Being forgetful might not seem like one of the worst problems in the world to be lumbered with; indeed most of us have our absentminded moments from time to time, whether its failing to remember where you put your keys, or suddenly realising you didn’t make a mental note of where you parked at Bluewater - it can happen to any of us!
However, when it comes to safeguarding personal property such as keys, passports, cars and even kids against the effects of your own partial amnesia, applying a little bit of tech can make your life so very much easier.
I speak, of course, of tech trackers – small fobs that harness the power of Bluetooth and the satellites that swirl above out heads to keep an ever-watchful eye over the things we hold dear. Naturally, the biggest and most famous names in this arena are Apple’s AirTag and the Tile Pro from, well Tile. These two most powerful iterations of the Bluetooth tracker are both blessed with epic range, the ability to work in the wet, and to pinpoint your possessions with unerring accuracy.
But in life there are no prizes simply for taking part and, as much as we may like both of them, everything eventually boils down to this one question: which one is the best?
And the only person who can answer that is a toughened tech journalist with countless years of gadget-reviewing tours of duty stashed firmly under their belt, an expert not afraid to call it as they see it, a true veteran of tech testing respected for their opinion by both their journo peers and even the tech manufacturers they judge themselves.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t available, so you’ve got me instead.
But don’t you worry, for ‘Opinion-Haver’ is what it states on my business card and, trust me, when it comes to misplacing stuff, I truly have a memory to rival one of those thingies with lots of holes in…
First impressions
Look, whilst gadgets should generally be judged on what they do and how good they are at doing it, there’s no denying that things all got a bit ‘visual’ back when Apple first wheeled out it’s beautifully minimalist iPod way back in 2001. Suddenly, consumer tech companies across the globe realised they had to up the ante in the aesthetics department to stand any chance of competing in a market where Apple had instantly given itself a comfortably large lead. And thus it remains today, alongside packaging that’s inviting and eco-friendly, today’s tech is as much sold on its slick exterior design as it the techie goodness inside.
So, with that in mind, we turn first to the Apple AirTag. It’s round like a coin and finished in always-appealing minimalist stainless steel and white. In summary, then, it’s a distinctly Apple product; and while that may be nothing ground-breaking in terms of Apple design, it still means that it’s imbued with the same effortless supermodel sex-appeal that sees punters queuing round the block whenever another fresh product is due to fall from the Apple tree. All of which means that the AirTag is a solid 10. And it’s going to be hard to follow that.
But we do follow that - with the Tile Pro. Larger and more rectangular than the AirTag, the Tile Pro is basically heavy-duty plastic but onto a slimline metal frame which also serves to lend it a distinctly minimalist air. Available in black or white, the Tile Pro is undeniably tactile, feeling solidly built and featuring a pleasingly pressable rubber button that sends a signal to help you find your phone.
Also to the Tile Pro’s advantage, the metal frame of the tag itself has a hole to attach it to a keyring, whereas the Apple AirTag relies on the additional purchase of an AirTag keyring or loop. So, while perhaps not as glamorous as the Apple AirTag, the Tile Pro is still easy on the eye and ready to roll right out of the box without the need for accessories, which I view as a vital part of first impressions.
In conclusion, then, the Apple may edge it when it comes to looks, but the Tile Pro comes a close second and also allows for instant use without the need for a further purchase, so practicality wins over prettiness.
TECH SPECS
- Compatibility: Android/iOS
- Assistant compatibility: Google Assistant/Siri/Alexa
- Colours: White, Black
- Bluetooth range: 400ft/120m
- Battery: Up to 1-year
- Water resistance: IP67
- Dimensions: 58 x 32 x 7.5mm (HxWxD)
- Weight: 14g
- Compatibility: iOS
- Assistant compatibility: Siri/Google Assistant
- Colours: Stainless steel and White
- Bluetooth range: 800ft/244m
- Battery: Up to 1-year
- Water resistance: IP67
- Dimensions: 31.9 x 8.0mm (HxW)
- Weight: 11g
Size and weight
Not too much to go into here, given that both are keyfobs and therefore barely there at all. But, for the sake of a full-picture, the Apple AirTag measures as measly 31.9 x 8.0mm and weighs in at an almost imperceptible 11g, meaning that once ensconced in a keychain and attached to your precious things, you’ll never really notice it’s there at all.
