance, so it can handle the elements pretty well, so if you want to use it on a keychain or something that might be exposed, that’s totally fine.
As for range, the SmartTag2 can do about 400 feet, a number that is four times as big as what the AirTag can handle, given that the AirTag is reliant on Bluetooth and can’t handle such long distances anyway. Luckily, there is a nice compass app to help you find your SmartTag2, although it is worth noting that the AirTag generally has better slightly more accurate tracking. Also, another thing to note about the SmartTag2 is that it’s completely locked to Samsung’s SmartThings app and Samsung devices, so if you don’t have one, then you can’t really use this, which is a shame.
Tile ProBest rugged AirTag alternative
If you’re looking for something that’s a little bit more rugged and great to put on a keychain, the Tile Pro is a good option. In fact, it has a lot of similar features to the Samsung SmartTag2 and is a good alternative if you don’t have a Samsung device to connect it to. That said, it does have one issue that we should probably get out of the way, which is that it only works within the Tile network, so finding it at a very long range, like with luggage tracking, is going to rely on other folks who have Tile and have the app installed, which isn’t as big compared to Apple and Samsung.
As for shorter-ranges, the Tile Pro has a physical range of up to 400 feet, which is pretty good, and it has a comparable battery life to the AirTag of one year, which isn’t bad. There’s also a really interesting “find your phone” feature on the Tile where you can double-press it to make your phone ring, even when it’s silent, which is a nice reversal of what you usually expect with a tracker. Also, you’ll be happy to know that even though it’s a bit more rugged and has an IP67 rating, it does have a replaceable battery. In fact, it uses the standard CR2032, so it should be easy to find when it runs out.
