5 things you need to know

But now that we finally know all the details, here are five things you need to know about these Android-compatible Bluetooth trackers. This includes how it works, which models you can buy, when you can buy it, and for how much.

Chipolo and Pebblebee have both released Bluetooth trackers that are compatible with Google’s new Find My Device Network on Android. Google says Motorola, eufy and Jio will release more trackers by the end of the year, but the company teased Tile as a partner last year. We don’t know much about any of them yet, so let’s focus on the first two.

Chipolo offers two models. Both are white.

• The ONE point is round and has a keyhole for hanging it on your keys.
• And CARD Point is the same size as a credit card, but slightly thicker at 2.4mm. However, it should fit nicely into most wallets.

Both trackers use Bluetooth, are splash-proof, and have loud sirens to help you find them. Round ONE uses a replaceable coin-cell battery, CARD does not. However, Chipolo offers existing His CARD holders a 50% discount to purchase a new card if the battery dies.

Pebblebee, on the other hand, has three different models, all in black, two of which look a lot like Chipolo’s ONE and CARD.

• Round clip with keyhole
• credit card size card,
• There are also mini tags that can be attached to small items such as remote controls.

These all have batteries that can be recharged via USB-C cable, making them more sustainable than Chipolo’s approach. It’s also rated for higher IPX6 water resistance, rather than IPX5 splash resistance, and has a bright LED light to help you find items in the dark.

In theory, I’m obviously more intrigued by Pebblebee’s tracker capabilities, but I’m a little concerned about its thickness.

You’re probably reading this and thinking, “I already have a Bluetooth tracker that works with my Android phone!” So what’s new here? And sure enough, those trackers existed, but they only worked with proprietary apps and networks.

For example, trackers from Tile and Samsung fall into this category. Galaxy SmartTag 2 only works with his Samsung phone and uses his other Samsung phones to find lost items. This is a bit limiting.

Chipolo and Pebblebee’s new tags are built around Google’s new Find My Device network and work across Android, rather than specific brands or their apps. That is, Pixel, Samsung, Motorola, Nothing, Xiaomi, etc. All of these phones are compatible and can be used as the backbone of your network.

This new Android Find My Device network also works much like Apple’s Find My network. It is end-to-end encrypted and crowdsourced to his 1 billion Android smartphones around the world. These phones become private and secure nodes that can help you find your lost tracker. This is a game-changer, as Android has a much higher market penetration than Apple around the world, especially in regions where iPhones are rare, and Google’s network could theoretically be similar to Apple’s Find. It should be more powerful and more widespread than My.

So let’s say I’m traveling and my luggage is sent to Peru while I arrive in Beirut. Just to be clear, this has already happened once. As long as your Android phone is nearby, you should be able to locate your suitcase. As long as your Android smartphone meets the following requirements:

• android 9 and above
• Latest version of Google Play services
• Bluetooth on
• Location services are turned on
• In some countries, the owner must be 18 years or older.

Most notably, the network relies on Bluetooth, so your phone must always have Bluetooth enabled. Phones running Android 15 may also have a new setting that automatically turns Bluetooth on the next day after you turn it off. This ensures that you are never away from the network for more than 24 hours. However, this is all opt-in, so if you don’t want to disable everything and participate in the network, you can do so.

Now, if you buy one of these trackers marked as “works with Android Find My Device,” you should expect it to have the same functionality, regardless of who made it. There’s no need to have a separate app for each brand of tracker. That means trackers from Pebblebee, Chipolo, and later Jio and Motorola will all show up in Google’s Find My Device app.

Newly purchased trackers will first pop up with a Fast Pair notification similar to those for Bluetooth earbuds, allowing you to link them to your Google account.

You can give it a name and icon, and find it by ringing if it’s nearby, or track it if it’s far away if it’s found on another Android phone in your network.

There’s also a nifty option to alert you if a missing tracker around your home is near your Google Nest speaker, so you know exactly where to look for it without having to hunt around the house.

You can also check your tracker’s battery status and share it with your partner or friends so they can monitor shared items like car or house keys.

One key feature of these trackers is that both Chipolo and Pebblebee, as well as upcoming products based on Google’s Find My Device network, will trigger unknown tracker alert notifications on Android phones and iPhones.

Let me explain: When Apple Airtags first launched, several people started using them for nefarious purposes like stalking strangers or tracking ex-lovers. After several years and many complaints, Apple has announced that an unknown tracker that does not belong to the user and will notify him if his AirTag, which is disconnected from the owner’s phone, is tailing him. We have built an alert for.

But now that Google has its own network, the two companies had to work together to create a single specification that they both adhered to. This way, your iPhone can detect if an unknown Google tracker is tracking you, and your Android smartphone can also notify you if its AirTag is tracking you.

It’s been months since Google ended its own deal and rolled out unknown tracker alerts for Apple Airtags on Android phones, but we’ve waited a year for Apple to bring the opposite feature to iOS. Ta. This is why his Airtag alternative for Android has been delayed for so long.

Chipolo’s two trackers will be available on Chipolo.net starting May 27th, and on Amazon and other stores starting in July. Round ONE points cost $28, CARD points cost $35, and there are discounted multipacks and several bundles. Here’s a detailed overview of pricing:

• Chiporo one point
  • 1 pack $28 / £30 / €34
  • 4 pack $79 / £89 / €100
• chipolo card points
  • 1 pack $35 / £35 / €39
  • 2 pack $60 / £60 / €66
  • 4 pack $112 / £112 / €125
• Chipolo Bundle (2 ONE Points + 1 CARD Point)

Pebblebee says its three trackers will be available on Pebblebee.com in late May and in the Google Store starting in June. All three models have the same single-unit price of $29.99, but you get a small discount when you buy them in packs.

• pebblebee clip
  • 1 pack $29.99 / £25 / €28.95
  • 2 pack $54.99 / £45 / €51.95
  • 4 pack $99.99 / £81 / €94.95
• pebblebee card
  • 1 pack $29.99 / £25 / €28.95
  • 2 pack $54.99 / £45 / €51.95
  • 4 pack $99.99 / £81 / €94.95
• pebblebee tag
  • 1 pack $29.99 / £25 / €28.95
  • 2 pack $54.99 / £45 / €51.95
  • 4 pack $99.99 / £81 / €94.95

Personally, I’m really looking forward to trying out these trackers. As I mentioned before, I travel a lot and I’m forgetful, so a lost and found system that works across Android is perfect for me.

We’ll be reviewing both the Chipolo and Pebblebee trackers in late May, so keep an eye out for them. Android permissions If you want to see how well they work and if they are as good as Apple’s AirTag or Samsung’s SmartTag2.