Travel
The 4 Best Luggage Trackers for Travel
Here is to, presumably, never losing your luggage again. Or, at least getting your rightful money back if an airline “misplaces” your bags.
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Pros
- Long battery life
- Long range
Cons
- Only for Android users
- Some reviewers note random beeping
Fret not, Android users. Samsung made a Galaxy SmartTag2, an upgrade to its old version, that works seamlessly with your phone, too. It connects to your SmartThings Find app, which doesn’t necessarily have the same strength as Apple’s Find My but that’s not really the tag’s fault. The SmartTag is water- and dust-resistant, with a long battery life of up to 500 days—plus a power-saving mode to make it last longer. It’ll send out an audible beep when you ping it, although some reviewers note random beeping even when not trying to locate.
One of the best parts, though, is the Lost Mode activation, which can send notifications to someone’s phone (Android and other) that’s near your tag, giving them your contact information for a safe luggage return.
| Battery Life | Up to 500 days, replaceable |
|---|---|
| Maximum Range | 394 feet |
| Compatibility | Android |
Pros
- Works on iOS and Android
- Long battery life
Cons
- Have to download another app
- Card battery not replaceable
Chipolo’s smart-tracking bundle is great for multiple bags or tracking multiple travelers. This set comes with both its Card and One devices. The Card is super thin, and fits well into wallets, passport cases, or other tiny organization pockets, but its battery is not replaceable. The One chips have a longer battery life (two years versus one), and those batteries can be replaced. They both have a decent 200-foot range and are splashproof. So, they’ll be fine if they get caught in the rain but don’t try dunking them in water. Any phone that can download the Chipolo app and connect to Bluetooth can make use of these, but that does mean you’ll have to get yet another app.
| Battery Life | Chipolo Card 1 year, non-replaceable; Chipolo ONE up to 2 years, replaceable |
|---|---|
| Maximum Range | 200 ft |
| Compatibility | iOS 14 and later, Android 7 and later |
Runners-Up
I was truly heartbroken when I realized, after three loving years of use, the Tile Mate I kept on my keys was dead. And that they would stay dead. These were great for what they did—keep track of my ever-disappearing keys and beep to let me know where in my bag I had lost them—but the non-replaceable battery was devastating enough for me to not repurchase this exact kind.
Common FAQs
How do luggage trackers work?
These trackers all use Bluetooth to connect to your phone, which either makes use out of the built-in location apps like Find My or SmartThings Find, or its own proprietary app.
How long do luggage trackers last?
Here, we prioritized trackers that both have long batteries and replaceable ones. That said, it depends. Most last at least a year, while some can last longer than two.
How We Picked The Best Luggage Trackers
These luggage trackers all connect to your phone, and so the ones that keep a strong Bluetooth connection and don’t require too much additional app navigating came out on top. There’s also the big phone differences: Apple works well with Apple devices, and so does Samsung. Still, we know not everyone wants to be forced into a branded box like that.
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