5 Android Bluetooth trackers you should purchase as a substitute of the Apple AirTag 2nd gen

Apple introduced its second-generation AirTag this week, with guarantees of improved vary, a louder ringer, extra safety, and the identical design and kind issue as the unique tag. The chief characteristic, although, is the brand new U1 UWB chip that’s stated to enhance precision discovering and propel the AirTag (2nd gen) far forward of most of its opponents, a lot of which nonetheless don’t actually have a UWB chip.

Nevertheless, in true Apple style, there are nonetheless numerous lacking and probably old-school options within the new tag, together with the dearth of cross-platform compatibility (as a result of Apple, duh). This leaves the sphere of Bluetooth tracker opponents very a lot alive and blooming, and since I’ve been testing many of those trackers for the final 18 months, I’ll allow you to in on a secret: There are higher trackers on the market that work each on Android and iOS, and you should purchase them as a substitute.

Whereas it’s dearer than the Apple AirTag (2nd gen), the Chipolo LOOP is likely one of the two trackers I’d go purchase proper now, no questions requested. For starters, it’s suitable with each Google Discover Hub and Apple Discover My (you’ll be able to solely use one after the other and should reset the tracker to modify networks), and gives ease of thoughts in case you resolve to modify telephones or give it to a member of the family who makes use of one other cellular OS. It additionally comes with a built-in loop, so that you don’t want to purchase any additional equipment to connect it to a keyring.

Extra importantly, although, it prices over USB-C, and as somebody who by no means has sufficient CR2032 batteries and hates rummaging for them last-minute, I really like that I can simply plug it into my cellphone charger to maintain it topped off. The battery lasts round six months between prices.

The LOOP gives a slew of attention-grabbing additional options, all accessible from the Chipolo Android or iOS apps (on prime of what you discover in Google’s or Apple’s apps). You’ll be able to ring your cellphone from it if you happen to lose it, get notification alerts if you happen to go away your cellphone behind, use it as a digicam shutter distant, and select totally different ringtones and ringing volumes. Oh, and it’s very, very, very loud.

There’s no Ultrawide Band right here, however the LOOP already packs Bluetooth 6.0 with Channel Sounding, and since Android already helps Channel Sounding, I’m hoping Google will introduce it to the Discover Hub API so Bluetooth 6.0 trackers just like the LOOP can use it even when they don’t pack in UWB.

The Pebblebee Clip 5 is the second tracker I’d personally choose as a substitute of an AirTag, and it has already saved my baggage and plenty of different baggage from neglect within the Athens airport. It has a really comparable featureset to the LOOP: Google Discover Hub and Apple Discover compatibility, built-in hook, USB-C charging, very lengthy vary, a loud siren, and it could ring your cellphone, however there are some minor variations right here and there.

On the professionals listing, the battery lasts 12 months as a substitute of six, and it encompasses a very vivid LED gentle that may flash and assist you to discover the tracker within the depths of your couch cushions. Pebblebee additionally has a Security Circle emergency alert characteristic that allows you to use the tracker while you’re in peril to alert your family members. Plus, there’s a QR code on the again to offer your particulars to anybody who finds the tracker if you happen to lose it.

On the cons listing, the Clip 5 solely packs in Bluetooth 5.4, so there’s no futureproofing for Channel Sounding. It’s IP66 rated in comparison with Chipolo’s sturdier IP67, so it’s not resistant to finish immersion. It doesn’t have customizable ringtones or volumes and doesn’t supply left-behind alerts on Android (it does on iOS). It’s additionally fairly chunky at 9.5mm thickness versus Chipolo’s 8mm.

Selecting between this and the Chipolo LOOP is a matter of choice. I just like the Pebblebee’s vivid LED and its longer battery life, in addition to its neat QR code characteristic, however I’d somewhat have Bluetooth 6.0 and the peace of thoughts of figuring out my tracker will alert me if I stroll away from it by mistake.

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a flatter tracker to place in your pockets, skip the thick spherical pucks and go for a thinner, credit-card sized tracker. There are two glorious choices now, one in all which lives in my pockets and is the brand new Chipolo CARD.

Just like the LOOP, this tracker is suitable with each Google’s and Apple’s Discover networks, has a really loud siren, is IP67-rated, is future-proof with Bluetooth 6.0 with Channel Sounding, and contains all the additional options reminiscent of left-behind alerts, cellphone ringing, customizable ringtones and volumes, and a digicam distant.

The CARD’s battery lasts six months on a cost, however as a substitute of USB-C, it simply makes use of wi-fi Qi charging. I really like that I can simply put it on my desk charger or nightstand charger and it fills up, with out having to fret about any proprietary pin chargers, battery replacements, or worse, having to throw it away when the battery is lifeless.

Your second choice for a card-sized cross-platform tracker is the Pebblebee Card 5, which at the moment sits in my husband’s pockets. This one makes use of wi-fi Qi charging as effectively to fill its battery, however the longevity is rated at an insane 18 months. Sturdiness can be larger on this case, with an IP68 ranking in comparison with the Chipolo CARD’s IP67, which makes it immune to immersion for as much as three meters deep for prolonged durations of time.

