ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Chipolo Loop is available now for $39.
- It’s rechargeable, so you don’t have to worry about battery disposal, and the speaker is much louder than the Apple AirTag.
- It’s significantly more expensive than the AirTag, so could be a hard sell to iPhone user.
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
I love AirTags, and my life would be a whole lot more chaotic without them. But they have their limitations. The design is not conducive to attaching to keys, they aren’t that loud, and they eat disposable batteries.
What if there was a super-loud finder tag that had a built-in loop for attaching to a keychain, and a battery that can be recharged using USB-C. That sounds great, right?
Also: AirTag 2 vs. AirTag 1: I compared both Bluetooth trackers, and the winner is not so obvious
That’s exactly what the Chipolo Loop offers. But there are some gotchas to bear in mind.
The Loop works with Apple Find My and Google Find Hub Device networks, so it’s compatible with hundreds of millions of smartphones out there, allowing you to find your lost items no matter where you are (which is handy when you leave your keys in a random riad in Marrakech… speaking from experience).
So, how does the Loop differ from an AirTag?
First, the battery is rechargeable, and when it needs topping up — every six months or so — you can use any handy USB-C cable. This means no piles of old CR2032s to recycle.
The recharge feature is a great touch, and means no batteries to buy!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Like the AirTag 2, the Loop is also loud. The built-in speaker chirps and beeps at 115 db, compared to the 60 db of the AirTag. That is a night and day difference between the two, and gives the loop a huge advantage when your keys fall being the sofa cushions.
Also: The hidden danger in button batteries – and the one brand that got it right
The Loop lives up to its name with a tough built-in silicone loop on the finder tag, making it much easier to attach to your keyring, bag, or pet. This is a great addition because you don’t have to buy anything in order to start using it. The only downside is that if you damage the loop, it can’t be removed and replaced.
The Chipolo app (Android and iOS) adds more features to the hardware. For example, you can make your phone ring (even if it’s on silent), get out-of-range alerts (Android only), change the ringtone on the tag, and even use the tag to take selfies by giving it a squeeze.
The built-in soft yet tough silicone loop is a great touch, and makes the tag a lot more usable.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
The tags are also IP67-rated, so they’re dustproof and can shrug off water.
The loop comes in a range of colors — honey, chalk, charcoal, coral, mint, and navy — so you can color-coordinate your gear.
But there are some limitations. First, you don’t get precision finding on iOS as you do with AirTags (this feature isn’t available for any third-party tags using the Apple Find My network). This means you can get a sense of where the tag is, but you can’t be taken to its exact location like you can with AirTags.
Then there’s the price. At $39 a tag, these command a premium price, substantially more than Apple’s finder tag.
ZDNET’s buying advice
Third-party finder tags are always a compromise on the Apple Find My network because you don’t get precision finding. But if that’s not something that’s important to you — maybe you’re tracking bigger things like suitcases — then the Loop might be for you. The USB-C charging is a nice touch, and the loudspeaker is a night-and-day difference compared to the puny one on the AirTag.
But, you will pay a premium for this tag. AirTags are currently $24 if you buy them singly, and you can get a pack of four for $65 (making them $6.25 each). The Chipolo Loop tags are $39. So, for Android users, they’re a good choice, but a hard sell for iPhone users.
