Tile vs Apple AirTag – Which is better?
The Bottom Line: While Tile has long been the ‘go to’ tracking device with small, compact devices that work well, for most users—especially those in the Apple ecosystem—the choice comes down to network size and ease of use.
Tile vs Apple – Which is better value for money?
In summary…
I’m going back a lot on why the AirTag wins. However, you might be wondering about the cost factor especially when comparing the Tile and the AirTag value for money. This is something to take into account especially when you are likely to buy more than one device over time.
The Costs:
Tile has a range of products depending on your needs starting with the Tile Sticker that costs £34.99 for 2 and going up to the Tile Pro at $30.
The Tile Mate sits in the middle at $20 and is probably the best Tile choice for most users.
The AirTag Pricing:
On the other hand Apple offers just one product, the AirTag. It starts at £29 for 1 or £99 for a 4 pack.
This means the Tile is better value for money on paper however it’s incredibly close.
Battery Longevity:
You have to consider that whilst the Tile sticker works out at $17.50 each they don’t have replaceable batteries and so after 3 years you will have to completely replace them rather than swapping cells like others do.
AirTag vs – Which Looks Better?
The look of something you’re going to be carrying around all the time is pretty important for daily usage. Tile have a range of designs but the Tile Mate and Tile Pro are the key ones to consider here.
Design Comparison:
The AirTag uses existing Apple devices which gives them an estimated 1 billion active devices to bounce off which means you’ve got a higher chance of the AirTag being found rather than your Tile if they get lost.
Titanium vs Plastic Material Feel:
The Apple AirTag on the other hand has a rounded look and whilst it is thicker than the Tile, it also feels much more premium to hold because of that metal feel.
Tile have completely made these out of plastic which looks pretty good but doesn’t offer same durability as air tags sometimes. The Apple AirTag on top being able to make a noise and having lost mode the device is slightly louder, it helps you find it more easily too.
Tile vs AirTag – The Features
In a ‘Tile vs AirTag’ match the most important aspect is the features so let’s talk about those.
Both the Tile and AirTag use the location of other devices to update the location of your tracker. The Tile uses other devices running the Tile app and this works well (especially given the many years Tile have spent making their trackers).
The App Experience:
If you want to find your AirTag or your Tile you do this within the app, you can see where it was last found and when it was found. You can also make your AirTag or Tile make a noise to help you find it (the AirTag is slightly louder) and you can put them both into Lost mode so you get an alert when it’s found.
An AirTag in lost mode also allows you to attach a telephone number to it so someone finding it can use NFC on Android to view your details or the Find My app on an Apple device to reunite you with you lost item.
The Reverse Feature:
The Tile also has a reverse lost mode whereby you can use your Tile to locate your phone. And that is where the similarities end because Apple’s AirTag has some extra features!
Battery and Water Resistance
Fresh Battery Info:
Technical Specs Comparison:
In summary if you care about the ins-and-outs then both Tile and AirTags are water resistant, have around a 1 year’s battery life with their replaceable batteries and use bluetooth.
The differences appear mainly in how they connect to find your devices.
Tile vs Apple – Which is the better choice?
AirTag Pros
- Works with Apple’s massive network out of the box allowing for regular location updates.
- No need for an additional app on your phone, just use the ‘Find My’ app instead.
- Notifications happen automatically. Notifications for low battery life, proximity finding mode and privacy features alert you instantly when needed.
Tile Tracking Devices Pros:
- A range of products to choose from starting with the $35 for 2 Tile Stickers or £21 for the slim wallet friendly option.
Products that can fit in your wallet perfectly. - Works with Apple, Android and Windows devices seamlessly across platforms.
Tile Tracking Devices Cons:
The Tile also has a reverse lost mode whereby you can use your Tile to locate your phone. And that is where the similarities end because Apple’s AirTag has some extra features! An AirTag in lost mode allows someone viewing details or Find My app on an Apple device to reunite with you lost item.
- A smaller network of existing Tile users when compared to Apple devices found globally.
Some products don’t have replaceable batteries requiring full replacement every few years for the sticker versions especially older ones like 3 year old stickers without battery change feature yet available elsewhere currently.
Cons AirTag:
Titanium vs Plastic Material FeelThe Apple AirTag on top being able to make a noise and having lost mode does not include built in way to attach it easily to some items which might scratch metal back too quickly if worn constantly against hard surfaces or keys.
AirTag requires an Apple device to use so Android users must rely heavily on third party apps like the AirTags companion for location updates via other devices running Tile app and this works well (especially given many years).
Titanium vs Plastic Material Feel:
Sometimes they say “I could spend a lot of time talking about pros and cons” but that isn’t necessary for everyone.
The Final Verdict:
I know I have spent words on both the AirTag and Tile Tracking Devices features so you might be wondering “So…is the AirTag a Tile killer”. If your phone is an iPhone then there’s only one choice for best results.
For that reason in the battle of Tile vs AirTag, if I had to pick one over another today as long as you have Apple hardware nearby around 50 feet away or less it will find most items easily due to network size differences.
The AirTag wins on infrastructure. It costs a little more but with Apple’s massive infrastructure of devices you are likely to find your lost AirTag anywhere in the world compared to a lost Tile found through app users only.
For that reason, when deciding between Tile vs Apple AirTag for location tracking specifically.
You can read all my thoughts here and see why it is better value even with slightly higher up front cost than sticker based tracker options like some of the older ones without replaceable batteries found in other market stores right now.
