Eufy Launches Cheaper AirTag Alternative With Find My App Support

[MacRumors]

Anker brand Eufy recently introduced a new SmartTrack Link item tracker with support for the Find My app, providing iPhone users with a cheaper alternative to the AirTag. The item tracker also works with the Eufy Security app, available on the App Store.

The SmartTrack Link can be added to the Items tab of the Find My app, allowing its location to be tracked in the app just like the AirTag. And if another iPhone user around the world comes close to your lost item with a SmartTrack Link affixed to it, the Find My network securely relays an approximate location of the item back to you.

The SmartTrack Link has many similarities to the AirTag, including a built-in speaker that can play a sound if lost, water resistance, and a CR2032 battery that lasts up to a year. The main advantage is cost, with an individual SmartTrack Link priced at $19.99 and currently on sale for $16 at checkout on Eufy's website with discount code WS24SM. By comparison, an individual AirTag costs $29 and a four pack costs $99.

Eufy's item tracker is also cheaper than the Chipolo ONE Spot, which was released last year for $28 and also supports the Find My app.

Other benefits of the SmartTrack Link vs. the AirTag include full compatibility with Android smartphones, a QR code on the back side that provides the owner's contact information, and a hole for attaching a keyring without an additional accessory.

Article Link: Eufy Launches Cheaper AirTag Alternative With Find My App Support

 

[alexandr]

And a pretty one!..

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Looks better than an AirTag IMO and cheaper. I love stuff from Anker/Eufy in general.

 

[ignatius345]

The one thing holding me back from having any interest in AirTags is the fact they can only be tracked by one user. Makes it pretty useless in a family context if I can track our kid's backpack or a piece of luggage or something, but my wife can't. If they ever get their act together and make Find My work better with Family Sharing, I'd definitely be interested.

 

[BostonQuad]

I'd be interested, but it appears to lack Precision Finding, which is a feature I really appreciate in Find My.

 

[compwiz1202]

The one thing holding me back from having any interest in AirTags is the fact they can only be tracked by one user. Makes it pretty useless in a family context if I can track our kid's backpack or something, but my wife can't. If they ever get their act together and make Find My work better with Family Sharing, I'd definitely be interested.

This is the one thing I never liked either. If it would be some security concern, just make the other person who already added it have to approve the second request to add

 

[jent]

What is the technology that allows it to connect to the wider Find My network? Does Apple have an API for this? I remember back when I had a bunch of Tile trackers many years ago it only worked with other Tile users.

 

[bigboy29]

Will the phone tell you if someone throws one of those into your backpack without you knowing?

 

[EllZ89]

no UWB

 

[ignatius345]

Will the phone tell you if someone throws one of those into your backpack without you knowing?

After a while. I forget how long, but at some point you supposedly get an alert:

'AirTag Found Moving With You' - What it Means and What to Do

Apple's AirTags have a built-in safety feature that's designed to prevent them from being used to track you, so no one can plant an AirTag in...

www.macrumors.com

 

[martinorob]

• Share with Friends and Family: With the eufy Security app you can let others know the location of your items too.

From eufy website.
Is shared for the eufy app not find my Apple app (imo)
So I can give one of this to my family and share its position with me I think

 

[d686546s]

The one thing holding me back from having any interest in AirTags is the fact they can only be tracked by one user. Makes it pretty useless in a family context if I can track our kid's backpack or a piece of luggage or something, but my wife can't. If they ever get their act together and make Find My work better with Family Sharing, I'd definitely be interested.

Definitely sounds like there's room for improvement, but if you wanted to track your kid's backpack, wouldn't it be better for one of you to be able rather than none of you?

 

[boak]

What is the technology that allows it to connect to the wider Find My network? Does Apple have an API for this? I remember back when I had a bunch of Tile trackers many years ago it only worked with other Tile users.

Apple has opened up the Find My network to third-parties. They can choose either their own network or Find My but not both. Chipolo has 2 lines of products, 1 for each network.

 

[ignatius345]

Definitely sounds like there's room for improvement, but if you wanted to track your kid's backpack, wouldn't it be better for one of you to be able rather than none of you?

Nah, I'll hold out until they fix it. I've lived many years on the earth without trackers and I think I'll survive until they make the tech work right.

 

[FunkyTang]

The Eufy one looks too beaucoup G.I.

 

[srknpower]

no UWB

Don’t expect it since U1 is an Apple chip. Also, maybe Apple doesn’t allow any other UWB chips other than U1 in its FindMy network.

 

[Unami]

But does it use the find my network, when used with an android? E.g., when I gift this to an android friend, does he get the location of an item when someone with an iphone walks by it?

 

[ashdelacroix]

More Chinese tat.

 

[kk200]

The one thing holding me back from having any interest in AirTags is the fact they can only be tracked by one user. Makes it pretty useless in a family context if I can track our kid's backpack or a piece of luggage or something, but my wife can't. If they ever get their act together and make Find My work better with Family Sharing, I'd definitely be interested.

There is a solution which Apple never dares to say loudly: you need put 3 AirTags in kid’s bag. One for you, one for your wife and one for kid.

 

[applicious84]

If it doesn't have a keyring that costs more than the tracker, I don't want it.

 

[sean+mac]

no UWB

It is unfortunate the main MacRumors article didn't call this out as a key difference, it is an important detail. This is the only detail I opened the comments to look for (the next option would have been the vendor site, but they aren't going to make it obvious that a feature in the AirTag competitive product is missing in theirs.)

 

[compwiz1202]

There is a solution which Apple never dares to say loudly: you need put 3 AirTags in kid’s bag. One for you, one for your wife and one for kid.

Of course they do. Cha Ching x3 is better than one

 

[DanTheMan827]

Apple has opened up the Find My network to third-parties. They can choose either their own network or Find My but not both. Chipolo has 2 lines of products, 1 for each network.

That doesn't seem to be the case for this device since they clearly advertise dual app protection

 

[GeneralChang]

Never really been super interested in the AirTags ecosystem, but the price might just be right on this one.

 

[liberte1776]

So these have no ultra wideband support, but you did not bother to point this out in the article?! **SMH**