Apple's new item tracker, the AirTag, features technology that sets it apart from competitors, but it may not be the best location beacon for every iPhone owner. This has to do with the compatibility requirements for the use of its Precision Finding feature, which requires devices with a U1 chip. Furthermore, to gain access to the billion-strong Find My network, a recent iPhone model is required. These limitations mean some iPhone owners may find a better solution with another company.
Apple recently made its Find My network available to third parties, so companies that manufacture Bluetooth products might be able to add their devices to the list of findable items by registering with Apple. A few examples of Find My-enabled products include Chipolo's One Spot item tracker, VanMoof's S3 and X3 E-Bikes, and Belkin's Soundform Freedom True Wireless Earbuds. Once added to the Find My app using an iPhone, compatible items will appear on a map and, if they have the functionality, a sound can be triggered to help find the location once nearby.
Apple built new technology into the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 that allows the flagship devices from the last two years to communicate with an AirTag via ultra-wideband (UWB). It is this that enables the Precision Finding feature that, as the name suggests, allows for very accurate location of nearby AirTags. It also provides access to the huge Find My network, made up of a billion Apple devices worldwide, via which users can view a map and directions to missing items that have AirTags attached. However, the iPhone SE and older models of the iPhone lack the U1 chip that's required for UWB and therefore cannot preciously point the user to a lost AirTag that's nearby, relying instead on having the AirTag play a sound to help find it. The Find My network works with devices without the U1, so there is still good value there. The advantage completely disappears for phones that are too old to run iOS 14.3, though, as that was the first version of the iPhone operating system to enable finding items. Any iPhone manufactured before 2015 is incompatible with the AirTag, which includes the iPhone 6 and earlier.
Best Trackers For Different iPhone Models
There are several alternative trackers that are compatible with the iPhone, with two of the best made by Tile and Chipolo. Anyone familiar with location beacons knows of Tile's trackers since it has been in the business since 2012, offering a very complete solution — probably the best until Apple's AirTag changed the game. Tile's CEO, who has accused Apple of anti-competitive practices with the AirTag, claims Tile has a product that has a longer Bluetooth range and a louder speaker than the AirTag, making it easier to find when relying on sound only. This is similar to using an AirTag with an iPhone without the U1 chip. Tile has built its own large network of users for finding items that are out of Bluetooth range. Tile also offers the Slim, a card-like version for wallets and a Sticker model that has an adhesive backing. Tile isn't compatible with iPhone 6 or earlier, so there is no advantage over the AirTag in that regard.
Chipolo offers trackers that are compatible with a wider range of iPhone models than Apple does, supporting devices as old as the iPhone 5s. The One Spot is relatively new and requires iOS 14.5. While the brand isn't as well-known as Apple or Tile, its products seem well-thought-out and early reviews of the One Spot are positive. Like the Tile Pro, it's louder than the AirTag and has a Bluetooth range that reaches as far as Tile's mid-range trackers. Where Chipolo's One Spot shines is its compatibility with Apple's vast Find My network, surpassing Tile's network, which relies on smartphones that have the Tile app installed, resulting in a much smaller user base. This new product ships in June 2021, so the wait isn't too long. For anyone looking for a tracker different from what Apple offers or that has a phone that can't take advantage of the fancy ultra-wideband features, Tile and Chipolo are worth checking out.