execs and cons
- Powerful polycarbonate building constructed to final in a pockets or purse.
- 5-month battery life with wi-fi recharging.
- Easy to make use of, no third-party app wanted
- Excessive value (however on par with comparable tracker playing cards).
- I would not use this as a baggage tag.
extra shopping for decisions
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As soon as once more, I am waxing lyrical about Apple AirTags. I completely love them. They have been the one piece of tech that has really remodeled my life.
However as a lot as I am keen on them, they are not good. One factor that hasn’t modified within the practically 5 years since their launch is their form. Regardless of how large a fan I’m — and I think about myself their No. 1 fan — even I’ve to confess that their little UFO-like design does not match nicely right into a pockets or purse.
Additionally: This AirTag different with a 130dB siren and strobe gentle has my title written throughout it
I’ve tried all types of options to make AirTags work for wallets, even going as far as to take one aside and retrofit it right into a 3D-printed bank card shell. However, in the long run, the best choice I’ve discovered is the clip that Ridge makes use of on its wallets — and even that’s removed from very best.
Fortunately, third-party tags have entered the market, and lots of of them are good for slipping right into a pockets or purse. Even higher, some provide a number of enhancements over Apple’s AirTag.
One tag I have been testing not too long ago is the UAG Metropolis by City Armor Gear, an organization identified for its robust smartphone instances. The Metropolis ticks all of the containers for me and is now my tag of selection for my pockets.
Why it really works for wallets
The Metropolis is designed to suit completely alongside your bank cards. It measures 3.4 x 2.2 x 0.1 inches (85.8 × 53.6 × 3.0 mm), making it in regards to the thickness of 4 bank cards.
Additionally: This Bluetooth tracker has successfully changed my AirTag with its enhanced sturdiness alone
The cardboard is made from a tricky polycarbonate shell, ultrasonically welded alongside the perimeters. It is IPX4-rated, which means it isn’t dust-resistant and may deal with splashes. I even immersed the cardboard a number of occasions, and it saved working flawlessly.
Water isn’t any downside for the Metropolis tracker card.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Sturdiness: Can it deal with on a regular basis use?
A typical concern with slim tracker playing cards is their sturdiness. Wallets and purses are inclined to expertise plenty of bending and flexing, which might doubtlessly harm one thing containing a chargeable battery.
Additionally: I took aside the brand new AirTag 2 and located a critical flaw in Apple’s in style tracker
To check this, I carried the Metropolis tag in my again pocket with no pockets for over every week. Regardless of all of the bending and flexing, the tag remained unaffected.
Battery life and charging
Contained in the Metropolis is a 110 mAh battery that lasts about 5 months underneath regular use. When it is time to recharge, you may merely place it on a Qi or MagSafe wi-fi charger for a few hours.
Wi-fi charging is quick and handy, and it means no batteries to throw away and no USB ports to fill with pocket schmoo.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
In response to UAG, the battery is designed to final by means of 300 recharge cycles. That equates to over 100 years of use primarily based on the battery’s lifespan, so it is protected to say the battery is constructed to final.
The Metropolis works with each Apple’s Discover My and Google’s Discover Hub networks. Throughout setup, you select which community you need, and you may reset the cardboard later if wanted.
Additionally: I put away my AirTag simply minutes after making an attempt this Bluetooth tracker different – here is why
The Bluetooth detection vary is about 200 toes (60 meters) in very best circumstances, dropping to round 100 toes (30 meters) indoors. These ranges are typical for Bluetooth trackers.
A query I have been requested loads is whether or not RFID-blocking wallets restrict the vary of tracker playing cards. After testing a number of playing cards and wallets, I can confidently say that they haven’t any important impact.
Nonetheless, steel wallets, like Ridge wallets, can block the sign. If this occurs, you may slide the tracker behind the cash strap, which is Ridge’s beneficial workaround.
One standout function of the UAG Metropolis is its 95 dB speaker. That is about as loud as an influence device and considerably louder than the first-generation AirTags. It is on par with the second-gen AirTags, making it good for locating a pockets misplaced in a pile of garments, deep in a settee, and even in a automotive.
Additionally: This AirTag-like card tracker is my best choice for Android and iOS customers – and it is rechargeable
The Metropolis has a slot minimize into it so it might double as a baggage tag. Nonetheless, I am not a fan of utilizing tracker tags for air journey as a result of I’ve seen many get bent or broken. As a substitute, I like to recommend putting the tag inside your baggage or utilizing a rugged tag holder for additional safety.
It bends, however will not break in regular use.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
I actually just like the UAG Metropolis card. It is practical, fashionable, and works seamlessly with each Apple and Google’s monitoring networks. Plus, it does not require a third-party app to function.
You too can relaxation assured that nobody will use it to trace you surreptitiously — it would set off an unknown tracker alert if that occurs.
The cardboard additionally pairs properly with UAG’s slim Kevlar magnetic pockets, which provides a contact of favor and practicality.
Additionally: The perfect Bluetooth trackers of 2026: Our high picks to maintain tabs in your stuff
At $45, the Metropolis is competitively priced in comparison with different high-performing tracker playing cards, like these from Ridge, Rolling Sq., or KeySmart (although offers could range, so store round).
I significantly love the rounded corners and clean, premium really feel of this card. It’s miles much less more likely to put on by means of the edges of a pockets or purse in comparison with another playing cards I’ve examined.
The UAG Metropolis is a wonderful different to Apple AirTags, particularly in case you’re on the lookout for a tracker that matches into your pockets or purse. Whereas it does not assist Apple’s Precision Discovering, its slim design, sturdiness, and compatibility with each Apple and Google networks make it a robust contender within the tracker market.
