5 methods Pebblebee Clip tracker tag is healthier than AirTag [Updated review] ★★★★½ – Uplaza

Connect the Pebblebee Clip to your keys, backpack or purse and also you gained’t want to fret about misplacing your merchandise or leaving it behind. You possibly can find the lacking merchandise along with your iPhone (or Android), or have the tracker tag play an audible alarm.

The merchandise tracker is a rival to Apple’s AirTag, and each use Apple’s Discover My community to allow them to be situated virtually wherever on Earth. However Pebblebee has a brand new benefit: it simply launched a Common model that helps both Apple’s or Google’s comparable monitoring service.

I examined the brand new model of Pebblebee’s tracker tag and located so much to love. It even improves on Apple’s providing, however not in each means.

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Pebblebee Clip evaluation

A number of years in the past, I misplaced my keys and located them on the backside of a bag of garbage I’d chucked out earlier. That’s the day I turned a fan of merchandise trackers — as a result of I had one on my keyring, discovering the misplaced keys took me lower than 5 minutes. In any other case, I used to be by no means going to see them once more.

Now I preserve trackers on my backpack, AirPods case, pockets and anything I’d be very upset if I misplaced or left behind someplace.

I’ve been an AirTag consumer since day one, however it’s not a “one size fits all” answer. Pebblebee Clip does lots of the similar issues Apple’s tracker tag does, however it additionally contains options Apple didn’t put in. I discovered 5 methods the third-party possibility is definitely higher.

A easy built-in loop!

To attach an AirTag to your keys or virtually anything, you might want to purchase an adjunct that provides a loop.

The designers of Pebblebee Clip didn’t make that foolish mistake. There’s a metallic loop constructed into the tracker tag, able to be related to your keychain. And to emphasise the benefit, a pleasant mini carabiner comes within the field.

The accent is 1.9 inches by 1.6 inches by 0.3 inches (40 mm x 49 mm x 8 mm). It weighs lower than an oz. That makes it virtually precisely the identical measurement and weight as an AirTag within the case wanted so as to add a loop — and both matches equally effectively on a keychain.

Pebblebee Clip is well rechargeable

When an AirTag begins to expire of juice, you might want to purchase a brand new battery, then take the tracker tag aside to insert the ability supply.

When the Pebblebee Clip’s battery will get low, you merely plug in a USB-C cable. This is similar means you recharge your MacBook, iPad, and so on.

You verify the battery stage in Apple’s Discover My software, which is offered for iPhone, iPad and Mac. Apple created this app for AirTag, however the third-party tracker reveals up, too.

Helps both Apple Discover My or Google Discover My Gadget

AirTag works with the Discover My software, and Pebblebee Clip works equally effectively. All you might want to find the tracker is open the app and also you’ll see the system on a map. If it’s close by, press a button to set off an audible alarm on the distant system. Both AirTag or Clip, these are a lot loud, however just one has a blinking gentle.

For long-range finding, there’s  assist for the Discover My community. Meaning Pebblebee Clip (like an AirTag) could be situated by different folks’s iPhones, Macs and iPads by way of Bluetooth. You’ll get a notification that your misplaced Clip has been discovered on the prepare station you left two hours in the past if somebody with an iPhone wanders close to it. And the system works extraordinarily effectively in locations with a number of iPhones, like cities, school campuses, and so on.

That stated, my favourite function of the Discover My software is separation alerts. Because the identify signifies, these notify you while you’re getting too far-off from an merchandise tracker. It means you possibly can cease worrying that you just’ve left your purse or backpack behind — you’ll get an alert if you happen to do.

For all of the similarities, the 2 merchandise trackers have their variations. The just-released Pebblebee Clip Common also can can be utilized with Google’s Discover My Gadget (for Android). That’s not potential with AirTag. So you’ve a alternative of utilizing the tracker with iPhone or Android. Sadly, it’s positively both/or and never each. A word from Pebblebee says, “To switch between Apple Find My (for iOS) or Google’s Find My Device (for Android) a device factory reset is needed.” So that you and your Android-using partner can’t share a Clip.

