Apple's AirTags utilize ultra wideband (UWB) technology to provide precise location tracking. When within range, the UWB technology allows the AirTag to communicate with a compatible iPhone, offering positional guidance down to a few inches. This enables users to locate their misplaced items more accurately and easily.
The results of locating the trackers at Pier 39 showed that Apple's Find My network located the lost AirTag within 4 minutes and 45 seconds, while Google's Find My Device did not notify the location of the Chipolo tracker even after 30 minutes. However, the Chipolo tracker's loud sound made it easier to find once nearby.
Google's Find My Device network functions in high-traffic areas by utilizing multiple Android devices to detect a lost item's location1. It requires at least one Android device to pass by and detect the item before showing its approximate location to the item's owner. This process helps maintain user privacy by ensuring that multiple people have passed by the lost item, further anonymizing the data.