There has been a lot of upheaval in the tracking business since Tile last updated its line of key, wallet and wallet finder Both Apple and Samsung have since produced their own trackers, catering to a huge number of smartphone owners who carry either an iPhone or a flagship Galaxy device And yet despite the presence of these two heavy hitters, Tile wants to stay ahead of the competition with its mix of values and features, plus a review of the latest product line-up Tile works on both iOS and Android phones

The 2021 tile line-up introduced a new unified look across the line-up, improving both the range and the volume of alerts And the 10 trackers that debuted today (12/4) aren't tile's last word The 5th Tile Key Finder will debut next year, offering ultra-wideband connectivity for more accurate location data, matching the features found in Apple AirTag and Samsung SmartTag Plus

I've spent some time with the new tiles, and while I need to do some additional testing before revealing the final ratings of all 4 major finders, I can share some first impressions More importantly, you can tell the new features of the difference between each model and all Tile Pro vs Tile Mate vs Tile Slim vs Tile Tracker

Tile Pro (2021) continues to be tile's premium tracker and features the best feature set in Tile key finder (we'll look at it momentarily) As a result, it continues to commandド1, which is one of the best prices, 35 Tile's credit card-sized tracker, Tile Slim (2021), is intended to be put in your wallet or billbox The new価格35 price is a 5 5 hike over what the old tile Slim debuted two years ago

The price has not changed with the new version of the tile Sticker with Tile Mate ($25) The former is a cheaper version of Tile Pro, with a smaller range and an alarm that is not as big as the more expensive models The Tile Sticker (2021) is a small coin-sized truttile with glue, intended to be pasted on something that does not provide a convenient loop, such as a key chain, envisages a sticker attached to everything from laptops to luggage and passports

If you're familiar with Tile's line of trackers, you'll notice something different about the 2021 product line The old tile Pro, Tile Mate, Tile Slim and Tile Sticker each had a unique look, while the new version has a unified design This means that the tile logo will appear prominently on each tracker; On all devices except the tile sticker (2021), the logo acts as a button that can find the location of the phone by pressing 2 times

Changes don't stop there Tile Pro (2021) removes the square design and looks like a key fob with a rectangular look The Tile Mate (2021) has the same square shape as before, with only a small portion thicker The tile sticker is also a little thicker

You can choose the black or white version of Pro and Mate Tile Slim and Tile Tracker only contain black Compared to rivals like Chipolo One, it's not much of an option, but whatever tile I get Te

, the new version will work just like the past models, even if the Tile has sacrificed some of the prosperity that went into the old Tile Pro design The tracker connects to your phone via Bluetooth and uses the companion app (Android, iOS) to tap on the misplaced item and sound the alarm As mentioned above, each tile has a two-way tracking function, you can press the button 2 times to ring the phone AirTag does not have that feature, and various tile trackers have become noticeable

What makes the different tiles stand out from each other is the promised range and the loudness of the alarm Tile Pro (2021) continues to be a champion here, and Tile promises a range of up to 400 feet and the loudest alarm in the tile Key finder In addition to the new design, IP67 water resistance means that the Tile Pro can be immersed in up to 30 meters of water for 1 minute without damaging it

The Tile Mate range has been extended from 200 feet in the previous version to 250 feet The alarm isn't as big as the Tile pro alarm, but if it's something like the previous Mate model, you should be able to hear it easily enough

Nothing has changed in terms of range in tile Slim — it should still be able to track the missing wallet at up to 250 feet But the alarm will be larger in the 2021 version

The tile sticker has the most room for improvement, as we found that the 2020 version has a limited range and the alarm is difficult to hear According to Tile, the 2021 version addresses both complaints, and the tracker can stay connected to the phone at up to 250 feet The alarm also increases, and this time the sticker gives IP67 water resistance

All four trackers now have a QR code on the back, added which is part of Tile's new Lost and Found feature If someone encounters your lost tile, they can scan the QR code and it will give them the contact information you provided to the tile that should make it easier to return your lost item

Privacy fans can help you identify nearby tile devices The new scan and secure idea added to the Tile app is that this can help you avoid being victimized by unwanted tracking, if someone is using your knowledge 1 Slide one of the viewfinder into you without But the feature will appear in early 2022

Tile Pro and Tile Mate both had replaceable batteries, but that's changing with the 2021 model Tile Pro (2021) continues to offer batteries but can be replaced — Tile claims that the CR2032 battery inside the Pro will last about 1 year - Tile Mate has returned to a non-replaceable battery You should be able to get 3 years of use from the tile mate (2021)

Switch to non-replaceable battery for tile mate improves water resistance to IP67; former mate could only resist splashes Tile also says Mate customers tend to prefer a set-it-and-forget-it device Also, since it was very difficult to replace the battery in the 2020 model, one of the largest knocks on the tile mate will be eliminated1

Still, the lack of a replaceable battery was a common complaint about the early Tile key finder, so expect criticism to resurface regarding the 2021 version of Tile Mate This device should last for several years, however, in contrast to the previous tile, providing only a year of battery life, so that complaints are somewhat reduced Also, the Tile app can point you towards the e-waste recycling site when it's time to replace the tile with a non-replaceable battery

Speaking of which, Tile Slim (2021) and Tile Sticker (2021) also have non-replaceable batteries For these 2 devices, it is because the form factor does not make it very practical to replace the battery As with the Tile Mate (2021), the new slim and sticker should last about 3 years before it needs to be replaced

Tile Premium continues to be an optional service for each tile Costing Costing299 a month, Tile Premium logs the history of your location and allows you to share an unlimited tracker on the number of people and you can also get a smart alert feature to notify you when you leave the house without important items like your wallet, keys or backpack

I've found that smart alerts hit and miss when I've tested it in the past, so I've checked if it's improving I've never really found Tile Premium to be a must-have for the tile experience, but the company has responded that I'm in a clear minority here It will be

Tile Pro, Tile Mate, Tile Slim and Tile Sticker are all arriving now, but one of the more exciting tiles won't be here until early next year Tile Ultra uses Bluetooth to connect your phone to the device tracker, but adds Ultra Wideband to the mix As featured in Apple's AirTag, it can allow for more accurate discovery For Tile Ultra, it will incorporate augmented reality to guide you in the right direction towards your missing keys and valuables

Tile Ultra has the same shape as Tile Pro (2021), but adopts a more sophisticated design, including a stainless steel key ring Tile has not yet announced the price of this key finder

Given Tile's track record, you should be confident that the latest version of key finders will be the successor to the current product line Still, it's important to check with your own tests to see what range Tile's 2021 lineup offers, and equally important, how quickly you can reestablish the connection when you get back to range

Once these tests are over, we can offer more specific buying advice, but for now, Tile Pro and Tile Mate are perfect for key rings and purses, while tile Slim is perfectly shaped to slip into your wallet Tile stickers are meant to track the kinds of things that don't provide an easy way to install Bluetooth beacons

We will soon post our full review of each new tile Key tracker