I Tried To Destroy This Airtag Alternative, But It Wouldn't Crack - Unlike Others

2 hours ago

pros and cons

Pros

These touch tags tin withstand life connected cardinal chains and being dropped.
They characteristic a USB-C rechargeable battery, truthful location are nary fastener cells to messiness with.
They activity pinch some iPhone and Android devices.

Cons

The small screen for nan USB-C larboard isn't attached, truthful it could go lost.

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Yes, erstwhile again, I state my undying emotion for nan Apple AirTag. Overnight, that small integrative disc has beautiful overmuch eliminated nan accent of losing things for illustration keys and bags. But if you're an Android user, you're not invited to nan AirTag party. Thankfully, a big of third-party makers person stepped successful to capable nan void. And while nary tag is rather arsenic bully arsenic nan AirTag -- precision uncovering that takes you straight to nan tag feels for illustration magic -- location are still immoderate awesome alternatives retired there.

But there's 1 large problem: durability.

Life connected a keychain is tough. Keys are hard, sharp, and they get dropped, stepped on, and banged around. While AirTags are comparatively robust -- partially because they require an further holder to connect them to keys -- a batch of third-party tags aren't arsenic durable. Sure, they're astir apt bully capable for nan mean person, but I've had tags crack, break, and moreover burst isolated (a communal rumor pinch replaceable-battery tags that threat together).

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That's why I recovered nan caller Finder Pro tags from Ugreen truthful impressive. These tags person earned nan title of "toughest tags I've tested."

Features and creation

Before diving into their durability, let's return a look astatine nan tags themselves. The Finder Pro tags are modular keychain-style tags, but alternatively of nan information style astir manufacturers use, these are square, measuring 1.25 x 1.25 x 0.6 inches. They're made of a reliable polymer, and there's a spread successful 1 area to make attaching them to keys and luggage easy.

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The tags characteristic a built-in 90 mAh polymer lithium-ion artillery that's rechargeable via a USB-C larboard connected nan bottom. The artillery has an estimated runtime of a year, truthful you won't beryllium utilizing nan USB-C larboard very often.

The USB-C larboard has a small screen -- it tin beryllium mislaid but is not really necessary.

To support dirt, moisture, and different pouch grime retired of nan port, Ugreen has included a mini rubber cover. This screen is detachable, truthful there's a chance it could get lost, but each of excavation person stayed successful place. Even if you suffer it, it's not nan extremity of nan world -- aft all, your smartphone's USB-C larboard doesn't travel pinch a cover, and it lives successful your pouch aliases container conscionable fine.

Sound comparison

The Finder Pro is besides louder than an AirTag. Ugreen claims nan speaker outputs a sound successful nan scope of 80 to 100 dB, and erstwhile I tested it (using a smartphone app for this, which, while not perfectly accurate, is bully capable for this benignant of test), I sewage readings astir nan 90 dB mark. For reference, that's connected par pinch a powerfulness instrumentality aliases a adjacent motorcycle. By comparison, Apple AirTags are astir 80 dB, balanced to nan sound level of a vacuum cleaner, dense traffic, aliases a engaged restaurant.

I ran my accustomed trial of hiding nan tag nether immoderate sofa cushions, and nan Finder Pro was noticeably louder than nan AirTag.

A speedy statement connected decibels

It's worthy noting that nan decibel (dB) standard is logarithmic, not linear. This intends that each 10 dB summation represents a tenfold summation successful sound intensity. However, nan quality receptor perceives a 90 dB sound arsenic being astir doubly arsenic large arsenic an 80 dB sound. So while nan Finder Pro's 90 dB output whitethorn not look for illustration a immense jump connected paper, it's importantly louder successful practice.

Compatibility and scope

Like galore third-party tags, nan Finder Pro useful pinch some nan Apple Find My and Google Find My Device networks. However, support successful mind that you can't link it to some simultaneously -- you person to take 1 erstwhile mounting up nan tag.

I tested nan scope of nan tags, and nan quoted Bluetooth scope of 30 to 65 feet checks retired for statement of show and erstwhile there's not overmuch betwixt nan tag and nan searching smartphone, which is beautiful emblematic for Bluetooth-based finder tags.

Durability testing

Now, let's talk astir durability. To put these tags done their paces, I subjected them to a bid of grueling tests. I attached them to a bunch of aged keys and tumbled them successful nan dryer (on cold) for a mates of hours. I tossed them around.

I moreover drove complete them.

Drove complete your tag? No problem!

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

No problem.

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These tags are tough. Sure, they prime up immoderate scratches and scrapes on nan way, but thing that affected nan capacity of nan tag.

Not overmuch harm moreover aft being driven complete a fewer times.

I subsequently took nan tag that was driven complete isolated (the tag was driven complete respective times to get nan changeable I wanted), and location was nary existent harm to nan case, seams, aliases interior.

Curious astir what's wrong a finder tag? Here you go!

ZDNET's buying proposal

The Ugreen Finder Pro tags are durable, loud, and feature-packed, making them immoderate of nan champion third-party alternatives to nan Apple AirTag that I've tested. While they whitethorn not person nan precision uncovering magic of AirTags, their rugged build and long-lasting rechargeable artillery make them a awesome prime for anyone prone to losing things and looking for a reliable, hard-wearing tracker.

These tags -- which are called Finder Duo complete connected Amazon, but it's Finder Pro connected nan container (confusing) -- usually unit for $50 for a four-pack, but they are presently only $30, making them an unmissable deal!