# Android Tiles opposed to Apple Air Tags: A primer for a first-time user **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2024, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004 "2024-01-12T12:39:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/21 "2024-01-13T06:56:04Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve wondered if i could affix a “tile” to it [Tile Slim 1-pack with adhesive 2-pack](https://www.tile.com/en-us/blog/find-my-kindle) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/22 "2024-01-13T12:32:53Z")
I wondered if anyone had actually used it and can describe how well it works (or doesn’t). ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/23 "2024-01-13T13:09:30Z")
> [@zbuzz](#): > > As mentioned, Tile doesn’t work with the Find My network, but Apple has opened the network up to third parties. As an example, the [Chipolo ONE Spot and Chipolo CARD Spot](https://chipolo.net/en-us/products/category/chipolo-spot) do take advantage of the Find My network. It looks like they’re a variant of air tags, meaning they only work on the apple network. Is there any tracker that is platform agnostic & works natively with the phone, meaning I don’t need to rely on you downloading some app. IOW, is there a tracker that an Android user could buy that works with apple’s findmy or an airtag variant that would ‘phone home’ if the only guy walking thru that lost luggage warehouse had an Android phone (& no special app downloaded)? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/24 "2024-01-13T13:34:14Z")
I would not count on Android phones participating in the Apple Find My network at all. Also note, as a user, to pair with an Airtag or Airtag variant that uses the Find My network and to use the network to find them you need an Apple ID. Unless you are talking about the _Google_ Find My network, in which case you do not want to buy an _Apple_ Airtag; you are looking at Tiles and similar. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/25 "2024-01-13T14:15:25Z")
If I use a Tile (or other third-party tracker) & you have an iphone (but haven’t downloaded the tile app because air tags are easier as they’re the native apple tracker) & you’re the only one who walks thru said luggage warehouse I’ll never get notified that my suitcase is there, correct? Further, if I want to be Dastardly Dan & steal luggage, I just need to make sure I have an Android phone with no tracker apps on it & then I can store tons of suitcases in my remote warehouse until I get around to going thru your luggage to see if you have any nice clothes or valuables that I want because my phone won’t give away the location of _any_ of the trackers, ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/26 "2024-01-13T18:41:17Z")
Maybe I’m missing something, but I think Amazon tablets have a built in “Find My …” feature. [https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201439790](https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=201439790) ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/27 "2024-01-13T19:04:46Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Is there any tracker that is platform agnostic & works natively with the phone Not that I’m aware of, though I’d love to be proven wrong. Chipolo has three trackers. Theirs, which requires the Chipolo app is a called “ONE”, the one that uses Apple’s network is called “Spot”, and the one that uses the Android network is called “Point”. The Android Point model is not available yet. From Chipolo’s website it looks like they’re waiting for Google to turn on the Android tracking tag network, which is waiting for Google and Apple to finish implementing the cross device anti-stalking features. I don’t have an issue with installing a separate app to handle showing the tracking information, as I have no trust that the Google or Apple “Find My” app will be any better behaved than a third party app. Requiring a separate app for the tracker to phone home is a non-starter for me, because that will greatly limit the number of devices that can report its location. The only reason I see to get Spot over an AirTag is if your prefer the form factor of Spot. They don’t appear to have more features, and are a few dollars more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/28 "2024-01-13T19:18:23Z")
> [@The\_Librarian](#): > > Just saying, in most “normal” scenarios the airtags do nothing except add things to be anxious about Nah. Traveled with them for the first time over Xmas. We had a very tight transfer and the AirTags let me know when we landed that our luggage made the transfer, too. It’s no big deal if it was lost or not; it was just nice knowing that we weren’t just waiting for no reason. If the tags told us the luggage was back in Dallas, we wouldn’t bother waiting and just get on with our lives. We don’t get anxious about lost luggage. Hell, we don’t get anxious about missing connections either, but this gives us some information so we can decide whether we need to wait or whether it’s pointless. