Since 2021, you can use smart tags such as Apple AirTag or Galaxy SmartTag to find lost, stolen, or misplaced items. But is a smart tag a suitable alternative for the GPS tracker when it comes to searching for your cat?

What can the smart tag do?

A smart tag is a small tracker that helps you locate missing items with the corresponding app. Smartphone owners can easily attach it to keys, handbags, wallets, and other small items that might get lost.

However, the smart tag only works when other smartphones of the same brand are nearby (iPhone users for Apple AirTag, Samsung users for Galaxy SmartTag). A smart tag is thus a suitable tool, for example, in a busy downtown cafe to retrieve lost keys or locate misplaced items in the house when other smartphone users are nearby. However, in the woods or countryside, a smart tag is not the best option for finding cats when they are out and about.

Differences in technology (Bluetooth/GPS)

A smart tag uses Bluetooth technology to find missing items. Bluetooth technology can help you determine the location of an item if it is within Bluetooth signal range, which is usually about 60 meters. Trackers based on Bluetooth cannot be operated as standalone devices. They depend on the Bluetooth devices they can connect to and how strong the Bluetooth signal is between the device and the smart tag.

GPS trackers, on the other hand, operate as standalone devices because they establish a constant connection to the object they are tracking by receiving satellite signals. GPS trackers have an unlimited range and can determine the location of the object anywhere on Earth where GPS signals are available.

Use cases for smart tags

Smart tags are best suited for everyday use in urban areas: they can help you find items such as keys, handbags, or wallets. Since the smart tag needs a Bluetooth connection for location tracking, you can't find items further than 100 meters away. So, you need a network of Apple or Samsung devices transmitting Bluetooth signals to determine the current location of missing items.

Use cases for GPS trackers

GPS trackers can locate objects, people, pets, vehicles, and more, independent of a Bluetooth connection. These devices provide location updates with unlimited range and also work in open, rural areas thanks to satellite transmission. They provide constant connectivity and real-time location information. This makes it easy to track your cats, no matter where they are. Furthermore, with the saved location history, you can track your cat's traveled routes and other activity data in the app.

Conclusion

Smart tags, as well as GPS trackers, serve different purposes. If you want to keep track of personal items like your handbag, laptop, keys, or wallet, a smart tag is the way to go.

However, a GPS tracker is ideal when it comes to locating outdoor cats that are out and about. GPS trackers offer features beyond location tracking and navigation, which gives you maximum peace of mind.

Outlook

The next KADDZ generation KADDZ will be Bluetooth-enabled; this means that future KADDZ collars will be able to locate cats even in places with poor Wi-Fi or GPS reception, such as basements, garages, or attics.