Larger at 58 x 32 x 7.5mm, the Tile Pro is still hardly going to cramp the style of whatever you assign it to protect. Plus, adding only 3g over the Apple, 14g weighs less than a CD (if you remember them), so it’ll not cost you any more moolah when you weigh your bags when attempting to check-in on a budget airline.
With not much in it, then, the size and weight of the Apple AirTag and Tile Pro does little to divide them when it comes to portability and pocketability. Okay, the Apple AirTag has the edge, being smaller and lighter than the Tile Pro.
That said, the job of a Bluetooth tag is not just to help you track your misplaced stuff, but also to dissuade a would-be tea-leaf from picking your property as a potential target. To that end, while discretion is important, perhaps more visibility is desirable to serve as an active thief deterrent? Food for thought.
Apple AirTag: In Action
As I said earlier, gadgets should be judged on what they do rather than what they look like, which brings us to the impressively lengthy list of features and functions offered by the Apple AirTag. First and foremost, though, it should be made crystal clear that this Bluetooth tracker ONLY works in conjunction with other Apple products, so if you’re into Android or any other still-existing alternative OS, this is not the tracker for you. Clear? Good.
But what it does give to those armed with Apple tech is a stunningly accurate way to reunite yourself with stuff that’s gone astray. It does this in three ways: firstly you can ‘ping’ tagged items using the Bluetooth connection between your Apple device and your AirTag. Simply open the Find My app and activate the AirTag’s built in speaker to play a sound that lets you track it down by simply following the noise. You can also activate this via Siri, if you’re feeling particularly lazy, but the bottom line is, if your tagged item is within Bluetooth range, your AirTag will make noise until you find it.
If pinging isn’t your thing, Precision Finding can point the way using on-screen arrows and directions as to the precise location of your AirTag – particularly useful if your ears are somewhat unreliable.
Finally, if one of your prized possessions is lost way beyond the reach of Bluetooth, the Apple AirTag ups its game. Utilising the entire Find My network a secure signal can be sent out over Bluetooth and detected by nearby devices in the Find My network that are in range. These devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud, from where you can view it on the Find My app map. And there it is, ready to collect. What’s more, the whole process is anonymous and encrypted, so nobody need ever know about either the momentarily lost item or, indeed, your terrible memory.
This system also works to help you reclaim your things when you revert to Lost Mode. Once your AirTag is switched to this, any devices within the network that detect your tag will instantly send you a notification. Clever, eh?
Safe and sound
IP67 waterproof rated, you don’t need to worry about either rain or, indeed, your AirTag being submerged in water as deep as one-metre for up to 30-minutes. With battery life good for roughly a year before you need to pop in a new one, you needn’t constantly worry about whether its going to conk-out on you either.
Finally, a word as to personal security. The media made a lot of tales emerging of nefarious men surreptitiously slipping their own AirTags into the handbags of unsuspecting women in order to be able to essentially stalk them home. Apple have addressed this so that, should a strange AirTag make its way amongst your belongings having become separated from its owner, your iPhone will detect it and send an immediate alert.
Apple AirTag: Conclusion
Small, sexy and packed with cutting-edge tech to keep both your belongings and you yourself safe and always trackable despite the distance, the tag itself is smart and the Find My app elevates the whole thing to another level of super-secure Bluetooth smart-tracking. Indeed, it’s difficult to find fault with the AirTag system; perhaps the only downside being that it only works exclusively with other Apple products. There are a hell of a lot of Android users out there who could come together to help make the Find My network even more efficient.
Tile Pro: In Action
The most powerful option within Tile’s four-strong Bluetooth tracker range, the initial most notable thing about the Tile Pro is that it is compatible with both the Android and Apple OS, making it far more flexible that the AirTag. This, of course, also gives you a greater choice of voice assistant, with Google Assistant, Siri and Amazon Alexa all on-hand to help out.
