If you’re someone who tends to lose things a lot, then you might be interested in a product such as the Tile Pro or Tile Mate.
Both are the latest iteration of Bluetooth trackers from Tile. I’ve been using both for a few weeks now and even though they may be small, they still have a lot to offer.
Design & Hardware
The Tile Mate is the cheaper of the two and comes with a white/gray exterior and a hole that allows you to attach to items such as your keys, backpack etc. The Tile Mate has a 150ft/45m range, built-in speaker and user replaceable CR1632 coin battery.
The Tile Pro has a more rugged design that’s more grippy and a Jet Black/Graphite exterior. It has a 300 ft/91m range and the speaker is 50% louder than previous Pro models and the Tile Mate. Just like the Tile Mate, the Tile Pro has a user replaceable CR2032 coin battery.
On both devices, when you double press the Tile logo, it’ll allow to your make it ring your phone when in range.
Tile says that both the Tile Mate and Tile Pro will last about a year before you need to change the battery.
The Tile Mate is available now for $29.99 CAD and the Tile Pro for $39.99 CAD at a number of retailers such as Tile.com, Amazon, Best Buy, Staples and more. You can also get the Tile Mate and Tile Pro is multi-packs.
Software
To locate items you’ve attached your Tile to, you’ll need to download the Tile app on your Android or iOS device. From there, you’ll be asked to pair your Tiles to your phone, so your items can be located.
The pairing process is fairly easy and when pair one, you’ll be able to choose the type of item you’ve attached your Tile. The app also allows you to choose which ringtone your Tile will play when trying to locate it.
You’ll also be able to see location history for your Tile as well as share a Tile to allow another user to see your Tile in their app, ring it and find it on a map.
The Tile Mate and Tile Pro also integrate with Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri, meaning you can say things like “Hey Googe, ask Tile to find my backpack” and then it’ll start ringing Tile associated with your backpack.
Tile also offers something called Tile Premium which costs $34.99 CAD annually or $3.39 annually. With Tile Premium, you get free battery replacements annually for an unlimited number of Tiles in your account, Smart Alerts which notify you when you leave your Tile behind, Unlimited Sharing, 30-day location history, extended warranty for full three years and Premium Customer Care.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I really liked using the Tile Mate and Tile Pro, it put my mind at ease, in the event I ever forget something and can easily find it. Personally, I would splurge for the Tile Pro because it offers a bigger range and the speaker is much louder than the Tile Mate.
Pros
- Slim profile and compact design
- User-replaceable batteries
- Tile Pro speaker is loud
- Strong Bluetooth connectivity
- Easy to use app
- Compatible with Google Assistant, Alexa and Siri
Cons
- Tile Premium doesn’t seem worth it
