Weekend poll: Do you use Bluetooth trackers?
I have an admission to make. Since my college days, one of my worst habits has been constantly misplacing my keys and my wallet. It’s not that I leave them in places where they could get stolen, but instead, I’m always forgetting to grab them when I head out of the house. Thankfully, Buffalo’s cold, harsh winters allow me to leave my car keys and wallet in my coat pocket, while a smart lock has made worrying about house keys a thing of the past.
One other thing that’s helped me keep track of the things that matter in my life: Bluetooth trackers. Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried out a Tile tracker and one of Apple’s AirTags, and both proved helpful in allowing me to keep an eye on my stuff.
Tile’s gadgets have, unsurprisingly, proven to be a more effective method for stopping myself from losing things. While the AirTag works well — maybe too well, considering thecontroversy that has surrounded it since launch— it requires an iOS device to work. Although I keep an iPhone around to assist with coverage andcomparisons to Android, I don’t always have it in my pocket. Tile, meanwhile, remains platform-agnostic — a true boon for any tech fan in 2023.
Of course, I’m always excited to see additional rivals to Tile enter this space. Earlier this week, we learnedGoogle is working on a competitor to Tile, Apple, and Samsung’s Galaxy-exclusive SmartTags. Codenamed Grogu — presumably after everyone’s favoriteMandaloriancharacter — it’s a gadget being developed by the Nest team, complete with a built-in speaker and support for UWB. It’s unclear when it’ll launch, but an I/O announcement seems likely, with availability likely timed with theGoogle Pixel 8later this year. It could fit in well with animproved Find My Device network.
If you haven’t already invested in a tracker ecosystem, Google entering the market could make for an exciting new option — specifically for Pixel owners. I’m curious how many people have already invested in Bluetooth trackers, either via a platform-agnostic option like Tile or as an accessory for the latest Samsung or Apple device. Whether you’re as bad as I am at keeping an eye on your keys, let us know below what tracking gadget you’ve picked up.
Do you use Bluetooth trackers?
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