Buying guide for Best phone finders
Written by Kyle Harper
Updated March 2023
If you’ve ever broken out into a cold sweat because you couldn’t find your phone — only to locate it under a pillow an hour later after tearing apart your home — it’s time to get a phone finder. This small device makes it much easier to locate a lost phone, providing peace of mind that you will be quickly reunited with it.
Phone finders come in three styles: a credit card-size option that you can carry in a wallet, a sticky-backed tracker you can attach to just about anything (such as a remote control), and a tag or fob you can add to a key ring. Most include a phone app that helps you locate the finder and lets you ring your phone even if it's on silent.
It’s also important to consider the finder’s range. Most trackers will maintain Bluetooth connection within 200 to 250 feet, while some, such as the Tile Pro, may even reach up to 400 feet. Very few options will work if you leave your phone outside of this range, so you may be hard-pressed to locate it without retracing your steps. However, most phone finders won’t set you back too much ($15 to $35 is the standard price range), and having one will always be more helpful than not having one at all.
We researched each phone finder for range, battery life, size, tracking precision and ease of use to find eight models that we think are worth your consideration. The Tile Slim stood out for its convenient size and features as well as long battery life.
Phone finders
The Tile Slim tops our list for its ability to fit anywhere for on-the-go convenience. The design is just a bit thicker than a credit card, so it fits in a wallet or luggage tag or even attaches to the back of your phone. The innovative Tile app, which is available for Apple and Android (and also smart home compatible), makes it incredibly easy to locate the finder, and with its 250-foot range, you’ll have no problem locating your phone using the technology. It’s even water resistant to protect the internal components.
One of the Tile Slim’s most popular features is the QR code on the back. If someone locates your lost item, they simply scan the code to contact you anonymously. The Tile Slim also has an impressive three-year battery life.
The Tile Mate is an excellent choice for a budget-friendly, no-frills device that’s easy to use. Its fob design has a hole to fit on any key ring or backpack ring, and the durable matte finish looks great. This is a good option for any users who are constantly setting their phone down in various places around the house and want the reassurance that they can locate their phone with the double tap of a button.
The Bluetooth pairing is a breeze, and the phone app is easy to navigate, quickly showing you the location of your device. It’s compatible with Android, Apple, and most smart devices, so you can simply ask your smart assistant to find your device.
Not only is this a great finder, but for subscribers of Tile’s Premium program, which can be subscribed to for as little as $2.99 a year, you’ll be reimbursed if you’re unable to find your device because the finder lost connectivity.
A bit larger than a half-dollar coin, the Apple AirTag is the perfect option for anyone who loves the user-friendly Apple ecosystem. During testing, we found that Apple makes it incredibly simple to locate your device with constantly updated directions (for instance, telling you to go forward or turn around) and precision to within a couple feet thanks to the “Find My” network. This network can greatly expand your range as it allows your AirTag to be detected by anyone’s nearby Apple device (on the “Find My” network) via a secure Bluetooth signal sent from your AirTag. We also appreciated that the AirTag alert was loud enough to hear from inside a backpack.
Another key feature we also like is the ability to connect multiple AirTags to your phone. Colored dots tell you the exact location of your keys, wallet and other items. We found this to be a great way to differentiate between two items, such as house keys, that are similar in look and feel.
The slim, compact design makes the Chipolo One a good choice if you don’t want anything too bulky attached to your bag or keys; it also comes in six colors to match your aesthetic. The phone app’s intuitive design makes it easy to pair multiple trackers to a single device. With a range of 200 feet, it sends a notification to your phone if you leave behind an attached item.
One particularly useful feature is the ability to share your device when you’re looking for a lost item. This allows friends and family to know the location of the tracker, so they can help you look for the item as well. It comes with a two-year replaceable battery.
The Cube earned a spot on our list because it makes it incredibly easy to find your phone when you’re near it. While most other finders simply activate the phone’s ringtone, this tracker tag not only makes noise, but it also flashes the flashlight so you can find it in the dark and activates the vibration feature, which is useful for the hearing impaired. It even has an included feature to activate the shutter of your camera from a distance, making it great for budding photographers.
The durable Cube tracker is waterproof and designed to work in cold temperatures. It has a range of about 100 feet, and the replaceable batteries last about a year with an extra one included.
When Tile first came on the market, the company quickly became a go-to choice for everything phone finder, and the Tile Pro is a powerful addition to the series. This is largely thanks to its impressive 400-foot Bluetooth range, a great fit for anyone who works or lives in a large space. It’s also well-built and durable.
One of the Tile Pro’s notable features is the app integration. While most apps only show you where your finder is, the Tile Pro also shows you where the finder has been, so you can determine if it was stolen or you misplaced it.
This device from a trusted brand is a good choice if you need a tracker for an item, such as a tablet or reading glasses case, that doesn’t have a ring or loop to attach the finder to. The Tile securely sticks to almost any plastic surface without falling off, even after years of use. The built-in speaker is loud, so you can locate items even if they’re on the other side of the house.
The water-resistant, durable Tile Sticker is a great choice for pet owners because the small device sticks tight to a tag on your pet’s collar and can be located from up to 250 feet away. This finder has a battery life of up to three years.
Available in green, orange or white, this slim option works as a fob for a keyring, but it can also fit into a wallet. And you don’t have to be a tech wizard to use the easy-to-navigate app.
One notable feature of the Rinex is the app that lets you know when you’ve forgotten the device it’s attached to. It recognizes when you’re leaving something behind more quickly than many other options, a plus for users who are prone to losing items. Press the ring button and the Rinex produces a very loud sound. It offers a 150-foot range, and it features a replaceable battery with a life of up to a year.
FAQ
Q. How often do you have to change the battery on a finder?
A. This depends on the finder itself. Some devices may have longer battery lives lasting for up to three years, but the battery itself may not be able to be replaced, so once it runs out of juice, you will need a full replacement. Many devices that do use replacement batteries typically need a replacement every year. It is important to check that your finder is working at least once every six months so your battery is good to go when you need it.
Q. How do phone finders work?
A. Many finders work by accessing the phone’s GPS coordinates to give you a general area. Some, like the Apple AirTag, use crowdsourcing from other devices to give you a more accurate reading for the location of your device.
Q. What causes my finder to stop working?
A. A finder can stop working for a variety of reasons. Limited data or Wi-Fi can cause issues, but more often than not it’s simply because the finder needs a new battery. Make sure to change the battery about once a year to avoid that issue.
How we tested
After researching a wide variety of products on the market, we found the eight choices discussed above to be the best for a variety of reasons. We tested the Apple AirTag to see how it performed in the following areas.
Ease of use
- Setup: We looked at how easy it was to pair the tracker to a device. We considered how tech savvy the user has to be to set up and use the finder and if there were any issues along the way.
- App usability: We looked at how easy the app is to use, its accuracy and how easy it is to access the settings that most users need for the best possible experience.
Design
- Size and shape: Our testers noted the size of the device and how that impacts its functionality to see if it would be right for most users.
- Durability: We tested how well the product would last with daily use and if it could withstand various temperatures and short drops.
Accuracy
- Phone tracking: We determined how well the device pinpointed the location of a misplaced item that’s far away or close by and whether it moved accurately if someone was carrying it.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi range: We evaluated the distance a user could be from the device while still maintaining the accuracy of the finder itself.
