In a world dominated by lightning-fast technology, spending ages searching down the back of the sofa for that very technology can be frustrating. None of us is immune to misplacing phones, keys and passports. Luckily, the best Bluetooth trackers, from Tile trackers to Apple Airtags, can locate misplaced fobs, wallets, luggage and backpacks, while pet GPS trackers can trace our wayward pets.
“Bluetooth trackers allow you to track the location of devices you care about,” explains Cecilia Mascolo, professor of mobile systems in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the University of Cambridge. “There are two uses; to locate objects that belong to you in your vicinity (lost keys, for example) and to find things you have lost further away (such as luggage).”
In both cases, the tracker’s location will be shown on on a map on your smartphone. If it’s very close, you’ll be able to make the tracker beep or ring, enabling you to find the lost object. For this reason, trackers can useful for those of us with memory issues.
There are a number of Bluetooth trackers on the market, from small keyrings for your car keys to tiny tags for pet collars and even stickers that adhere to remote controls. You can get tags for your luggage or handbags and slender cards that fit in a wallet or inside a passport holder. I’ve tested a number of them to see how they fare. You can read my full reviews below but if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five:
The best Bluetooth trackers of 2024, at a glance
How far can a Bluetooth tracker go?
Trackers emit a Bluetooth signal, similar to your headphones, which will reach from kitchen to bedroom but not much further. “Bluetooth trackers work very well when linked devices such as your phone are within 100 metres,” Professor Mascolo says. Locating tags further afield requires additional technology.
“[To locate them at greater distances] Bluetooth trackers leverage the network of devices of other people, for example iPhones,” Prof Mascolo says. Essentially, the tracker reveals its position via Bluetooth to other people’s phones, so will work anywhere in the world where there are people with those devices. The more devices, the more accurate the tracking.
By contrast, GPS trackers rely on a satellite signal instead of other people’s phones, so should theoretically work from anywhere in the world, as long as they have a signal.
Privacy is an important concern with Bluetooth trackers. Read the FAQ section at the bottom of this article to learn about the anti-stalking technology which is now built into the best trackers.