Larger vary than AirTag

While you’re on the lookout for your misplaced merchandise, your iPhone will make a Bluetooth connection to the tracker tag. The longer the vary on the connection, the better it’s to find your merchandise.

I did a side-by-side vary comparability between the Pebblebee Clip and AirTag, and Apple was not the winner. Each might connect with my iPhone 16 Plus at about 200 ft. After I moved again an additional 50 ft, I might solely connect with Pebblebee’s system.

And the Bluetooth vary benefit over AirTag brings one other profit. The Discover My community will depend on the tracker getting close to somebody’s handset. The stranger’s iPhone or different system finds the tag with Bluetooth, and a Clip hooked up to your misplaced merchandise is extra more likely to come into contact with somebody’s iPhone.

That stated, each tracker tags go my fundamental efficiency take a look at. I can put one or the opposite in a pants pocket in my bed room then set off the alarm from my kitchen.

Blinkier

The skinny edges of Pebblebee Clip embrace lights that blink while you set off the audible alert. If I’ve bother discovering the tracker in a room, I flip the lights off. That normally helps.

AirTag can’t compete on this explicit class. There are not any blinking lights on it.

However no cool UWB trick

However AirTag has its personal benefit. Latest iPhone fashions can be utilized to find an AirTag utilizing ultra-wideband know-how. The Discover My app can show an arrow that factors to the tag, and even listing the gap.

Pebblebee Clip doesn’t have UWB, so this function is just not obtainable. In any respect.

That stated, the arrow trick is just reasonably helpful. UWB’s vary is shorter than Bluetooth, so finding a misplaced merchandise wants to start with activating the audible alarm. And as soon as that’s ringing, the arrow is nearly at all times pointless — I can hear that the tracker tag is in my bed room closet, for instance.

Then again, in case you have listening to difficulties, the seen arrow to find an AirTag is the most suitable choice, in fact.

AirTag is extra waterproof

As Pebblebee Clip has a USB-C port, I discover it surprisingly water resistant. The system has an IPX6 score, which implies it could possibly take rain, splashing and even brief immersions in water.

However AirTag is waterproof. Its IP67 score permits it to be submerged for as much as half an hour.

So that you don’t want to fret concerning the Clip getting moist, however AirTag is the higher possibility for the collar of a canine that likes to swim.

As well as, Apple’s providing stands as much as mud and filth higher. That is the place the Clip’s USB-C port is a weak spot.

Pebblebee Clip last ideas

I like tracker tags as a result of they provide me peace of thoughts. I don’t lose issues fairly often, or depart them behind, however I actually hate it when that occurs. A location tracker on my backpack means I by no means fear about forgetting it at a pal’s home. They usually’re a godsend for vacationers.

With full Discover My assist, Pebblebee Clip does nearly every part AirTag does, however with much less trouble. With Pebblebee’s tracker, you don’t want to purchase one thing additional to attach it to your keys. Plus, charging is as simple as could be, and it has barely higher vary than Apple’s monitoring tag, and blinking lights, too. The brand new Common mannequin is extra versatile than the unique, however as a result of a tough reset is required to change it between Apple’s and Google’s programs, it’s not that versatile.

Nevertheless, not like AirTag, the third-party tracker doesn’t have ultra-wideband know-how.

★★★★☆

Pricing

The unique Pebblebee Clip prices $24.95., whereas the brand new Common model prices $34.99. That’s about the identical as AirTag. Nevertheless, if you might want to purchase a holder for the AirTag so as to add a loop, the third-party tag normally turns into the cheaper possibility.

Purchase the unique from: Amazon

Purchase the brand new Common model from: Pebblebee or Finest Purchase

If you wish to store round, you clearly learn about Apple AirTag ($29.99). However shut rivals you could be unaware of are Chipolo One Spot ($28) and the Momax Tracker Tag ($19.99).

Pebblebee offered Cult of Mac with a evaluation unit for this text. See our evaluations coverage, and take a look at extra in-depth evaluations of Apple-related objects.

Be aware: This evaluation first ran in August 2023. An replace got here with the launch of Pebblebee Clip Common.