The AirTag is Apple's first foray into the item tracker market, and it already has a lot in common with its closest competitor, the Tile Pro. Both trackers come with their own pros and cons, but only one of them has the upper hand when it comes to performance. Apple unveiled the AirTag back in April, along with its uncanny ability to track things with pinpoint accuracy.

AirTag is a small puck-like tracker that utilizes Apple's Find My network and Ultra Wideband technology making the process of tracking stuff as simple, effective and intuitive as possible. The Tile Pro, on the other hand, received a significant upgrade in 2020, resulting in an improved tracking range. Like Apple's tracker, the Tile Pro also has its own set of distinct features that make it just as competitive as other trackers in its category.

Related: Tile CEO Accuses Apple Of Creating Unfair AirTag Environment

The AirTag comes with an accelerometer sensor, NFC, Apple's U1 chip, a built-in speaker and is rated to remain powered for at least one year, thanks to its replaceable CR2032 battery. The Tile Pro features a 400 ft Bluetooth range, the loudest built-in speaker out of all the Tile models and is estimated to remain powered for at least a year, also thanks to the use of a CR2032 battery. Apple's tracker is also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, while the Tile Pro is only marketed only as “water-resistant” with no mention of protection from dust.

Is AirTag Or Tile Pro The Better Buy?

How To Use Apple AirTag Trackers & An iPhone For An Awesome Treasure Hunt

The AirTag certainly has the advantage in terms of protection from the elements, the use of Apple's U1 chip, and the degree of customization that's possible. This is all despite being slightly cheaper overall, at $29 each. However, the AirTag's bare-bones design prevents it from being attached to other objects on its own, resulting in the need to purchase additional accessories. In some cases, these accessories can cost more than the tracker itself. While the Tile Pro might cost $34.99, its rugged design and integrated key-ring hole negates the need to buy any additional accessories for those planning to use a tracker with a keyring. The Tile Pro also has an advantage when it comes to device compatibility, since it supports iOS, Android and even Windows.

However, Tile Pro's effectiveness in long-distance tracking is limited to the number of other Tiles users in the surrounding area. In this sense, the AirTag is likely to prove more reliable, given its ability to ping other Apple devices, including iPhone and iPad models. Since the number of Apple device owners will likely outnumber the amount of Tile owners, the chances of successfully finding a lost AirTag will probably be higher than with a Tile Pro. Overall, Apple users are almost certainly better off investing in an AirTag thanks to the robust Find My network, Precision Finding feature and NFC tagging. As the use cases for AirTag with non-Apple devices are extremely limited, Android users won't really have much choice outside of which Tile tracker to buy, making the Pro the better option for them.

Next: How Amazon & Tile Are Giving Apple & AirTag Something To Worry About

Sources: Apple, Tile