If you carry an iPhone, an AirTag at $29 (or $99 for four) is the default because it joins the Find My network — the largest anonymous finding network in consumer hardware. If you carry a Samsung Galaxy phone, the SmartTag2 at around $30 wins on the same logic through Samsung's SmartThings Find network. If you want Find My compatibility without Apple's hardware, Chipolo's ONE Spot at roughly $28 does the same job. Battery life, water resistance, and range are real differences, but they're all secondary to network membership, per published specifications as of mid-2026.
This is a comparison of published specifications and network mechanics, not a lost-suitcase field study — the criteria are stated so you can apply them to your own phone and routes.
What did we compare?
Four published attributes: finding network and phone requirement, precision-finding capability, battery type and life, and airline rules for checked bags. The network attribute dominates because of how these devices work: none of them use GPS. They broadcast a secure Bluetooth signal, nearby strangers' phones relay the location to the cloud, and you see it on a map. No nearby phones means no location — which is why network size is the load-bearing spec.
The networks: where each tracker works
Apple's Find My network is the largest, with AirTags reporting through hundreds of millions of iPhones worldwide. Samsung's SmartThings Find is smaller but dense wherever Galaxy phones sell well, and SmartTag2 units don't report through non-Samsung phones. Chipolo's ONE Spot and Pebblebee's trackers join Apple's Find My network, which makes them the cross-platform answer for Android owners who want the biggest network — the trade-off being that Find My–compatible trackers for Android users lack some features native to Apple hardware. Google's Find My Device network, launched for Android in 2024, is the newer third option, with Chipolo and Pebblebee releasing compatible tags.
Precision finding: the honest difference
Apple's AirTag and Samsung's SmartTag2 both support ultra-wideband precision finding — on-screen arrows and distance readings — but only through specific hardware: UWB requires an iPhone 11 or newer on Apple's side, and Samsung's version requires a Galaxy phone with UWB built in. Chipolo's Find My tags work with any phone running the app but guide you by proximity sound and Bluetooth strength, not arrows. In a baggage hall, arrows beat a beeping box; in a hotel-room hunt, any of them will find the bag under a bed.
Related stories: Hard shell vs soft shell checked luggage: what the spec sheets actually settle · 40-liter travel backpacks compared: what the spec sheets say about going one-bag.
Are trackers allowed in checked luggage?
Yes on US carriers: the FAA has stated that tracking tags containing small lithium cells of 0.3 grams or less are permitted in checked bags, which settled the question airlines had answered inconsistently — several major carriers formally confirmed allowed use after the FAA's determination. IATA guidance points the same direction. Outside the US, rules are broadly similar because the battery threshold is an international standard, but a few countries' regulators have issued their own confirmations, so it's worth checking if you're flying an unfamiliar flag carrier.
The comparison table
| Tracker | Approx price | Network | Battery | Precision finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple AirTag | $29 / 4 for $99 | Find My (iPhone needed) | CR2032, ~1 yr, replaceable | Yes, UWB iPhones |
| Samsung SmartTag2 | ~$30 | SmartThings Find (Galaxy needed) | CR2032, up to ~14 mo (low-power mode) | Yes, UWB Galaxies |
| Chipolo ONE Spot | ~$28 | Find My (any phone) | CR2032, ~1 yr, replaceable | No — sound + signal strength |
Who should skip all of them
If your phone is neither an iPhone nor a Samsung Galaxy, check Google's Find My Device–compatible tags before buying anything on this list — a tracker on a network your phone can't reach is a keychain ornament. And if your trips are short and carry-on-only, skip the category entirely: the lost-checked-bag scenario it solves hasn't happened to you yet.
FAQ
Do luggage trackers work without wifi or cell service?
The tag itself needs neither — it broadcasts Bluetooth. The location reaches you when a stranger's connected phone passes within roughly 30–100 meters and relays it, which is why network size matters.
Can an Android user use an AirTag?
Partially: Android phones can detect an unknown AirTag and read its serial via Apple's Tracker Detect app, but can't track one as their own. Find My–compatible tags from Chipolo or Pebblebee are the real Android answer.
How long do tracker batteries last?
Published figures run about a year on a replaceable CR2032 coin cell for AirTag and Chipolo, and up to around 14 months for SmartTag2 in low-power mode.
Will an AirTag work inside a checked suitcase?
Yes — Bluetooth passes through luggage shells well enough, and the FAA permits the small lithium coin cell in checked bags.