Battle of the Trackers: Tile vs. AirTag

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Whether you have a habit of misplacing your keys or you want to keep tabs on your luggage while traveling, Bluetooth trackers are a modern convenience that can buy peace of mind for your most valuable possessions. The dominant players in the market are Tile and Apple‘s AirTag, but which is best? We put both to the test to find out.

Tile vs. AirTag: Design and Construction

Like most things Apple designs, the AirTag has a sophisticated look with a shiny (but fingerprint-prone) metal build. Apple makes one tracker, and it’s the AirTag. Tile, on the other hand, makes the Sticker, which has an adhesive and is suited for items like remotes, the Slim, which is ideal for wallets, the Pro, an advanced tracker with a greater range, and Mate, its signature product. The latter model is the one we tested for this review.

I weighed each unit using a home kitchen scale. At 9 grams, the Tile Mate is lighter than the AirTag, which weighs 21 grams with Apple’s FineWoven accessory or 12 grams without.

Tile trackers have a built-in clip, making it easy to attach to a keyring or paracord. The AirTag requires a separate accessory to clip it to something, which can more than double its cost. That said, AirTag batteries are replaceable, using commonly found CR2302 batteries. The Tile Mate battery is designed to last three years, but it’s not replaceable (older models did have replaceable batteries). The Tile Pro battery, also a CR2302, can be replaced by the user.

Tile vs. AirTag: Features and Performance

Bluetooth trackers work the same basic way, relying on a two-way signal between devices so nearby phones can “see” them. Apple’s AirTag taps into its Find My network, pinging off nearby iPhones using Bluetooth to help you locate your item if you lose it out of range of your phone. AirTag also has ultra wideband for precise tracking over short distances and an arrow that points you in the right direction.

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Tile’s network is much smaller than Apple’s and relies on other users with the Tile app, though Tile has taken steps to expand its network. Its acquisition by Life360 helped grow the network, and its partnership with Amazon on Sidewalk connects to nearby Echo and Ring devices. Still, Tile can’t compete with over a billion iPhone users.

Both devices can emit a sound if lost nearby. Here, Tile has the edge. I tested both using a basic online decibel meter tool. Tile came out at over 100 dB in a room with about 55 dB of ambient noise, while AirTag came out at a little over 80. Tile also has a physical button that, when pressed twice, will ring your phone. It’s a handy feature for anyone who frequently misplaces their phone.

That said, AirTag makes up for it with its UWB tracking, showing a map on your phone to pinpoint the device. This feature is available on iPhones older than the iPhone 11 and excludes SE models.

Tile vs AirTag: Privacy and Safety

AirTag’s precise tracking has raised alarms for its misuse by stalkers, and real-world incidents have confirmed those suspicions. Apple has partnered with Google to make it easier to identify tracking devices. Both iPhone and Android users will get a notification when an unidentified AirTag is near them for an extended period.

Tile’s anti-stalking features have limitations because they require the user to have the Tile app, and they’ll need to activate the Scan and Secure feature to find any nearby Tiles. Tile also has a feature called Anti-Theft mode, which makes Tile trackers undetectable using Scan and Secure. To deter potential misuse, using Anti-Theft mode requires uploading a picture ID and selfie.

Tile vs AirTag: Apps and Compatibility

Apple’s closed ecosystem means setting up an AirTag is incredibly easy if you have an iPhone, but it doesn’t work with Android phones. With an iPhone, the AirTag will automatically pop up on your iPhone when you unpackage it. Tile requires downloading its app and agreeing to various permissions. It’s pretty painless, but not as completely seamless as setting up an AirTag.

Apple’s massive Find My network, intuitive setup, and advanced features like UWB give AirTag the edge for iPhone users. Since AirTags don’t work with Android, Samsung and Pixel users will want to opt for Tile when choosing between the two. Some Tile features that are standard on AirTag, such as separation alerts that let you know when you’ve left an item behind, require Tile’s $2.99/mo plan.

Tile vs AirTag: Verdict

For items lost out of your phone’s range or tracking items like luggage, AirTag has the edge thanks to Apple’s huge Find My network. It gives users nearly real-time tracking, which Tile can’t compete with.

However, Tile has some features that come in handy, particularly for items that are misplaced nearby. Tile’s speaker is substantially louder, and the ability to find your phone using your Tile is a clever and underrated feature. Plus, Tile’s Bluetooth range is larger, and the fact that the Tile doesn’t require any add-on accessories adds to its appeal.

In short, Apple’s AirTag is better suited to finding items over greater distances than Tile thanks to its Find My network, and you can find nearby items thanks to UWB. Tile’s loud chirp, Android and iOS compatibility, greater Bluetooth range, and ability to find the user’s smartphone give it some advantages for anyone who frequently misplaces items around the house.

Tile vs AirTag: Alternatives

While Apple’s AirTag is our pick for iPhone users, Google’s Find My Device network offers a newer alternative for Android users. Brands like Chipolo and Pebblebee tap into this network, making them a good Tile alternative for Android users. Samsung also has its own tracker, which is integrated with Samsung’s SmartThings app.