Android equivalent of AirTag?

Tech, TV, Mobile, Internet and Geek Corner
1
I travel hand luggage only, but forced gate-checking of bags is becoming more common 'as the flight is full'. As an iPhone user I have an AirTag in my bag. However, I would like to buy an Android equivalent for a friend. Can anyone recommend something that they use and are happy with? Something without a subscription requirement. Also, not too complicated techno-wise. My friend is 75 and not a techno-wizz.

2
Tile is what I used before Airtags. They're really good too. Just lacking the special Ultra Wideband tech that apple has. Everything is done with Bluetooth. But that isn't such a loss.

3
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/2-w...android-phone/

2-ways-you-can-use-apple-airtag-with-an-android-phone

4
Thanks. There seem to be different Tile models. Which one did you use?

5
I didn't expect CNet to be such a cheap clickbait.

6
For Samsung phone/tablet owners, Smart Tags also exist and they are decent

7
Tile works reasonably well - but it requires other tile users to be around you.

So this is where apple has an advantage, as you don't need an app...it just uses any iPhone around the tag

8
Precisely and because android is so fragmented its unlikely to ever have that mesh network even though they outnumber iPhones.

9
I have used all of the models they sell I think. At least the credit card model and the keyring model. But the other responses are correct. You likely won't be able to track the location if the luggage goes to the wrong destination etc. Without subscription, best case is 20-30m from your friend's phone.

If you want something like an Airtag without a subscription, easiest would be to get your friend a cheap used iPhone and one of your airtags You need an iPhone 11 or later to use the Ultra Wide Band for very accurate location tracking. However, this is just a nice to have extra feature that is more of a gimmick IMO. Any iPhone or iPad that can run iOS/iPadOS 14.5 is compatible with an Airtag. This means they can rely on other people's phones to track the movement of their tag as the other commenters have mentioned.

So an iPhone 6s or newer can accomplish this. Which can be found for 70chf or so second hand. This is the route I would take if I had such a friend. They can use the iPhone just as a luggage tracker if they don't want to leave Android. Just turn it on - go to the Find app and click on the Airtag name.

Edit: Using the iPhone as a luggage tracker would require some sort of internet access. This could be accomplished with the Android phone as a hotspot or using Wifi in the airport. It's up to you whether this is now too complicated for your friend.

10
Apple AirTag, brining convenient stalking device to tech unsavvy , the problem is, this time you are actually in bigger danger if you are NOT part of the ecosystem.

11
Again, Samsung has the same thing as an AirTag, and has more devices than Apple so it's more likely that the tag will hit a Samsung device than an Apple one.

12
Thank you for this complete and helpful answer, which helps me make a decision.

13
As I understand it, an AirTag will link with all iPhones in the vicinity. An Android tracker will only link with those Androids that have downloaded the tracker-specific app, so of limited utility. Is the Samsung the same?

14
Ok, not Android but this video shows how well the Apple network managed to track this guy's airtags:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C72_8IGhR8Q

I've yet to see that level of detailed tracking with a generic Android tag, at least that would work with any/all Androids and not just Samsung or some specific brand.

15
Anyway, thanks for the thread and the answers, just ordered some tags.

16
Which kind have you ordered?

17
Apple as I have an Apple phone. Checking now for hubby who has a Samsung.

18
Never been happier with the Airtags. Due to the Lufthansa strike we got rescheduled through Paris and as the first flight was delayed we had to run for the connecting flight, knowing that that would be too short for the luggage.

Arrived at destination, checked the Airtags to see that the luggage was still in Paris and could immediately walk to Lost and Found, saved the hassle of having to wait until the last suitcases appear on the belt.

The suitcases then got separately flown back home and were separately handled until today some smarter person apparently saw the same address for both suitcases and delivered them together.