Apple AirTag vs. Tile Mate (2024)
One works with the biggest finding network on earth and only on iPhones. The other works with any phone, has a hole for a key ring, and finds things mostly when they are within earshot.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Overall winner: Apple AirTag (4-Pack)
Overall winner for most people: Apple AirTag — for iPhone owners the Find My network makes a checked bag show up in another airport within minutes. On Android the AirTag is not an option and the Tile wins by default.
Best for iPhone owners who check bags and lend things to teenagers
Apple AirTag (4-Pack)
Best for Mixed-phone households and keys that vanish inside the house
Tile by Life360 Mate Bluetooth Tracker (2024), 1-Pack, White
The primary tradeoff: Network versus compatibility. The AirTag finds a lost bag across a city; the Tile finds keys across a room and works on either phone.
| Attribute | Apple AirTag (4-Pack) Karen Verified | Tile by Life360 Mate Bluetooth Tracker (2024), 1-Pack, White Worth It |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Luggage, keys, bikes, anything that leaves the house | Keys and remotes that go missing at home |
| Phone compatibility | iPhone only | iOS and Android |
| Finding network | Enormous | Thin; needs a Tile user to pass by |
| Finding it in the house | Precision arrows on recent iPhones | Loud ring, easy to hear |
| Attachment | No hole; needs a holder for everything | Key-ring hole built in |
| Battery | Coin cell, replace about yearly | Sealed; the whole tracker is disposable in about three years |
| App | Built into iOS, no account beyond Apple ID | Separate app that pushes a subscription |
| Water resistance | IP67 | IP67 |
| Range (manufacturer claim) | Bluetooth plus the Find My network | Up to 350 ft Bluetooth |
| Biggest annoyance | Buying holders for all four | The sealed battery |
| Battery | CR2032, user-replaceable, about 1 year (manufacturer states) | Built in, about 3 years, not replaceable (manufacturer states) |
| Water resistance | IP67 | IP67 (manufacturer states) |
| Range | Bluetooth plus the Find My network | Up to 350 ft Bluetooth (manufacturer states) |
| Warranty | 1 year limited | 1 year (manufacturer states) |
✓ marks the category winner. Rows with identical values are hidden by “Show only differences”.
Final recommendation
Buy Apple AirTag (4-Pack) if…
Buy the AirTags if you own an iPhone and want to put one in every bag you check and stop worrying.
Buy Tile by Life360 Mate Bluetooth Tracker (2024), 1-Pack, White if…
Buy the Tile Mate if someone in the house uses Android, or your losses are keys in the sofa rather than bags in a taxi.
Buy neither if…
Buy neither if you are on a Samsung phone; Samsung's own tag rides its own network and will find things far better than a Tile.
Both products
Karen Verified
Worth It
Tile by Life360 Mate Bluetooth Tracker (2024), 1-Pack, White
The tracker that works on both phone platforms, as long as you accept a smaller finding network and a sealed battery.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.