In any other case, you’re the same listing of professionals and cons in comparison with Chipolo’s card-sized tracker. Bluetooth 5.4, cellphone ringing, an LED flashing gentle, a QR code for identification, and left-behind alerts solely with Apple’s Discover My. There are not any customizable ringtones and volumes, no digicam shutter, and this one lacks the Security Circle Alert characteristic of the Clip 5.

Total, if you happen to’re on the lookout for fewer prices and a thinner tracker initially, that is the one it’s best to go for. However if you happen to choose having left-behind alerts to inform you while you stroll away out of your pockets, it’s best to go for Chipolo’s CARD.

Not like the 4 earlier trackers, the Moto Tag solely works with Google’s Discover Hub. Nevertheless it’s the one Android-compatible tracker at the moment obtainable with UWB for precision discovering close by. If you happen to typically lose your gadgets at house and don’t need to ring them and get up your complete family, or if you happen to’re monitoring down a thief and don’t need to alert them to your close by presence, UWB is an superior perk to have. Having examined it, although, I didn’t discover it too essential for my private use, however your mileage might range.

Specs-wise, the Moto Tag has fallen behind all the opposite trackers on this listing. It runs on a user-replaceable CR2032 battery, and also you’ll should preserve a stash obtainable as a result of it runs by way of its battery in just a few months — a lot quicker than the one yr Motorola claims. It has a really tame siren (75 dB in comparison with greater than 100 dB on the opposite trackers), a shorter vary regardless of its Bluetooth 5.4 assist, and solely gives cellphone ringing and digicam shutter performance as additional perks. No left-behind alerts, no customizable ringtones and volumes.

On the upside, it’s a bit cheaper than the opposite trackers and sports activities the very same dimensions as Apple’s AirTags, so it could use the identical equipment. That is useful as a result of it doesn’t have an built-in keyring holder. Total, I wouldn’t go for this tracker as a primary selection, however I perceive its attraction for individuals who really want UWB for his or her misplaced gadgets.

If you happen to’re not in a rush, although, you would possibly need to await Q2 2026 when the Moto Tag 2 is meant to launch. The newer model brings longer battery life on the identical CR2032 coin cell, an IP68 ranking versus IP67, and Bluetooth 6.0 with Channel Sounding. The whole lot else ought to keep the identical, together with the shape issue, dimensions, and worth.

The tracker market has many extra choices to select from, so let me run down just a few of those:

• Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 ($30, right down to $22): Excellent for Samsung customers, it gives all of the options and extra, together with a button to manage your sensible house and site historical past to see the place your tracker has been. Nevertheless, it doesn’t use Google’s or Apple’s networks and can work greatest in areas with numerous Samsung customers. In my expertise, it’s tremendous dependable, and there was a time once I stated I’d choose it over any Google Discover Hub tracker, however with Google enhancing its community reliability, that is not the case right this moment. Additionally, take into accout it makes use of a CR2032 battery and the older Bluetooth 5.3.
• Tile trackers: They’re the one choice for individuals who need a tracker that works throughout each iPhones and Android telephones with out having to reset to modify. That makes them excellent if you happen to carry two totally different telephones otherwise you need to share the tracker with a member of the family on a special cellular platform. The Tile Professional ($35, right down to $27), Mate ($25 right down to $20), and Slim ($30 right down to $24) run on Tile’s and Life360’s networks, that are very dependable within the US and different Western nations normally, however you might discover that the pace of discovering misplaced gadgets dwindles as soon as you progress outdoors these areas. Your tracker will nonetheless be discovered, however it might take longer for a Tile person to return close to it. Tile packs a bunch of additional options in its app, however a lot of them, like location historical past and sharing with a couple of person, are locked behind a Premium subscription.
• KeySmart SmartCard Gen 3 ($40): A brand new entrant within the cross-platform tracker recreation, the SmartCard (Gen3) is a skinny 1.7mm credit-card-sized tracker suitable with each Apple and Google’s Discover networks with Qi wi-fi charging, IPX8 ranking, and a battery that lasts 11 months on a cost.
• MiTag Duo ($20): The most affordable dual-network Apple and Google tracker you could find packs a coin cell CR2032 battery, Bluetooth 5.2, an IP67 ranking, left-behind alerts, and a built-in keyring gap.
• Rolling Sq.’s twin trackers: These higher-end trackers additionally supply each Apple and Google community compatibility. The AirCard Professional ($40) is 2.2mm thick, has a 12-month battery that may be wirelessly charged, a really loud siren, an IP67 ranking, and a QR code so as to add a digital enterprise card so anybody who finds it could contact you to let you recognize the place to select it up. The AirNotch Professional ($40) is an rectangular tracker with a built-in hook, two CR2032 batteries for 20 months of battery life. It has a loud siren, an IP68 ranking, and even glows in the dead of night!

If you happen to’re prepared to attend a bit longer, Anker has the brand new credit-card fashion Eufy SmartTrack Card E40 within the pipeline, Nimble is making cross-platform trackers with cellulose-based batteries as a substitute of lithium-ion that may be wirelessly recharged, and Xiaomi is rumored to be working by itself trackers, too.

With all of those choices obtainable, I’d discover it a bit unhappy if you happen to simply restrict your self to the AirTag, even if you happen to’re an iOS person. There are such a lot of trackers to select from, all with tons of additional performance and comfort, so I hope this listing will assist you to choose properly.