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My wife is perfect (obviously) except for this one thing: She can lose track of her phone mere seconds after putting it down. I'll often catch her hunting room to room, trying to figure out if she left it on the kitchen counter or in the upstairs bedroom or what.
Sound familiar? It's a modern problem, no question. (And, yeah, I have it too sometimes.) Thankfully, there's a modern solution: a two-way Bluetooth tracker, a little gadget that can make your phone beep even it's set to silent. And it has proven utterly invaluable to the missus.
These things are cheap, too, starting at just $20, and they work surprisingly well around the house. As long as your phone is in range (meaning within about 30 feet), a simple button-press is usually all it takes.
Before I go on, a pro tip: You might already have a tracker strapped to your wrist. Many smartwatches include a find-my-phone option that works much the same way, leveraging that Bluetooth connection to make a stray phone beep. The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen), Amazfit Bip 5 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 are examples of models equipped with this enviable feature.
If you don't own a compatible smartwatch, however, you'll need a tracker, one that clips to your keychain or slips into your wallet so you (almost) always know where it is.
Wait, aren't we talking about AirTags? Nope: Apple's trackers are one-way; you can use your phone to find an AirTag, but you can't use an AirTag to find your phone. Only a select few Bluetooth trackers offer that capability. Read on to learn which ones.
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Priced at just $20 and often on sale for even less, the SmartTrack Link is an undeniable bargain. It's designed to hook onto a keychain and powered by a replaceable CR2032 battery (included) that's good for about a year.
After setting it up in the Eufy app, you simply double-press the center to find your misplaced phone. (It would be nice if there was an actual button, because it's not immediately obvious there's anywhere to actually press.) If the phone is in range, it'll start to chime.
You can also add the Link to Apple Find My, effectively turning it into an AirTag (minus Apple's AirTag-exclusive "precision location" feature). And take note: This tracker does work with Android (by way of Eufy's app), even though the Amazon product page boldly (and inexplicably) claims it's "not supported."
I like that Eufy printed a QR code on the back of the tracker, so if your keychain goes missing, anyone who might find it can scan the code and learn how to get in touch with you.
If you're interested in a wallet-based version of this, Eufy's new SmartTrack Card E30 is barely thicker than a credit card. It offers the same two-way tracking and has a rechargeable battery.
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Your wallet typically resides in familiar places — your pocket, your purse, your table by the door — so why not keep a tracker in there? Then you can easily find the thing that helps you find your phone.
SwitchBot's card measures just 2.5mm thick, about the same as three credit cards. It also comes with a wrist strap, which seems a bit odd but could be used to loop it to something like a purse or backpack.
Once you've got it in-hand, double-press the clearly marked button (which is fairly stiff; press like you mean it). If your phone is in range, it'll ring. There's also a scan-if-found QR code on the back, though it's a bit hard to see.
As with Eufy's tracker, this one can be added to Apple's Find My network if you're an iPhone user. However, like Eufy, SwitchBot can't seem to decide whether the tracker is only for iPhone users; its messaging dismisses Android support in one place and touts it in another. (Same reality, too: Yes, the card works with Android.)
That head-scratcher aside, the Wallet Finder Card is a winner. Just be prepared to replace it after three years; that's when the non-replaceable battery is likely to expire.
Rick Broida/Yahoo
Tile is a tracker pioneer, and the Tile Mate offers solid phone-finding for both Android and iOS. This is the product that's been on my wife's keychain the past few years, the one that has saved her considerable time and frustration.
And it's one of four trackers in the Tile lineup that can make a misplaced, silent phone ring when it's in range. You may also want to investigate the Pro, Slim and Sticker.
I'm partial to the Mate because it has a proven track record in our house, a competitive price and, as of the new-for-2024 edition, several attractive colorways to choose from.
Tiles are equally well-suited to Android phones and iPhones. In fact, Android users are better off here than with the Eufy or SwitchBot products, because they can leverage the Tile network to help find a tracker if it gets lost in the wild. (The other two can do that only on the iPhone side.)
Just take note that the Mate is "disposable," meaning its battery can't be replaced. It's good for up to three years, according to Tile, but after that you'll need to recycle the tracker and buy a new one.
Want to learn more about Bluetooth trackers, specifically using them to find misplaced keys, purses, luggage and other items? Be sure to see our roundup of the best Bluetooth trackers for locating lost stuff.
