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Review: Chipolo's Find My-Enabled 'CARD Spot' is Ideal for Keeping Tabs on a Wallet

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Apr 12, 2001
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Chipolo is an item tracking company that has embraced Apple's Find My network, and last May, it came out with one of the first Find My-enabled third party accessories, the Chipolo ONE Spot. Identical to the AirTag in almost every way, the Chipolo ONE Spot didn't have an edge over Apple's own item tracking solution, but Chipolo's $35 CARD Spot accessory beats out the AirTag when it comes to wallet tracking.

chipolo-card-spot-1.jpg

Design wise, the CARD Spot isn't much to look at because it's a simple credit card-sized black plastic insert that's meant to fit inside a wallet. It's got a Chipolo logo on one side along with a small button for pairing, along with some regulatory information on the other side.

Aside from that, it's just a plain black card, but what's impressive is its thinness. It measures in at 2.4mm thick, and the internet says that the average credit card is 0.76mm thick, so the CARD Spot is a little thicker than three credit cards. Based on my testing, that's accurate.

card-spot-1.jpg

Comparing the CARD Spot to the credit cards in my wallet, it's just about the thickness of three of them stacked up on top of each other. So if your wallet fits a stack of three credit cards, it should fit the CARD Spot as well.

I have a relatively small card wallet that I use that holds about 10 cards and that is not sized for cash or other add-ins, and the CARD Spot fits inside perfectly in one of the slots. For those who use super slim wallets (like Apple's MagSafe Wallet), it may still be too thick, but I think many people will find it a better solution than anything AirTag related on the market.

card-spot-2.jpg

There have been wallet inserts that accommodate an AirTag, but the AirTag is much thicker than the CARD Spot, so they're not a great option. I can fit the CARD Spot in my small wallet, but it definitely does not fit an AirTag. The CARD Spot offers IPX5 water resistance, so if your wallet accidentally gets wet, the tracker won't die on you. IPX5 is a low-pressure jet spray, so it still can't be dunked.

card-spot-3.jpg

The major downside to the Chipolo CARD Spot is that there's no replaceable battery. It's designed to last for up to two years, but when the battery dies, the entire thing needs to be replaced. If you register your CARD Spot, Chipolo will send a 50 percent discount code for a new CARD Spot after two years and recycle the old one for free.

Like the AirTags and other Find My accessories, the CARD Spot can be located right alongside other Apple devices in the Find My app under the "Items" tab. You can give it a name and an emoji icon so it's easier to see at a glance.

card-spot-4.jpg

The CARD Spot is compatible with the Find My network, which means it is able to leverage the Bluetooth connection of nearby Apple devices when lost to transmit its location back to you privately. It also supports "Notify When Left Behind," so if you're out somewhere and walk away from your wallet with the Chipolo CARD Spot inside, you'll be alerted.

Like AirTags, the CARD Spot is able to play a sound that's fairly loud at 105db so you can locate it nearby, and it has a 200 foot range for the sound option. There is no Precision Finding because it does not have U1 chip integration, and it's worth noting that this is an iPhone-only solution because it only works with the Find My app.

chipolo-card-spot-find-my.jpg

All Find My accessories have the same safety protections as the AirTags, so if a Chipolo CARD Spot is separated from its owner, it will send unknown item alerts and begin to play sounds after an 8 to 24 hour period.

Bottom Line

The Chipolo CARD Spot is the best wallet tracking device that I've used to date. It's thin enough to fit inside of most wallets and it offers all of the Find My benefits of an AirTag without the bulk. Compared to in-wallet solutions that use an actual AirTag, the CARD Spot is the superior option.

When it comes to price, the CARD Spot is $35, so it's $6 more expensive than the AirTag and $7 more expensive than the ONE Spot, but the convenience of having a slim tracker for the wallet will be worth the premium for some people. The major downside is that it needs to be replaced every two years, but $17.50 per year for peace of mind is a small price to pay, plus Chipolo has a discounted replacement program so the multi-year cost is lower.

How to Buy

The CARD Spot can be preordered from the Chipolo website for $35, and orders will ship out in April. There is a discounted two-pack available for $60, which drops the price to $30 per CARD Spot, and Chipolo also offers a bundle that includes a CARD Spot and a two Chipolo ONE Spots for $77.

Article Link: Review: Chipolo's Find My-Enabled 'CARD Spot' is Ideal for Keeping Tabs on a Wallet
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/review/chipolo-card-spot/
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icanhazmac

icanhazmac

Contributor
Apr 11, 2018
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Far better than airtags for a wallet but this form factor could have also been used for backpacks, bags, etc. so it surprises me that Apple didn't make one like this as well. Disappointing that they need to be replaced versus having a user replacable battery but it is nice that they offer a discounted replacement service and recycling, maybe they can even refurbish them.

PS - What card wallet it that?
 
