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What is the best non-Apple AirTag product?

websap 5y ago
Doesn't exist. The network of iPhones is where Apple really stars. You can try Tile, but that works in bluetooth range.
new299 5y ago
The problem is AirTag is only really viable because of the huge number of iPhone users. Anyone with a recent iPhone will pickup the AirTag signal and report the location to the owner. Tile has somewhat similar functionality, but it doesn't really have the same ability to track the tile's location. And there are a comparatively tiny number of tile users.
- masklinn 5y ago
  Ah so outside of losing stuff in your home it’s really only useful in countries or areas where the apple mesh is dense enough?
  - SilverRed 5y ago
    Which is almost everywhere on the planet outside of north korea and the middle of a desert. I have tested the things and they get picked up constantly even in low density areas. If you had one in a house they would be getting picked up every 2 minutes from passing cars.
    - sofixa 5y ago
      Yeah, no. Apple products aren't that popular outside of Western countries ( and the US in particular). Take India for an example - the iOS market share is a paltry 3.2% for 2019. Ukraine, 13%. Nigeria, 6%. I highly doubt those users are nicely spread to give you full coverage everywhere and not cluttered in the bigger cities and their more affluent parts. Heck, even France is with 23%, that could easily leave significant gaps in coverage.
      - akmarinov 5y ago
        It’s not only iPhones though, iPads and Macbooks work as well, bumping the number considerably.
      - bashtoni 5y ago
        3.2% of India is still 41 million devices. I'd suspect it'd still be pretty effective there, although I'd be interested to see some data.
        masklinn 5y ago
        Did you just… assume a smartphone penetration of 100% and run off with that? Are you aware that even the US are not at 100% penetration? Furthermore India is 3.3 million square kilometers, airtags have a range of about 10m.
        kingnothing 5y ago
        A quick search says there are 290M smart phones in the US for a population of 330M. That's basically 100% excluding small children.
        masklinn 5y ago
        > That's basically 100% excluding small children. Which is not 100%. OP literally took 3.2% of 1.3 billions and asserted that was the number of iphones in india (compatible with airtag too).
    - albertshin 5y ago
      you might find this video amusing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SER24F0U8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SER24F0U8
shp0ngle 5y ago
Some people like Tile, I have found them to be unusable myself. (The app was horrible and it never actually worked.)
- airhead969 5y ago
  I use it just fine on remotes and Tile Pro on valuables and things that go outdoors. No issues.
dhosek 5y ago
If you mean that uses the AirTag network, there's also the Chipolo which has the advantage that it has a hole for a key ring (although the silicone ring thing my wife bought me for the one she gave me isn't too bulky. I had zero interest in the gigantic leather things). It has the disadvantage that it can't do the AR thing that AirTags can for finding your lost item when it's fallen between the sofa cushions, although it's apparently plenty loud.
flat-bird 5y ago
I'm not sure how technologically similar it is, but this product works well. It can notify you when, e.g., a motorcycle is moved. https://findmyscout.com/ https://findmyscout.com/
bouke 5y ago
I haven’t got experience with it, but this seems like an AirTag with a more useful design: Chipolo ONE Spot [0]. With a keyholr, no less. 0: https://chipolo.net/en/products/chipolo-one-spot https://chipolo.net/en/products/chipolo-one-spot
airhead969 5y ago
Tile Pro

Doesn't exist. The network of iPhones is where Apple really stars. You can try Tile, but that works in bluetooth range.

The problem is AirTag is only really viable because of the huge number of iPhone users. Anyone with a recent iPhone will pickup the AirTag signal and report the location to the owner. Tile has somewhat similar functionality, but it doesn't really have the same ability to track the tile's location. And there are a comparatively tiny number of tile users.

masklinn 5y ago
Ah so outside of losing stuff in your home it’s really only useful in countries or areas where the apple mesh is dense enough?
- SilverRed 5y ago
  Which is almost everywhere on the planet outside of north korea and the middle of a desert. I have tested the things and they get picked up constantly even in low density areas. If you had one in a house they would be getting picked up every 2 minutes from passing cars.
  - sofixa 5y ago
    Yeah, no. Apple products aren't that popular outside of Western countries ( and the US in particular). Take India for an example - the iOS market share is a paltry 3.2% for 2019. Ukraine, 13%. Nigeria, 6%. I highly doubt those users are nicely spread to give you full coverage everywhere and not cluttered in the bigger cities and their more affluent parts. Heck, even France is with 23%, that could easily leave significant gaps in coverage.
    - akmarinov 5y ago
      It’s not only iPhones though, iPads and Macbooks work as well, bumping the number considerably.
    - bashtoni 5y ago
      3.2% of India is still 41 million devices. I'd suspect it'd still be pretty effective there, although I'd be interested to see some data.
      - masklinn 5y ago
        Did you just… assume a smartphone penetration of 100% and run off with that? Are you aware that even the US are not at 100% penetration? Furthermore India is 3.3 million square kilometers, airtags have a range of about 10m.
        kingnothing 5y ago
        A quick search says there are 290M smart phones in the US for a population of 330M. That's basically 100% excluding small children.
        masklinn 5y ago
        > That's basically 100% excluding small children. Which is not 100%. OP literally took 3.2% of 1.3 billions and asserted that was the number of iphones in india (compatible with airtag too).
  - albertshin 5y ago
    you might find this video amusing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SER24F0U8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8SER24F0U8

shp0ngle 5y ago

Some people like Tile, I have found them to be unusable myself. (The app was horrible and it never actually worked.)

airhead969 5y ago
I use it just fine on remotes and Tile Pro on valuables and things that go outdoors. No issues.

dhosek 5y ago

If you mean that uses the AirTag network, there's also the Chipolo which has the advantage that it has a hole for a key ring (although the silicone ring thing my wife bought me for the one she gave me isn't too bulky. I had zero interest in the gigantic leather things). It has the disadvantage that it can't do the AR thing that AirTags can for finding your lost item when it's fallen between the sofa cushions, although it's apparently plenty loud.

flat-bird 5y ago

I'm not sure how technologically similar it is, but this product works well. It can notify you when, e.g., a motorcycle is moved. https://findmyscout.com/ https://findmyscout.com/

bouke 5y ago

I haven’t got experience with it, but this seems like an AirTag with a more useful design: Chipolo ONE Spot [0]. With a keyholr, no less. 0: https://chipolo.net/en/products/chipolo-one-spot https://chipolo.net/en/products/chipolo-one-spot

airhead969 5y ago

Tile Pro