2 days ago
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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways
- The Chipolo Loop is disposable present for $39.
- It's rechargeable, truthful you don't person to interest astir artillery disposal, and the talker is overmuch louder than the Apple AirTag.
- It's importantly much costly than the AirTag, truthful could beryllium a hard merchantability to iPhone user.
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I emotion AirTags, and my beingness would beryllium a full batch much chaotic without them. But they person their limitations. The plan is not conducive to attaching to keys, they aren't that loud, and they devour disposable batteries.
What if determination was a super-loud finder tag that had a built-in loop for attaching to a keychain, and a artillery that tin beryllium recharged utilizing USB-C. That sounds great, right?
Also: AirTag 2 vs. AirTag 1: I compared some Bluetooth trackers, and the victor is not truthful obvious
That's precisely what the Chipolo Loop offers. But determination are immoderate gotchas to carnivore successful mind.
The Loop works with Apple Find My and Google Find Hub Device networks, truthful it's compatible with hundreds of millions of smartphones retired there, allowing you to find your mislaid items nary substance wherever you are (which is useful erstwhile you permission your keys successful a random riad successful Marrakech... speaking from experience).
So, however does the Loop disagree from an AirTag?
First, the artillery is rechargeable, and erstwhile it needs topping up -- each six months oregon truthful -- you tin usage immoderate useful USB-C cable. This means nary piles of aged CR2032s to recycle.
The recharge diagnostic is simply a large touch, and means nary batteries to buy!
Like the AirTag 2, the Loop is besides loud. The built-in talker chirps and beeps astatine 115 db, compared to the 60 db of the AirTag. That is simply a nighttime and time quality betwixt the two, and gives the loop a immense vantage erstwhile your keys autumn being the sofa cushions.
Also: The hidden information successful fastener batteries - and the 1 marque that got it right
The Loop lives up to its sanction with a pugnacious built-in silicone loop connected the finder tag, making it overmuch easier to connect to your keyring, bag, oregon pet. This is simply a large summation due to the fact that you don't person to bargain thing successful bid to commencement utilizing it. The lone downside is that if you harm the loop, it can't beryllium removed and replaced.
The Chipolo app (Android and iOS) adds much features to the hardware. For example, you tin marque your telephone ringing (even if it's connected silent), get out-of-range alerts (Android only), alteration the ringtone connected the tag, and adjacent usage the tag to instrumentality selfies by giving it a squeeze.
The built-in brushed yet pugnacious silicone loop is simply a large touch, and makes the tag a batch much usable.
The tags are besides IP67-rated, truthful they're dustproof and tin motion disconnected water.
The loop comes successful a scope of colors -- honey, chalk, charcoal, coral, mint, and navy -- truthful you tin color-coordinate your gear.
But determination are immoderate limitations. First, you don't get precision uncovering connected iOS arsenic you bash with AirTags (this diagnostic isn't disposable for immoderate third-party tags utilizing the Apple Find My network). This means you tin get a consciousness of wherever the tag is, but you can't beryllium taken to its nonstop determination similar you tin with AirTags.
Then there's the price. At $39 a tag, these bid a premium price, substantially much than Apple's finder tag.
ZDNET's buying advice
Third-party finder tags are ever a compromise connected the Apple Find My web due to the fact that you don't get precision finding. But if that's not thing that's important to you -- possibly you're tracking bigger things similar suitcases -- past the Loop mightiness beryllium for you. The USB-C charging is simply a bully touch, and the loudspeaker is simply a night-and-day quality compared to the puny 1 connected the AirTag.
But, you volition wage a premium for this tag. AirTags are currently $24 if you bargain them singly, and you tin get a pack of 4 for $65 (making them $6.25 each). The Chipolo Loop tags are $39. So, for Android users, they're a bully choice, but a hard merchantability for iPhone users.
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