Tile has also been the most popular choice for Apple users when it comes to Bluetooth trackers for many years. But since the arrival of Apple's AirTag, there has been a gradual shift. To the dismay of Tile, who have repeatedly indicated that they are not happy with, among other things, the restrictions that Apple imposes on other companies. Today, Tile is back on the offensive with a range of new Bluetooth trackers that rival the AirTag and other similar trackers. Most interesting is the new Tile Ultra.
Tile Ultra announced: with ultra-wideband and AR
The Tile Ultra is the newest member of the Tile family. This new tracker is expected in the course of 2022 and works with ultra-wideband in addition to Bluetooth. Earlier this year, the plans for an ultra-wideband tracker from Tile already leaked and now it has been announced. Thanks to ultra-wideband, you can find the object to which the tracker is connected more accurately. Tile is also going to use a new AR mode for this. With augmented reality you can see exactly where the object is via the camera of your iPhone. Tile says the Tile Ultra works with ultra-wideband with both iOS and Android.
There are no images of the new Tile Ultra yet. The price and other exact specifications are not yet known. Tile will release the Ultra tracker sometime in 2022.
Renewed Tile Pro, Mate, Sticker and Slim for 2021
As of today, Tile already has the new 2021 versions of the Tile Pro, Mate, Sticker and Slim available. The new Tile Pro has a range of 120 meters and has a new elongated design. According to Tile, it is made for a bunch of keys or on a bag. The design has been adapted accordingly. The new model has a size of 58 x 32 x 7.5mm. The previous model was 42 x 42 x 6.5mm. You can choose between white or black and the Tile Pro still has the loudest speaker. The new Tile Pro costs €34.99.
The most common model, the tile Mate, has also been given a modified design. The new model is still square, but is a bit more rounded and larger. The new Tile Mate measures 37.8 x 37.8 x 7.1mm (from 35 x 35 x 6.2mm) and has an improved range of 76 meters (from 61 meters). The battery now lasts up to 3 years, but strangely enough it is no longer replaceable. That is remarkable, because that is not exactly good for the environment. It is water resistant with IP67 rating. The new Tile Mate costs €24.99.
Finally, there are the Tile Slim and Sticker. The Slim has also been given a range of 76 meters and the dimensions have also been slightly adjusted. The new Slim, which looks like a card and can be put in your wallet, for example, measures 85.5 x 54 x 2.5mm. The previous model was 86 x 54 x 2.4mm. The new version is only available in black and costs €34.99. The Tile Sticker has also been given the improved range of 76 meters. The non-replaceable battery now lasts three years and the design has also been slightly modified. The new version costs €29.99.
Improved search network with QR code
Tile also has some innovations in store on the software side. The Lost & Found network gets an update and also works with QR codes. On the back of every new tracker is a QR code that the finder can scan. That way, the finder can contact the original owner. Apple itself has a similar function on the AirTag, although it uses NFC. The advantage of the QR code is that it is slightly more accessible and also works with older smartphones without an NFC chip.
In addition, Tile will take steps to combat stalking. With the Scan & Secure feature allows anyone with the Tile app to scan their environment to see if there is a Tile nearby undetected. This prevents someone else from putting a Tile in your bag or car, for example. But you have to remember that you scan this yourself. With the AirTag you will automatically receive a notification if an AirTag from another owner moves with you.
The biggest flaw is that the new Tiles don't work with Apple's Find My network. This is partly due to a limitation from Apple. A tracker that connects to the Find My network can no longer work with the manufacturer's own search network. Chipolo has therefore released a separate version of its tracker that works exclusively with the Find My network. We tested the Chipolo One Spot earlier this year.