Apple Find My vs. Google Find My Device: There's a Clear Winner So Far
How do the methods of locating devices differ between Apple's Find My network and Google's Find My Device?
Apple's Find My network and Google's Find My Device both use encrypted, crowdsourced networks to help find lost items. However, they differ in several ways. Apple's Find My network only needs a single iPhone or iOS device connected to the internet to pass by to locate a lost item1. In contrast, Google's Find My Device requires multiple Android devices to pass by to detect an item's location by default1. Apple's AirTags use both Bluetooth and ultra wideband, providing precise location and distance indicators, while Google's Find My Device trackers currently only support Bluetooth. Moreover, Apple's AirTags have separation alerts, notifying users when an item is left behind outside of Bluetooth range.
What are the main technological differences between Apple's AirTags and Google's supported Chipolo One Point tracker?
Apple's AirTags utilize both Bluetooth and ultra-wideband technology, providing more precise location tracking and separation alerts. They are designed to work exclusively with Apple's Find My network, which has over a billion devices. On the other hand, Chipolo One Point trackers rely solely on Bluetooth and are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. They can be used with Google's Find My Device network, which is still expanding its capabilities. While both trackers have similar functions, AirTags offer more advanced features and a larger network for locating lost items.
What specific features do both Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Device networks offer to help locate lost items?
Both Apple's Find My and Google's Find My Device networks offer several features to help locate lost items. These include showing the item's current and last known locations on a map, playing a sound to find the item if it's nearby, and sharing the item's location with friends. Apple's Find My network uses both Bluetooth and ultra-wideband technology for more precise location tracking, while Google's Find My Device network currently only supports Bluetooth. Additionally, Apple's network only requires one iOS device to pass by to locate a lost item, while Google's network requires multiple Android devices by default, but this setting can be changed in the app.