After several delays, Google’s Find My Device network is finally up and running, officially introducing smart tags to the ecosystem. While it’s not the first network aimed at helping Android users find their lost devices, it’s the only one that works without installing any additional apps or using a specific brand of phone or tracker.
Chipolo, a Google veteran, was one of the first to join the network, designing smart tags for his own network and then adding a line to Apple’s Find My network. Now that we finally have something for Google, how does it live up to expectations?
Chipolo one point
The Chipolo One Point is a small Bluetooth smart tag that is compatible with the Google Find My Device network. It’s very small and lightweight, making it perfect for hanging from a zipper or slipping into a bag. If it’s lost, any Android device nearby will report its location to the network, so it’s easy to find.
- Very quick setup
- High quality speaker and good range sensing
- Standard replaceable battery
- No subscription bullshit
- aesthetically boring
- No Ultra Wideband (UWB)
- Water resistant IPX5 only
Price and availability
At the time of writing this review, Chipolo is still in the process of shipping pre-orders placed through the company’s website. You can join the pre-order there or wait for Chipolo to finish filling these orders, at which point they will be available from Amazon. Be sure to double-check the product you’re purchasing because Chipolo has three different product lines, and only the “Point” models are compatible with Google’s network.
The price for a single ONE Point card is $28 plus shipping, but there is a discount and free shipping for ordering a pack of 4 or a set with a card and 2 ONE trackers. Currently, Point trackers are only available in off-white.
to set
- material
- Plastic
- Connection
- Bluetooth LE
- battery
- User replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery lasts up to 1 year
- ranges
- Up to 60 meters (200 feet)
- Water resistant
- IPX5
What’s good about Chipolo One Point?
Huge network of Android users
Despite some bumps in the road, Apple saw early and rapid success with AirTags. There were good reasons for that, but the biggest advantage came from the sheer number of people using iPhones. Any lost tags were likely to be within range of an iPhone soon, making them easy to locate through Apple’s Find My network.
Things haven’t been so good for Android users. Most tags require a dedicated app to be installed, and users only get locations when someone else using the same app comes near a tag. And since none of them are ubiquitous, remote tracking has been difficult. Samsung has solved this problem to some extent with the Galaxy SmartTags by automatically making all of its devices part of the network; however, it requires a Samsung phone to work with the tags.
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Google’s Find My Device network avoids both of these limitations. Any device that’s compatible and part of the network (except for devices that opt out) is included as long as it’s running Android 9 or higher and has Google Play services. In fact, some Google Nest devices also detect tags. There are problems, but more on that later.
I have a theory that many smart tags will be purchased and installed in crowded places like airports and train stations as a last-minute precaution to track luggage, so minimal friction is vital. Fortunately for Google, setup is super quick and easy. All you have to do is unlock your phone and press the tag button to start the process. Click through a few instructions and you’re done in about thirty seconds.
The software experience is basic but in a good way. Once you pair a tag with your Google account, it shows up in the Find My Devices app like any other phone or tablet. However, while the Find My Device network rolled out at the end of May, it hasn’t rolled out to all phones yet. Phones are registered automatically, however, if they have the lock screen and location enabled. Tags can be given custom names and categories and shared with others. Like any other device, you can remotely activate a speaker to play a loud noise or mark it as lost with a message and contact details to help with its return. If you’re in Bluetooth range, you can also get semi-helpful proximity hints – although these are just hot/cold indicators.
The Chipolo ONE Point battery life is expected to be about a year, though this depends on usage. When the battery runs low, you can pop off the cover to reveal a standard CR2032 battery, just like the type used in many mechanical watches, key chains, and garage door openers. There’s no need to track down a charger or send it in for a battery replacement.
What’s bad about Chipolo One Point?
Remote tracking needs help
As Taylor learned from the Pebblebee for Android tag, Google’s network isn’t as useful as it could be for remote tracking unless conditions are nearly perfect. This is a side effect of Google’s default setting, which relies on multiple devices coming within range of the tag before it can determine location data. Unfortunately, these default settings aren’t robust enough to be very useful, so it can take hours or days before you can get the location of a lost tag unless you’re in a fairly crowded area.
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Google’s new item tracking system hasn’t launched yet.
If you lose your bag at the airport or it’s sitting under a seat at an amusement park, that won’t be a problem. However, you might be waiting a really long time to find something you accidentally left on a hiking trail or even at a friend’s house. This can mean the tag won’t be very useful unless you actually know where to look or if the item is still in your house—anywhere you can go within Bluetooth range for proximity sensing and audio alerts.
While long-distance tracking needs improvement, short-distance tracking may also need some help. Ultra-wideband (UWB) radios will significantly improve the proximity feature in the Find My Device app, allowing it to point in the direction of a tag and provide greater accuracy in range estimates.
AirTags already support UWB, so we have a perfect example of what this technology can do. It’s true that not all phones support UWB, but that will change over time. I’m sure there are UWB models coming, but it seems like a missed opportunity not to start using it right away.
The Chipolo may be simple in design, but it’s also pretty boring in plain white with a barely visible logo on one side. I guess that makes it a blank canvas for posters.
The lack of pre-packaged accessories contributes to the simple look, and given the wide selection of rings and mounts available, it’s clear that AirTags excel in this area.
Should you buy it?
Google’s Find My Devices network doesn’t work quite as well as we all hoped. It can get the job done, but perhaps not as quickly or reliably. But that would also be a problem for all the trackers on Google’s network, so I don’t think Chipolo is shouldering that burden. It’s still the largest Android network, and things might get better once Google develops a more aggressive location tracking strategy, but who knows how long that might take?
If you focus solely on the smart tag, it’s hard to find many flaws. It’s simple and works as expected, and the user-replaceable battery is a plus. I’m disappointed that Chipolo didn’t support UWB from the start and that the tags aren’t multi-network like the Pebblebee, but I’m not sure if any of these tags are quite as practical. Overall, I think they’re good tags, but if you’re not in a rush to get some, I can’t help but wonder if future tags will come along soon enough with solutions to some of these issues.
Chipolo one point
The Chipolo One Point is a small Bluetooth smart tag that is compatible with the Google Find My Device network. It’s super small and lightweight, making it perfect for hanging from a zipper or slipping into a bag. If it’s lost, any nearby Android device will report its location to the network, so you can easily find it.
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