I like Bluetooth tags. My AirTag – an Apple product - saves me a considerable amount of time in the morning because I never have to wonder where my keys are. If they are missing, I open the app, tap on the item and follow the noise.
On the one occasion I’ve actually lost my keys outside the house (put them down on a shelf in Penneys and wandered off to pay) I was able to track them down within minutes of realising (still on the shelf, under a pile of Wednesday T-shirts).
If you aren’t familiar with Bluetooth tags, here is how it works: you link the tag to your phone via an app, which allows you to see its last updated location and activate its ringtone if you need to track it down. Aside from Apple, companies such as Tile and Chipolo offer different types, from cards you put in your wallet to tags that attach to your keys. It’s all very handy.
AirTags have a strong point in their favour: they use Apple’s Find My network, a crowd-sourced network of hundreds of millions of Apple devices all using Bluetooth wireless technology.
But there are some things AirTags won’t do. I can’t change the ringtone, for example; I’m stuck with the default AirTag tone.
That is a minor quibble, admittedly. More irritating is that if I misplace my phone, I can’t use the AirTag to find it. And they don’t work with Android devices, so if you want to share a tag with a family member, everyone has to be on Apple.
Because the tags use Bluetooth, they have a limited range. That is where the network comes in. If you lose your tagged item and it is out of range of your phone, other devices using the same system can help you find it. As devices using the same system pass by your tag, they recognise the signal and send the location back, helping you to find it.
Up until recently, that meant Tile users tapped into the network of other Tile devices around them, and the same for Chipolo, and there was no crossover. The problem was that you needed enough people using the same platform to make it work.
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Deals have been done. Now you can add certain third-party trackers into Apple’s Find My system, Google has its own Find Hub that works similarly, and some trackers will support both. This is all good news for consumers who want to hedge their bets on the Apple versus Android debate.
It is a good time for Chipolo to launch its latest trackers, the credit card-sized updated Card - not to be confused with the previous generation - and the Loop, which can be attached to your keyring or bag. They support both Apple and Android networks - although not at the same time, you still have to choose on set-up – and then you can use the corresponding app on your phone or log in on your web browser to locate the tags.
Adding it to Apple’s Find My system was simple. Once the tracker is activated, you open up Find My, tap add a new item and wait for it to recognise the Chipolo. No extra apps are needed.
Find Hub worked slightly differently. Once you have the Chipolo app installed on your device, it automatically recognises a Chipolo device in range, ready to be paired.
The end result was the same: both tags appeared in their respective systems and behaved as well as any native device.
The Card and Loop also solve one other pain point of the trackers: they are rechargeable. Game-changing. No fiddling about to find the right batteries. No more binning devices after a year or two, as was the case with previous card-style trackers, because you can’t change the battery.
The Loop plugs into a USB-C cable, charging up enough to give you around six months of use, while the Card can be put on your wireless charger to power up. It is a simple change that makes the entire process easier for the user.
The Chipolo devices also have a few extras. The Loop doesn’t need an additional holder to attach to your keys – it’s in the name – and you can also use it as a selfie timer for your phone. You can also press the tag to track down your smartphone, even if it is in silent mode. On that note, experience compels me to warn you about who you leave your tags with, especially if they have a sense of “humour” and a penchant for making a show of you. The tags are surprisingly loud - great when you are trying to locate them. Not so great if they “accidentally” activate in the middle of a cinema.
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Good
Rechargeable tags mean no more messing about with batteries. If you get a low battery warning, you can simply connect it to a USB-C cable – not included in the box – and give it a quick blast of power.
It is compatible with both Google Find Hub on Android and Apple’s Find My platform, although not simultaneously.
Bad
As mentioned, you have to choose Apple or Android on this one. And if you change systems, you can reset the tag – but remember to remove it from Find Hub or Find My before you try to pair it with a new one.
Everything else
The Card is suitable for wallets, laptop bags and anything you need a slim, subtle tracker for; the silicon-covered Loop works best for attaching to keys, bags, luggage etc, and comes in a variety of colours. You don’t need to spend extra on holders either.
It also alerts you when the battery is running low.
Verdict
Flexible and convenient, the Chipolo Card and Loop are the ideal choice if you are not fully committed to your smartphone system – and even if you are.