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KaliYoni

macrumors 68000
Feb 19, 2016
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3,799
The non-user replaceable battery is a significant downside for me. Having said that, if the CARD Spot fits into a standard luggage tag holder, it could be a less expensive way to keep track of bags and suitcases than an AirTag + AirTag holder in the short run.
 
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warpdrive

warpdrive

macrumors regular
Mar 14, 2013
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I would settle with card with slight bump in the shell that allows a replaceable battery. It wouldn't be as flat but that's ok...better than having to shell out every 2 years (if it actually lasts that long).
 
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jclo

jclo

Managing Editor
Staff member
Dec 7, 2012
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icanhazmac said:
Far better than airtags for a wallet but this form factor could have also been used for backpacks, bags, etc. so it surprises me that Apple didn't make one like this as well. Disappointing that they need to be replaced versus having a user replacable battery but it is nice that they offer a discounted replacement service and recycling, maybe they can even refurbish them.

PS - What card wallet it that?
Click to expand...

It's one of these. https://www.jetpens.com/Kurochiku-Accordion-Card-Cases/ct/2503
 
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J

Justjay27

macrumors 6502
Feb 3, 2012
472
368
preordered 1/4/22 when first became available on the Chipolo Site to swap out my tile slim (cut down on my tracking apps) still waiting to be shipped...
 
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Robert.Walter

Robert.Walter

macrumors 68040
Jul 10, 2012
3,095
4,365
Totally not interested in a tracker that has to be replaced every two years. Had that with Tile. No thanks.

I carry a European style wallet with a change pocket. I keep my airtag in there. Works fine.

Fact is I hardly need my wallet anymore because since I use Apple Pay I don’t carry much cash or any cards besides my drivers license.
 
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Dezlboy

Dezlboy

macrumors 6502
Sep 10, 2008
259
88
Advantage of Chipolos over Tile.....(welcome comments)

For me, one important feature is to be notified if I left my wallet behind. (stupid pun?)

1. With Tile to be notified (via iPhone) that you left wallet behind costs $30/yr (first year free). Tile calls this "Smart Alert." No cost with Chipolos.

2. While Tile provides free batteries, the cost to "replace battery" with Chipolos is half-price of new Card Spot every two years. Currently that would be about $10/year, at current $35 plus tax price. NOTE: Chipolos saids their battery lasts up to two years....

The purchase price of each is comparable. Thus for the feature I want/need, the Chipolos is $20 less expensive/year. Doesn't sound like much, but after five years,......

If one wants this type product, but hoping Apple comes out with similar product within a year, then the prices are the same....for that first year.
 
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warpdrive

warpdrive

macrumors regular
Mar 14, 2013
181
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Ryan5505 said:
There are options like that already:
Wallet: https://nimalist-store.com/products/nimalist-airtag-wallet-leather
Card: https://nomadgoods.com/products/card-for-airtag
Click to expand...

I have a great wallet already. What I need is an airtag that fits inside my thin wallet (a flat very thin airtag). The current airtag is too bulgey


from this article...points I agree with. https://www.inputmag.com/reviews/airtag-wallets-shady-world

"You see, the AirTag may be small but it’s quite thick relative to a credit card. It’s actually about as thick as 10 standard plastic cards stacked. Sewing a pocket onto the outside of a wallet is a cheap and easy solution, but it's not a good one. The AirTag wallet as it exists today isn’t just a cheaply made wallet, it’s a cheap wallet that feels awful in your pocket as a result of that AirTag sleeve."

"“The shape of the AirTag makes it difficult for people to sit on their wallet with an AirTag in it; it feels like there’s a stone on their chair,"" Gary Waterfield, owner of the company added, “We like our wallets to be thin and because the AirTag is thick, it can create a pretty big lump,
 
Last edited:
Roadster Lewis

Roadster Lewis

macrumors 6502
Apr 27, 2021
290
356
Coventry, UK
MacRumors said:


Chipolo is an item tracking company that has embraced Apple's Find My network, and last May, it came out with one of the first Find My-enabled third party accessories, the Chipolo ONE Spot. Identical to the AirTag in almost every way, the Chipolo ONE Spot didn't have an edge over Apple's own item tracking solution, but Chipolo's $35 CARD Spot accessory beats out the AirTag when it comes to wallet tracking.
Click to expand...
The ONE Spot has the edge over the AirTag of being able to attach to a keyring without any accessories... I have both ONE Spot and AirTag, and have not noticed any difference in usage.

I pre-ordered the CARD Spot on launch day, so hopefully, this review means that delivery is imminent - I misplace my wallet more often than my keys as I rarely use it these days.
 
ipedro

ipedro

macrumors 603
Nov 30, 2004
6,233
8,504
Toronto, ON
I appreciate the effort but it's still too thick. It'll always be too thick. That's because it's the wrong approach. The wallet itself should be an AirTag. I'd like to see the next generation of Apple's MagSafe wallet have an integrated AirTag.
 
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