- Until 2021, Tile trackers were the biggest
on the market for things like keys,
bags, wallets, and bikes, and even pets.
And while they've been around since 2014,
they weren't the most widely used or known.
That is until Apple came on the scene
last year with the Apple AirTag.
This sleek shiny new tracker
stole the spotlight by making headlines
not as Apple's first tracker,
but as a tool for thieves and stalkers.
Both of these trackers are designed
to help you find your favorite things
when they're out of sight.
Both use apps, Bluetooth, sounds,
and other trackers nearby to help you find them.
But what's the difference?
Here are five things you need to know
about Apple AirTags and Tile trackers.
Who can use them and what they're good for?
Like I said before, both AirTag and Tile
use other devices to help you find them.
But what does that mean?
Basically, AirTag uses other iOS devices
around it while Tile uses other Tile apps around it.
When you search for your AirTag or Tile,
the device searches for others nearby in the network.
But the big difference is that AirTag has a network
of 1.8 billion devices while Tile only has 35 million.
So, if your device is out of Bluetooth range,
you'll have to rely on that network to find your device.
Most of the drawbacks to AirTag
boil down to Apple's chokehold on its devices.
Even if you have an older iPhone like I do,
you won't get the full AirTag experience.
This features include precision location,
that arrow feature that guides you
directly to your AirTag,
it also has NFC capabilities,
which lets you identify an AirTag
by placing it right on top of your phone.
If you have an Android or older iPhone,
you won't get either of these features
and Tile might be the better choice.
Basically, that U1 chip inside the AirTag
works best with iPhones that have it too.
Only then will you get the coolest features.
Tile and AirTags both work
with Android and iOS devices,
but Tile seems to play better
with others overall, not just phones.
Tile is the only one of the two that works
with smart speakers, like Google Home and Amazon Echo.
The good news is that Android users
can still use AirTag.
You just won't have the Find My app
it's so closely linked to.
Instead, you'll have to use a third-party app
called Tracker Detect.
Neither the Tile nor the AirTag
comes with key rings or holders,
straps, buckles, or anything.
Open the packages and you just get the trackers.
If you're into accessorizing
and customizing everything, AirTag's the way to go.
While you won't get anything in the box,
you can find a ton of different holders
and accessories through Apple and third-party sellers.
It's a lot like phone cases.
There are a ton of options out there,
but you'll still have to buy it yourself.
If you want something that's just simple
for your keys or a key ring
without buying more stuff, that would be Tile.
Tile comes in a few different shapes.
Here I have a Tile Mate with a small hole for key rings,
but there's also the Tile Slim for wallets,
Tile Pro with a larger body and keyring hole
and Tile Stickers that you can pop onto
anything you wanna track,
like water bottles, bikes, computers or other stuff.
At their most basic, both AirTag and Tile
use the same method to find your things.
And they both can tell you
if there's something you left behind,
but in Tile's case,
you'll have to pay for that feature.
This subscription service is an effort
to keep up with AirTag
and throws in bonuses like reimbursement
for lost items up to $1000.
Tile also doesn't have the NFC capabilities AirTags do.
You know, the whole tap and find out feature.
This is especially handy
for pairing new AirTags or learning info
about an unfamiliar one that might be nearby.
To sum it all up, Tile is cheaper,
comes in different shapes
and doesn't require any extra gear to use it,
but it doesn't have the cool NFC features
or huge network Apple has.
But it's a largely effective way
to keep track of your stuff,
like wallets, keys, bags,
and especially for Android users.
And then there's AirTag.
It's the pricier option and requires accessories
if you want to attach it to anything.
It does some cool things
and is pretty effective for tracking.
Apple also has responded quickly to the reports
of their device being used in problematic ways.
But unless you have a newer iPhone,
that's iPhone 11 and up,
you'll miss out on the best features.
Hey, if you are one of the 10 people
who made it this far, thanks for watching.
And if you want more safety,
head over to safewise.com
and you can find reviews and our lineups
of best home security systems,
best wireless cameras and more.
Stay safe.