Bluetooth trackers have been around for some time, but they generated a lot more awareness once Apple got into the game with its Apple AirTags. However, these aren't the only ones in the competition - some of the other biggest names in the business are Tile, Chipolo, and Samsung Galaxy SmartTags.
Whatever the brand, the most important question is: what will it be used for? The concept behind a Bluetooth tracker is to connect it to a phone via Bluetooth then use the phone to find the location of an item should it be lost or misplaced. But what items will buyers be able to keep track of?
Headphones
Interestingly, some headphones now come with Bluetooth tracking technology built into them, like the Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones, and several other Skullcandy headphones - all of which include Tile technology and the app.
But even without a special pair of tracking headphones, users have the option to pop a standard Bluetooth tracker into a slot in the headphones case to locate them should they be left on the table at a client's office or local coffee shop (provided they can get a signal through).
Digital Camera
Some people may also be able to use their Bluetooth tracker on digital cameras. If someone clips a Bluetooth tracker to the lanyard of one of the best digital cameras, like a DSLR, or expensive compact mirrorless camera, they would be able to avoid worrying about losing it or having it stolen.
Many small tags, like the Tile Pro, come with a built-in hole for looping onto something (like a lanyard). For the Apple AirTags, users can choose to hook it onto the optional keyrings that can also go around a camera's lanyard. Similar to the Tile Sticker, users can also affix it directly to the camera's body itself.
Smartphone
Many people don't realize that Bluetooth trackers, like the Tile, can actually work in a reverse way. If users tap the button on the Tile itself, for example, the phone will produce a loud tone - even if it's on silent.
This way, it's easy to find should the phone have fallen between the couch cushions, left in the other jacket pocket, or fell in the car. There's nothing worse than being in a rush to leave and a person can't find their phone.
Backpack/Purse
When it comes to particularly expensive bags or purses, a person should place a Bluetooth tracker into the side or interior zippered pocket and keep it there as a security feature. If the bag is ever snatched or accidentally left behind somewhere, as long as the person still has their phone, they can find the location.
If someone finds a lost purse with a tracker like the Apple AirTag, which uses ultra-wideband instead of Bluetooth, they could use their device to find the contact information of the owner to hopefully get it back to its rightful owner.
A Gym Bag
It's pretty common for people to forget their bag at the gym, the office, or at home. When the inspiration to exercise hits, the last thing anyone wants to do is look everywhere, trying to remember where they left it. A user should keep a Bluetooth tracker in the inside pocket at all times to always have tabs on the location.
Even better: if someone decides to be sneaky in the gym and move the bag, or maybe took the wrong one by accident, the location can be pinpointed rather quickly and the person notified.
Skateboard Or Bikes
Trackers like the Tile Sticker are designed to stick onto something; they can stick to a pair of headphones, a fancy new skateboard, or a bicycle. For someone who just spent a lot on a new board or bike, the last thing they need is to have it stolen.
Bikes are pretty popular items to steal, so stick a tracker under the seat or in another hidden location so users will know where it ends up when they go ask for help retrieving it.
Wallet
Although apps like Apple Wallet can be used for payments, public transport, and tickets, most people still carry around a physical wallet because they fear losing it. If a person slides a thin Bluetooth tracker, like the aptly named Tile Slim, into an unused section of the wallet, then fit it into a purse or back pocket without adding any bulk. If the wallet is accidentally left at the checkout at the grocery store or the patio of the local brewery, its location can be found in an instant.
What's more, seeing the tracker in the wallet might deter a potential thief from snatching money if they believe the owner will be able to easily find them.
Vehicles
Many people don't even think about the usefulness of keeping a Bluetooth tracker in the glove compartment of the car or just keeping it somewhere out in the open (e.g. the center console), to allow for an uninterrupted Bluetooth signal.
Depending on the tracker and how precisely it can communicate its location, owners can find where the car is should it be stolen. It could also be used to find a car in a busy parking lot, or at least get a bit closer to it.
Laptop
Just as some companies have been building Bluetooth tracking technology into headphones, the same is being done with laptops, like the HP Elite Dragonfly. Responsible for the creation of some of the best laptops, HP partnered with Tile to offer built-in Bluetooth tracking should the computer ever become lost or stolen.
It's still possible to keep tabs on a laptop without built-in tracking, as a device like the Tile Sticker, can be affixed to the top or bottom of the laptop, or placed in the laptop case.