Why You Should Pick a Chipolo One Point Tracker Over Apple's AirTag

I've lost my keys, forgetting I tossed them between the cushions of my couch -- and my wallet -- still in the back pocket of the pants I threw into my hamper.I have the singular skill of misplacing small, important things. Thanks to Bluetooth trackers, however, I don't really lose anything anymore. Or if I do, I can easily find it.

The One Point ($28), which Chipolo released earlier this year, is a Bluetooth tracker that uses Google's relatively new crowdsourced Find My Device network of over 1 billion Android devices to help you easily find your tagged keys, wallet, luggage, backpack, car and other items you might lose track of. You can get a three-tracker bundle for 15% off the price of buying two key fobs and one card separately.

Taking advantage of Google's tracking network means besides using your own phone to locate the One Point -- with the Find My Device app -- you can tap into all the other Android devices around you, from friends and strangers alike (completely privately), to better track your item, no matter where it is or how far from the item you are. 

For more, why you shouldn't put an AirTag on a pet and five unexpected placed to use a tracker.

How does the Chipolo One Point tracker work?

The tiny plastic tracker, which weighs relatively nothing, is about an inch and a half in diameter, roughly the size of those old Eisenhower dollar coins (I'm showing my age). Unlike the Apple AirTag, the One Point also has a built-in key ring hole, so you don't need to buy an accessory to clip the tracker to your item -- all you need is a key ring.

This is the Chipolo One Point tracker on my keychain.

Nelson Aguilar/CNET

Once your One Point is connected to your phone, you can check the location of your tracked item with Google's Find My Device app. You can easily see where the tracker is on a map, and your distance from it. If you can't find the tracker with your eyes, you can always force it to make a pretty loud sound (120db), so that you can easily hear where it is, even if it's under a pile of clothing.

The battery life is about a year, but you can easily open the tracker (there's a tiny hole on the side) to replace the CR2032 battery. You can buy a 10-pack of CR2032 batteries for under $6, and apparently that should last you a decade.

And if you're placing your tracker on something shared, like a large piece of check-in luggage for you and your family, you can share the information with a loved one so that you can both keep an eye on the tracker from separate Android devices.

Why should you get the Chipolo One Point over the AirTag?

There's really only one reason why you should get the Chipolo One Point tracker, and that's if you own an Android device. The Chipolo One Point is made specifically for Android phones and tablets and works with Google's Find My Device app. If you own an Android, you definitely don't want an AirTag, mainly because there's no way to connect an AirTag to an Android device. 

If you've got both an Apple and Android device, there are also a few other reasons to choose the Chipolo One over an AirTag:

• The Chipolo One is cheaper than the AirTag. Only by a dollar, but still.
• The Chipolo One has a built-in key ring hole. The AirTag doesn't have a key ring hole, so you'll need to buy an accessory, which ends up making the AirTag a more expensive purchase.
• There is a card version of the Chipolo. The Card Point is a card tracker that's specifically designed for your wallet. There is no AirTag card tracker at the moment.

If you're on Android, you can't use an AirTag anyway.

Nelson Aguilar/CNET

How to setup your Chipolo One Point tracker

Right out of the box, all you need to do is press in your Chipolo One Point (you'll hear a pretty loud sound come from the tiny device) and then place the tracker next to your phone. Your Android device will automatically detect the tracker, as long as you have the Find My Device app downloaded.

The pop-up on your screen will walk you through all the instructions for setup, which includes linking the device to your email account, agreeing to be part of Google's Find My Device network and enabling recent locations for offline devices.

If you don't have the Google Find My Device app, download it here.

Screenshots by Nelson Aguilar/CNET

All in all, the setup takes under a minute. And then you can keep track of your item from the comfort of your phone. 

Just don't lose your phone.

While you're here, check out AirTag vs. Tile and SmartTag and Apple and Google both have ways to find your lost devices, but here's the winner.