ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Thinner than related tracker tags by some 30%
- 18-month battery life, rechargeable utilizing a Qi charging pad
- Powerful, sturdy, and dust- and water resistant.
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My Camino Frances hike — nicely, the final 70 or so miles — begins in a number of days for me and my strolling buddy, and one of many issues that I do not need to occur alongside the best way is that we lose something vital. Keys, backpacks, wallets, passports, and even coats are finder tagged. I am an iPhone user, and so I’ve caught AirTags onto just about all the pieces of worth (utilizing the wonderful equipment that Elevation Lab makes for that job). My path buddy is an Android user, and so they’re having to make use of one thing totally different.
Additionally: I found an AirTag alternative that beats the Bluetooth tracker in meaningful ways (including price)
Whereas keys and backpacks are protected utilizing the brand new Pebblebee Clip 5 tags, they seem to be a bit on the large aspect to enter a pockets. But concern not, as a result of Pebblebee has one thing for that demand — the Card 5.
The Card 5 seems to be and feels barely thicker than a traditional bank card. I’ve had credit-card-sized tracker tags prior to now, and at solely 0.07 inches/1.74 mm skinny, this tag is considerably thinner than these — some 30% thinner, in accordance with Pebblebee.
The Card 5 is tremendous, tremendous skinny.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Contained in the powerful, sturdy exterior — designed to IPX6 requirements to shrug off mud and rain — is plenty of cool electronics.
There is a Bluetooth finder tag that has a transparent line of sight vary of 500 ft/150 meters that’ll work with Apple’s Find My network or Google’s Find Hub. To make discovering issues simpler, the tag has a super-loud beeper that’s far louder than the AirTag, and brilliant LEDs, so you’ll be able to search at the hours of darkness.
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I’ve examined this tag and it had no downside discovering a pockets on the 500-foot distance, and it fortunately linked to my iPhone when hidden in a automobile that was some 250 ft away.
There’s additionally a chargeable battery inside that’ll maintain the tag working for 18 months. When it is time for a recharge, you simply place the tag on a wi-fi charging pad — no USB-C ports or cables.
Cost the Card 5 from any useful Qi charging pad.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
All this expertise operates in a finder tag that weighs simply 0.49 ounces/14 grams.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
AirTags are nice, however the UFO-esque form does not lend itself to being put right into a pockets or purse. The Pebblebee Card 5 is ideal, as a result of it is just a bit thicker than a card, and but it packs plenty of tracker tech right into a small house. It is powerful, resists bending and flexing, shrugs off water, and lasts nicely over a 12 months on a single cost.
And it really works for each iPhones and Android units.
Usually priced at $35, there’s at present a large 30% off the worth, bringing it all the way down to $24.50, making the machine essential for tech aficionados and a fantastic present for these folks in your life who misplace their stuff.