[Vallie]

Tile Trackers, Apple AirTag, and Samsung SmartTag 2 are all about the same cost.

Tiles Trackers have rarely worked for us.

AirTags have worked well and helped us retrieve a missing bag.

Might have something to do with the massive Apple network.

You can actually use AirTags if you have Android, you just need an iPhone to set it up the first time and then after that you can just log onto their website and track it.

[Vernon]

Shhh…the Apple people think they’re the only ones here.

I would only recommend Samsung, Apple, or Tile.

They all depend on compatible devices and apps to be located.

Obviously, you get the one that is compatible with your phone.

Tile is compatible with both Apple & Android but I’m wondering about the number of Tile users nowadays.

They all rely on their network of phone/app users to locate the device.

So, there has to be a Galaxy user nearby to relay the location to your phone 5,000 miles away.

The same is true for the other tags.

So, you have lesser chances of a Tile being found if nobody in the baggage handling bowels of the airport has the time Tile app.

They used to be the market leader because they were first but I don’t know where they stand now.

[Norberto]

The value of trackers depends on the size of the “network” of other devices that detect your tag and report it’s location back to you.

The bigger your network, the more likely that one of those devices in your network will be close enough to your tag to detect it.

For AirTag, the network is all iPhones.

If you do a rough calculation by searching online, estimates say that there are between 1.3 and 1.5 billion iPhones worldwide.

For Tile, the network is the number of devices with the Tile app installed.

Again, searching online estimates around 300k total (iPhone and Android) devices with the Tile app installed.

For Samsung, I’m not personally familiar with the way that Samsung tags connect to phones but an online search estimates about 250 million Samsung phones worldwide.

Based only on these numbers, the Apple network would be six times larger than the Samsung network and 5000 times larger than the Tile network.

Again, these numbers are only from a quick search and I did not come up with them scientifically.

You could calculate your own estimates as you wish.

Also, I’m not trying to make any statements about which tags are better based on companies throwing their weight around, stomping on the little guy, Apple vs. Android, or any other subjective matters.

All I’m trying to estimate is the number of devices in the network that are looking for your tag.

Also, other factors that would affect the size of the network include devices that are too old to detect the tags, devices that are offline or have Bluetooth disabled, and the distribution of devices in the geographical regions where you travel (eg. brand popularity varies by country/region).

However, for “knockoffs” the size of the network is likely to be one (only you) and will have very little or even no benefit if your suitcase is lost on the other side of the world.

In that case, even if the knockoff is cheaper, the money that you did spend on it would probably be a complete waste.

Personally, I use both AirTag and Tile in my checked suitcase.

I was a Tile customer for years before AirTag existed and I think they are an innovative company.

I also like knowing that if one tracker doesn’t work then I can check the other one.

[Nayeli]

We use the Samsung Smart Luggage Tags (as we all have Samsung phones), they work the same as Apple, but with the Samsung network.

Saved our butts last Christmas with that Southwest craziness.

They are about to launch an updated version.

[Sandy]

Samsung Smart Tags 2 for Samsung phones, Apple Airtags for iPhones.

Tile Tracker, if for some reason you’re dead against one of those or have some other brand of phone.

[Clay]

Stay away from Amazon knock-offs because they don’t work in the same way.

The reason why AirTags work so well is because they take advantage of Apple’s existing network of devices.

I’ve seen Tile recommended for non-Apple users.

[Leonard]

Tile, Samsung or AirTags.

They need a network to work so “knock offs” are a waste of money as you won’t be able to track your item the same way.

[Elvie]

Tile tracker works fine for me with my Samsung Android phone.

They are quite affordable too and just $17.

I’ve been able to see my bags in various airports even when I wasn’t near the bags.

Google is supposed to be adding support to Android similar to Apple, and a company called Chipolo is taking pre-orders on their website – I’m sure there will be plenty of others, including Tile once the update is released.

Just be aware that it’s been delayed a few times, was supposed to be ready this past summer.

[PlanMoreTrips Robot]

See this related post too:

https://planmoretrips.com/forums/discussion/best-airtag-luggage-tracker-for-android/

planmoretrips.com

Best AirTag Equivalent Luggage Tracker For Android? - PlanMoreTrips Forum

Is there something like an AirTag equivalent luggage tracker but for a Google Pixel that runs on Android? Thinking about gifting them as a Christmas gift