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/29 "2024-01-13T20:32:26Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If I use a Tile (or other third-party tracker) & you have an iphone (but haven’t downloaded the tile app because air tags are easier as they’re the native apple tracker) & you’re the only one who walks thru said luggage warehouse I’ll never get notified that my suitcase is there, correct? Well, if you’re using a Tile, that’s correct. (Mostly correct, anyway, because Tile trackers can also use Amazon Sidewalk devices to connect, so if there is an Amazon Echo nearby in the warehouse, that might work.) But if, for example, you’re using a version of the Chipolo Spot which is a third party tracker, then it’s not correct. > [@Spiderman](#): > > Further, if I want to be Dastardly Dan & steal luggage, I just need to make sure I have an Android phone with no tracker apps on it & then I can store tons of suitcases in my remote warehouse until I get around to going thru your luggage to see if you have any nice clothes or valuables that I want because my phone won’t give away the location of _any_ of the trackers, Yeah, but just hope that no one you pass by has the Tile app or Find My or whatever. Apple, for its part, does not promote AirTags as theft prevention devices. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/30 "2024-01-13T21:16:35Z")
> [@markn\_1](#): > > Maybe I’m missing something, but I think Amazon tablets have a built in “Find My …” feature. 1. my kindle is one of the “paperwhite” series, not a table. 2. i routinely leave the wifi off, both to conserve battery life and because that way library books don’t go away until I’m done reading them. So my Kindle is almost never connected to the Internet, and doesn’t have a “find my” function even if i accidentally left the wifi on. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2024, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/31 "2024-01-13T22:59:32Z")
**Banksiaman** explains exactly why I am considering them. Not to prepare to be a Karen. So that I have all possible information in hand. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/32 "2024-01-14T06:56:53Z")
I had a Tile years ago. My stupid phone would force-quit the app, so it didn’t know squat about where it was afterward. “Last seen 11 days ago”, when it had been 30cm away for yonks. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/33 "2024-01-14T21:38:05Z")
I have the android tags, but just in my purse and on my key ring. Fortunately, I can tell them to sing to me ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/34 "2024-01-14T21:57:27Z")
I bought a pair of Android tags from Amazon for Christmas 2022. They did not work with our phones. I cannot say I recall why, but the phones were the problem. Back they went. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2024, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004/35 "2024-01-31T17:46:59Z")
I just had my first incidence of lost luggage with a Tile, and got I experience with all the potential advantages of them. I had a multi-leg trip (Portland → LAX → Seoul → Kathmandu), and during my layover in Seoul, I saw that my bag had pinged in LAX after my flight left, so when I arrived in Kathmandu, I knew my bag wouldn’t be with me. > [@Banksiaman](#): > > …it did allow my family member to establish that it was still on another continent and not just slow out of the chute, so she did not waste another two hours loitering near the baggage return, ‘just in case’. I tried to save some time by reporting my suitcase missing once I got off the plane at my destination. But the counter person insisted I had to wait until all bags were off and the belt stopped, so it didn’t help me. In fairness, the person was really young and I don’t blame them for sticking to the rules. > [@Pork\_Rind](#): > > The story that I’m remembering is that the airline lost a particular suitcase and the owner was able to tell them it was at some unexpected other airport. From that, the airline crew was able to find it and forward it along. The day after I landed, I got a ping that my bag was in Manila. I called the airline, and they had no information where it was, so I told them what my Tile said. They called a couple hours later to say it had been located in Manila. So who knows - maybe my info helped them find it quicker, maybe it was a coincidence. Barring some system-wide meltdown affecting thousands of bags, they usually find things pretty quick anyway. > [@Banksiaman](#): > > After reporting it lost she could spot it when it reached any airport hub for transfer, but checking the airline’s own lost luggage tracker it showed as still missing. She was able to make decisions about whether to wait for it to reappear or to buy complete new sets of underwear and other items. And then which days to plan to work from home when it was due to be delivered. This was the biggest advantage for me. I had peace of mind knowing when it was on its way to Seoul, could calculate when I’d get it, and decide based on that what to do. The airline was giving me very loosey-goosey info during this time: _“Ok, your bag is on the flight now, so you might get it tomorrow.”_ “Really? I’m seeing it still in Manila.” _“Well, I mean it will be on the flight tonight.”_ “But that flight lands too late to get on the flight to Kathmandu .” _“Yeah, that’s true. It will probably take another day.”_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/android-tiles-opposed-to-apple-air-tags-a-primer-for-a-first-time-user/996004.md?page=1)