Pairing is a piece of cake – download the Tile app, set-up an account, hit Add Tile and hold down the rubber button on the Pro itself until paired. From that point in, you can customise to your tracking heart’s content.
Akin to the Apple, the Tile Pro is a two-way tracker, letting you find your phone by pressing the button on the tag (even if your phone is set on silent) or find your tagged stuff using the app on your phone.
While claiming a truly colossal Bluetooth range, the reality of that is not quite so cut and dry, but the in-practice range is impressive all the same for Bluetooth, so if your AWOL effects are within about 50ft of you then once you tap ‘Find’ in the app, a series of green rings will guide you swiftly to them. Plus, if you’ve misplaced something within the confines of your own home, you can forget the app and simply ask your voice assistant devices to find things for you.
Networking
Matching Apple’s Find My network, when an item has vanished beyond Bluetooth range, Tile has the Tile Network, where every phone running the Tile app can help locate your lost item with a simple tap of ‘Notify When Found’. Each device out there will send location updates to your Tile app, all with complete anonymity.
So, in terms of localised Bluetooth and wider afield tracking, the Tile Pro goes toe-to-toe with the Apple AirTag, although the Tile app could do with a bit of a declutter and clean-up to be more efficient to use.
Also of interest, while the Tile app comes loaded with all the above features, a Premium plan is also available for an annual subscription that adds even more, such as smart alerts that nudge you when you’ve left something behind, free battery replacement when the time comes (roughly once a year) and a warranty to replace damaged or defective Tiles. Free for 30 days, it is then an option of £30 for the year or £2.99 per month.
Tile Pro: Conclusion
Offering parallel performance to the AirTag, it’s little wonder the Tile is the main contender from the non-Apple side of the Bluetooth tracker equation. Powerful and blessed with epic Bluetooth range, backed by an app that takes your tracking to – potentially – all corners of the globe, there is a lot to like in this slim and sleek aide to keeping hold of your accoutrements; and – as I keep returning to – it’s compatible with both Apple and Android.
Prices
The Apple AirTag retails at £29 for one, but you’re probably not going to want to track just one thing, so a pack of four can be had for £99.
The Tile Pro can be had individually for £30, or in multiple packs up to four for £90.
So, again, not much in it price-wise, which brings us to…
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Apple AirTag - in a nutshell
Small, sexy and packed with cutting-edge tech to keep both your belongings and you yourself safe and always trackable despite the distance, the tag is smart and the Find My app elevates the whole thing to another level of super-secure Bluetooth smart-tracking.
While it’s difficult to find fault with the AirTag system, the only downside is that it only works in conjunction with Apple products. There are a hell of a lot of Android users out there who could help make the Find My network even more efficient.
Buy now £99.00, Currys
Tile Pro - in a nutshell
Offering parallel performance to the AirTag, it’s little wonder the Tile is the main contender from the non-Apple side of the GPS tracker equation. Powerful and blessed with epic Bluetooth range, backed by an app that takes your tracking to – potentially – all corners of the globe, there is a lot to like in this slim and sleek aide to keeping hold of your accoutrements; and it’s compatible with both Apple and Android.
Buy now £90.00, Amazon
Apple AirTag vs Tile Pro: Verdict
Two Bluetooth trackers, both enormously popular, both powerful and both souped up to the eyeballs - but which is the superior option? Which is the greater device? Which is the true Titan of the trackers? Drum roll, please…
Well, with both offering much the same features and functions, it comes down to that one element I’ve returned to a few times throughout this piece: compatibility. Both trackers are actually the best at what they do, but only one does it for both Android and Apple product users and that is the Tile Pro.
In a world where brand loyalty is prized but not always affordable, once you’re in bed with Apple AirTags, you’re tied to iPhones to carry on using them into the future, whereas the Tile Pro allows you to swap between the differing operating systems dependent on what phone you fancy or, indeed, can afford.
So, this being the case, I declare the Tile Pro GPS tracker perfection!
