Tired of losing your stuff? Don't miss Amazon's one-day-only sale on Tile's new trackers
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Ever misplaced your keys? How about your phone? Wallet? The TV remote? The scourge of lost stuff is very real and very maddening, which is why I'm a longtime fan of Tile trackers. (In fact, they already earned a spot on my roundup of the best tech gifts for 2021.) These little electronic tethers can help you locate commonly misplaced items, both at home and out in the world.
Earlier this year, the company refreshed its lineup with four upgraded models — and for a limited time all Tile 2022 trackers are on sale. Prices start at $19, with discounts as high as 24 percent.
For anyone unfamiliar with the devices, they work like this: You pair the tracker with your phone, effectively creating a wireless link between the two. If you want to locate the Tile (which might be on your keyring, in your purse, etc.), you just tap a button in the Tile app. Assuming the tracker is in range, it'll chime loudly.
But it works the other way, too (unlike Apple's AirTags): If you've misplaced your phone, you can double-press the Tile button and it'll make your phone ring — even if it's set to "silent." For anyone who's constantly forgetting where they set the phone down in the house, this is invaluable. (You can also ask Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri to locate any Tile-connected item.)
As for range, Tile estimates anywhere from 250 to 400 feet, depending on which tracker you have. (The Tile Pro is the range champ.) For what it's worth, my real-world experiences don't match up with those estimates, but I've still found Tiles to be incredibly useful.
What's more, if you've lost something out in the world, you can leverage the network of fellow Tile users to help track it down. While this isn't nearly as expansive as the Apple AirTags network (which consists of basically every iPhone user), it certainly increases the odds of recovery.
The Tile Mate, Tile Slim and Tile Sticker all have non-replaceable batteries, but they're good for up to three years. The Tile Pro's battery can be replaced, but you'll need to do that annually. Decisions, decisions.
You really can't go wrong with any of them (especially as gifts), but my pick is the Pro for $27 (save $8).
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