AirTags and Tile Mates are Bluetooth trackers that work by communicating with your phone or other devices to help you locate lost or misplaced items, and currently, both AirTag and Tile Mate options are marked way down!
Apple AirTag 4-pack on sale ($79, Reg. $99)
Single AirTag for $23+ (Reg. $29)
Tile Mates starter 4-pack ($64 after you clip the 15$-off coupon, Reg. $79.88)
Single Tile Mate ($14+ after you clip the 2$ coupon; Reg. $24.99)
A lost AirTag would need an Apple device within range to show location information to you. Apple does not reveal the exact range, but an AirTag uses Bluetooth to connect to an iPhone during the initial setup process. An iPhone needs to be within a range of 33 feet to connect to any Bluetooth device, per Apple. Therefore, regardless of the actual range of an AirTag, the operating distance is 10 meters.
When you register and assign an AirTag, it will appear in the “Find My app” on your Apple device under “Items” in the bottom menu. You can then use the app to locate your lost item on a map, play a sound to help you find it, or put the AirTag in Lost Mode to get notifications when it’s found by someone else.
Tile Mates, on the other hand, are Bluetooth trackers made by Tile. They work in a similar way to AirTags, but they are compatible with both Apple and Android devices. You attach a Tile Mate to your item and it communicates with the Tile app on your phone. The app will show you the location of your Tile Mate on a map, and you can use it to make the Tile ring to help you find it. Tile Mates also have a crowd-finding feature, which means that if you lose your Tile Mate somewhere, other Tile users who are in the area can help you locate it by using their own Tile apps.
Tracking your luggage: EgyptAir recently lost my bag at the Cairo airport with a very close connecting flight. Eight out of ten bags for our party were eventually found. But 2 bags (including mine) never were. Six months later, I have not received ANY compensation, and the contents of those bags were close to 2K! Hindsight is 20-20, but I cannot tell you how much time I spent futilely wishing that I had slipped an AirTag in it – it would have really improved my chances of finding the bag. This is also so useful when you are shown a mountain of luggage in an airport and told to find your own bag. Or when the airline claims it is in one place while it is in fact somewhere far away.
Tracking your car: If you’ve lost your parking location in a giant parking lot, this can be a lifesaver. Also useful if your car is ever stolen!
Tracking your children: Going to Disney or a fair or anywhere crowded? You might save yourself immense stress by making your child wear an AirTag in a specially designed wristband for it – lots of choices on Amazon! You can also AirTag your pets.
Tracking your stuff: Do you misplace your TV remote or keys regularly? Airtag them!! You can also leave an AirTag in your car if you happen to live in an area where car theft is a greater risk.
