Key Takeaways
- Smartphone item trackers use Bluetooth and UWB technology: Bluetooth for range and UWB for precision tracking indoors where range is limited.
- Bluetooth tracks items globally by pinging, while UWB offers centimetre-level accuracy but has a shorter range and consumes more power.
- GPS trackers are available but have poor battery life. For indoor tracking, UWB is accurate but has limited range, making it best suited for the home or office.
Smartphone-connected item trackers are becoming increasingly popular, and it’s no wonder why. It’s easy to lose your keys, much less something as expensive and irreplaceable as your passport. At the moment, there are several brands to choose from, from Apple, Tile, Motorola, and Samsung to a variety of smaller companies. Whatever phone you have, there’s sure to be a compatible tracker out there.
If you’re considering buying a tracker, you’ve probably heard of two wireless formats: Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB). Some trackers offer only Bluetooth, while others offer both. But what’s the difference between these standards when it comes to tracking, and why is UWB important?
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How Bluetooth tracking works
When paired with your phone and placed outdoors, a Bluetooth tracker will emit an occasional “ping”, usually using Bluetooth Low Energy (aka Bluetooth LE). It’s important that the output is minimal, otherwise you could end up having to change the battery every few months (if not weeks) instead of every year.
While each ping contains signature data, Bluetooth trackers rely on anonymous information sent to strangers’ phones (and sometimes other devices) on the same tracking network. For example, Apple AirTags can be detected by nearby iPhones and iPads with Bluetooth turned on, and this data is passed to the Apple Find My network so the AirTag’s location can be determined. Google’s Android operating system has an equivalent network called Find My Device, which a growing number of trackers support. Some trackers may use a separate multi-platform network.
The advantage of Bluetooth is that it doesn’t use as much power as GPS and can track items anywhere in the world. The disadvantage, however, is that it is less accurate and the tracker can only be seen by nearby devices in a linked network. At best, the tracker can be within 200-800 feet (60-240 meters). If you drop your Bluetooth tag while hiking through the woods, it could take days or weeks for it to come back online (or it might never come back).
How UWB tracking works
UWB solves Bluetooth’s short-range problem. When a UWB-enabled tracker sends out a signal, your phone records the signal with centimeter-level accuracy and can determine which couch cushion the tracker is under. It also has vertical tracking capabilities, so it knows whether you need to go up a floor or down a floor, for example.
UWB has several limitations, the biggest being range. UWB can theoretically operate up to 200 meters (about 656 feet), but is more realistically capped at 50 meters (164 feet). You can use UWB to pinpoint an item in your home, but if it’s across the street or in your driveway, it might be out of range. In fact, UWB data can’t even be easily picked up by a tracking network. UWB needs to be actively triggered, so once you’re roughly located in the vicinity by Bluetooth tracking, it’s only a way to get the job done.
At least part of the reason for limiting UWB usage is power consumption: trackers tend to drain their batteries faster in active mode, so using UWB for a minute isn’t a big deal, but using it for 30 minutes is undesirable, much less 24 hours.
Finally, there’s the issue of compatibility: UWB isn’t available on all phones, and the technology isn’t included by default on all trackers. You’ll need to check the specs to see if it’s available; if not, you’ll fall back on Bluetooth.
Bluetooth vs. UWB: Which is better?
As you can see, neither is “better” for tracking, and they are used for specific purposes only. Bluetooth LE offers a longer range and lower power consumption, making it suitable for a global tracking network. If UWB is available, you can hand off to UWB to solve the task of finding something in your home or office.
GPS trackers are an alternative, but they come with their own issues: they can track anywhere within satellite range, but they have a much shorter battery life and don’t offer the accuracy of UWB. You’ll also probably pay a subscription fee, so they’re only worth buying if you’re buying a big-ticket item like a car. If you plan to stay in the city or suburbs, you’re better off buying a Bluetooth tracker.
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