Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Tile Launches Upgraded Tile Mate and Tile Pro Along With Premium Finding Services

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
67,158
37,104



Tile, known for its range of battery-powered Bluetooth-enabled tags for tracking various items, today announced the launch of upgraded Tile Mate and Tile Pro accessories.

The new Tile Mate and Tile Pro feature a longer range, louder volumes when pinging them from an iPhone, and, for the first time, batteries that can be replaced.

tile1-800x603.jpg

Previous Tile versions have not had user-replaceable batteries and thus had a limited life, but the new Tile Mate and Tile Pro can be used indefinitely. The batteries that are included with the Mate and Pro are expected to last for one year before needing replacement.

Both Tile Mate and Tile Pro have improved range. Tile Mate has a Bluetooth range of 150 feet, while Tile Pro has a Bluetooth range of 300 feet.

tile2-800x533.jpg

Along with new products, Tile is introducing Tile Premium, a subscription service that offers free battery replacements, smart alerts, and 30-day location history.

Tile Premium is priced at $29.99 annually or $2.99 per month. The service provides Smart Alerts that let you know when you leave home without specific Tiled items, and unlimited sharing, so more than one user can access the same Tile device.

Location history for each Tile device is available, and Tile provides an extended warranty for three years with premium service. Free battery replacements are also an included feature, with subscribers eligible to receive automatic free annual battery replacements for each Tile.

Tile Mate and Tile Pro are available today from the Tile website and major retailers that include Amazon and Best Buy. Tile Mate retails for $25, while Tile Pro retails for $35.

Article Link: Tile Launches Upgraded Tile Mate and Tile Pro Along With Premium Finding Services
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/10/02/tile-launches-new-products-and-service/
I’ve owned Tiles for years now. It’s a great product that has saved me countless hours looking for my keys and my phone.

My current Tile Sport has a few months left before the battery runs low. When it does, I’m gladly buying another one.

That said, I’m not so sure the Premium subscription is worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: utwarreng
Ugh, I'd like to get one of these sort of things, but a premium service is not what I'm willing to pay for. Its one of those niceties to have, but paying a monthly fee just so I don't lose my wallet or keys is not worth it
 
  • Like
Reactions: witnessthefunk and AngerDanger
My phone is the key to my car and to my house - I stopped carrying anything besides my phone 5 months ago.

(I have a wallet case that holds three cards - my CC, driver’s license, and the NFC card to access my car when my phone is dead.)
[doublepost=1538478084][/doublepost]
maflynn said:
Ugh, I'd like to get one of these sort of things, but a premium service is not what I'm willing to pay for. Its one of those niceties to have, but paying a monthly fee just so I don't lose my wallet or keys is not worth it
Click to expand...

The premium service is optional. The core product is just a Bluetooth speaker with a hook to go on your keyring.

I used these years ago. Then the batteries died and I discovered there was no way to replace them. I was irritated and not interested in purchasing replacements, so I threw them away.

Edit: Yes - I know that these new ones have replaceable batteries. That's nice. They already burned me as a customer 3 years ago - they don't get a second chance with me to figure out what new flaws they have. Plus I no longer carry keys, so I have no need for them anymore.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: RoobyRoobyRoo and maflynn
ArtOfWarfare said:
My phone is the key to my car and to my house - I stopped carrying anything besides my phone 5 months ago.

(I have a wallet case that holds three cards - my CC, driver’s license, and the NFC card to access my car when my phone is dead.)
[doublepost=1538478084][/doublepost]

The premium service is optional. The core product is just a Bluetooth speaker with a hook to go on your keyring.

I used these years ago. Then the batteries died and I discovered there was no way to replace them. I was irritated and not interested in purchasing replacements, so I threw them away.
Click to expand...


This is precise. I liked the idea, but hate the idea of a disposable. I want a tile that I can recharge, or at a minimum, replace the battery.

Yes, I filled out the survey last year. I said then that it’s unethical that all those things they make will generally end up in a landfill in under 2 years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ArtOfWarfare and xpxp2002
Looks good. I know this is not a popular point to bring up, but will the replaceable battery reduce durability? The current tiles are built like tanks.
 
ArtOfWarfare said:
I used these years ago. Then the batteries died and I discovered there was no way to replace them. I was irritated and not interested in purchasing replacements, so I threw them away.
Click to expand...

drumcat said:
This is precise. I liked the idea, but hate the idea of a disposable. I want a tile that I can recharge, or at a minimum, replace the battery.

Yes, I filled out the survey last year. I said then that it’s unethical that all those things they make will generally end up in a landfill in under 2 years.
Click to expand...
You guys did read that they now have replaceable batteries, right?

Anyway, just came here to vent that I received my replacement Tiles a few days ago, just as they update them. *sigh*
 
Purchased several Tiles at Christmas last year after a few items (that were all eventually recovered) went missing last fall.

Nothing attached to a Tile, since, has gone missing.

Still like the idea of user replaceable batteries, not interested in a subscription service.
 
I've used the beta of the service that supposedly tells you when you've left home without a tile and it's absolute rubbish, for several reasons:

1) The idea itself is flawed - I care about leaving the place I am without an item, such as leaving the office without my house keys (I can't leave the house without my keys as I need them to lock the door). Home is actually the best place for me to leave something, yet it's the only place Tile will warn me about leaving something.
2) It false alarms. It's constantly popping up on my watch asking me if the notification I just received for my tile was useful. It wasn't useful. a) the tile is with me, b) I didn't get to read the notification, it was instantly replaced by the "was this notification useful?" message.

I don't know if it actually works, mostly because of 1, above.
 
maflynn said:
Ugh, I'd like to get one of these sort of things, but a premium service is not what I'm willing to pay for. Its one of those niceties to have, but paying a monthly fee just so I don't lose my wallet or keys is not worth it
Click to expand...
You don't need the subscription service to take full use of this. You just miss out on1. free batteries(they are really cheap and available everywhere)2. 30 day tracking history and 3. being buzzed when you leave one of them behind.
 
maflynn said:
Ugh, I'd like to get one of these sort of things, but a premium service is not what I'm willing to pay for. Its one of those niceties to have, but paying a monthly fee just so I don't lose my wallet or keys is not worth it
Click to expand...
Then don't pay the monthly fee. The Tile itself will still work just the same and you'll be able to find your keys just fine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RoobyRoobyRoo and RevTEG
Now it says replaceable, but it doesn’t say user replaceable... I’m interested if it can be a DIY replacement, or your forced into the subscription to send it off for replace. Tile has been very picky over the years of trying to protect its profits and I doubt this model would be willing to risk that. I love my Tile’s, have had several over the years, but I will toss them all in trash before I have to subscribe to a service to use them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: drumcat and RevTEG
omihek said:
Then don't pay the monthly fee. The Tile itself will still work just the same and you'll be able to find your keys just fine.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your post. I know you were not replying to me directly but I didn’t know that Tile would work without the subscription. I’ve casually wanted one but thought I needed the subscription. My keys and wallet thank you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RoobyRoobyRoo
Anyway, just came here to vent that I received my replacement Tiles a few days ago, just as they update them. *sigh*[/QUOTE]

Can't you just return them?
 
I like Tile and have been a customer for 3 years.

Observations:
  • Tile Pro is less ugly than last year's version, but the texture makes it look uglier than cheaper Tile Mate.
  • Since most people use Tile Pro and Tile Mate as a keychain, why not include a nice looking keychain ring (or offer one as an option)?
  • Tile should make a premium version ($99) with GPS and cellular ($5/month).
  • I don't hate the idea of subscription plan, but the benefits are light. How about free replacement unit every 3 years when the warranty runs out?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back