Tracker really helps you find your suitcase: g1 tested 3 models

[ad_1]

Evaluation with devices from Eufy, Geonav and Samsung shows that it is difficult to not know where your suitcase is at the airport, but features only work for those with an iPhone or Galaxy. Shopping Guide: tracker test Veronica Medeiros/g1 The tracker helps reduce one of the biggest fears on a plane trip: that of the airline losing or forgetting your bags somewhere. With it, you can monitor your luggage at all times via your cell phone, from the check-in conveyor belt to the final destination. The product can also be used to locate other things – it can be placed on a pet’s collar, on a house keychain or even in a wallet – and never lose objects there again. These are items little larger than a R$1 coin. But there’s a catch: they only work with Apple or Samsung cell phones. ✅Click here to follow the g1 Shopping Guide channel on WhatsApp The Shopping Guide evaluated three tracker models launched in 2023. They are: Eufy SmartTrack Link Geonav MyFinder Card Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 They use a network of several connected phones to help to track the object that needs to be located. How it works? Connecting anonymously to nearby cell phones to identify where you are. Two of them – Eufy and Geonav – only work with iPhone. Samsung’s is for use only with the brand’s devices. Apple has a similar product, the AirTag, launched in 2021 – read the test. See the results of the evaluation below and, at the end, the conclusion. Eufy SmartTrack Link The Eufy SmartTrack Link is a tracker that works in the same way as Apple’s AirTag (see the test), but is cheaper. At the end of January, the Eufy model cost around R$250 in the online stores consulted. For comparison, Apple’s cost R$370. It is a product with a square design, with rounded edges and support to attach the item to other objects. The manufacturer did not provide the measurements and weight. Eufy SmartTrack Link Henrique Martin/g1 Its battery lasts 1 year, according to the manufacturer, and can be easily replaced. The Eufy tracker is compatible with Apple’s Search (“Find My”) network – as is the Geonav MyFinder Card. This means these devices have been certified to use Apple’s network of cell phones, tablets and notebooks to anonymously locate items like SmartTrack Link. Every iPhone nearby can identify that the tag is there. To activate, simply open the Search app on your iPhone and add it to Items. Then, you just need to give the device a name and it will appear in the list, along with its location. In Search, you can activate Lost mode. This feature should only be activated if the item is actually lost or out of reach. It blocks the tag from pairing with other Apple accounts and shows a message on the nearby iPhone of anyone who finds the item. The Eufy tracker also has a QR Code with the message – in English – “if found, scan the code” to help with recovery. During testing, the Search app always showed where the luggage was. The tracker was placed in a checked bag. As with Geonav’s MyFinder Card and the AirTag itself, it is possible to choose the type of street view – standard map or satellite view. Search, from Apple, on the left, and Eufy Security, on the right: similar functions in the tracker Reproduction The manufacturer also has an additional app (Eufy Security) that brings an extra feature: configuring the tracker to locate the phone – two taps on the button device, and a few seconds later, your iPhone starts playing an alert. Neither the Geonav model nor Apple’s AirTag can do this. Geonav MyFinder Card The Geonav MyFinder Card is also a tracker that works in the same way as the Eufy SmartTrack Link, using Apple’s Search network to locate the item. The product, the cheapest in the test, cost R$230 in the online stores researched in January. Its big difference from the Eufy tracker is in the design: it is the size of a credit card. Geonav MyFinder Card Henrique Martin/g1 It weighs 189 grams and measures 86 x 54 mm, and can be worn in a wallet or placed in suitcases and backpacks. But it doesn’t have a hole to attach a strap or chain. The MyFinder Card battery lasts, according to the manufacturer, up to three years – the longest time among the three devices evaluated. But, unlike competitors in the test, the card format does not allow the battery to be changed. The card cannot even be opened by the consumer to carry out this procedure. Its operation is similar to the Eufy product: it uses Apple’s Search network. Its configuration and features are the same as those integrated into the iPhone manufacturer’s application. During testing, at first the MyFinder Card worked correctly: it indicated the location of the item on the map. The problem? The item was placed in the wallet throughout the trip – which was in the back pocket of the pants. As the MyFinder Card has a button on the top, sitting down pressed this button, which caused the device to begin the reconfiguration process on its own as a new piece of equipment. And this is demonstrated with several whistles that don’t stop. As a result, the tracker lost its configuration with the iPhone that was paired. Geonav tracker was found in two locations, but was “stuck” in San Jose Reproduction At the end of the tests, the device “returned” to Brazil along with the wallet, but in theory it is still in a hotel in California. The Geonav model does not require the use of an additional app, as does the Eufy tracker. Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 is the latest version of the tracker (see original SmartTag test) – which uses Samsung’s smartphone network to help find your lost object. But to be able to use one of them you need to have a cell phone from the brand itself. The device does not work with iOS or other Android smartphones. In online stores, the tracker was sold for R$260 at the end of January, the most expensive among the test products. The main change compared to the first generation of the product is the design. A square shape comes out and a more elongated one comes in, with a large hole to attach a chain or keychain. The device weighs 13.7 grams and measures 28.8 x 52.4 x 8 millimeters (width x height x depth). Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 Henrique Martin/g1 All configuration is done using the SmartThings app, which serves as a hub for connected products from Samsung and other brands. SmartThings indicates the battery level, which can be changed. Samsung claims that the battery lasts up to 500 days (almost 1 and a half years) in normal mode. If power saving mode is activated, it can last almost 2 years. In any case, it is still less time than the estimated 3 years of the Geonav tracker. The tracker is installed via the SmartThings app. It’s simple and similar to the Geonav and Eufy models. The multifunctional button can be programmed to control the smart home, such as turning smart lamps on and off, or sending notifications, for example. It also locates the phone if necessary. The Galaxy SmartTag2 was placed in a backpack for testing and carried on board. It worked properly, but gave the same impression as the brand’s first model – locating takes a little longer than trackers compatible with Apple’s Search network. But this may have to do with there being more iPhones than Galaxy phones nearby during tracking. SmartThings: app shows the tag’s location history and how to locate the item Reproduction A difference is the Compass View feature, which allows you to use augmented reality to find the lost object more easily. But this functionality is only valid for those who have some of the brand’s more expensive devices, such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra or the foldable Galaxy Z Fold5. As the test was carried out with the tracker connected to a Galaxy Z Flip4, it was not possible to evaluate the feature. Conclusion HOW THE TESTS WERE DONE: The three trackers have been used since December in a backpack in São Paulo. In mid-January, the products went to the United States: the Eufy one was in a checked bag, the Geonav one was in the wallet, and the Samsung one was in a backpack. The trackers were chosen because they were launched in 2023 and are the most recent options available in online stores. The Apple AirTag, which performs the same function as items from Eufy and Geonav, was tested in 2023. All trackers were sent on loan and will be returned. EASIER: The Eufy and Geonav models are the simplest and most user-friendly to configure, due to integration with Apple’s Search app. Configuration is quick and its features are easily accessible to anyone. MORE VERSATILE: The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 can be used as a remote control for smart home items, which is an advantage compared to the two competitors. BEST VALUE: Eufy’s model is a little more expensive than Geonav’s, but its format and additional features make the product the best option in terms of cost/benefit ratio among the trackers evaluated. CAN I CHANGE THE BATTERY? Yes, in Samsung and Eufy models, which use CR2032 type batteries, the one with a “coin” shape. When the app (SmartThings or Buscar) indicates low power, simply remove the product lid and change the battery. The Geonav model uses an internal battery that cannot be replaced, but which the manufacturer says will last up to 3 years. After that, you need to send the device for recycling. And who doesn’t have a Galaxy or iPhone? The Shopping Guide test was carried out only with these three products that only work with Galaxy or iPhone. But there are models from other brands – such as TileMate – that work in a similar, but more limited way to locate items. It is also possible to opt for Bluetooth trackers that do not use these anonymous cell phone networks, but are limited to the range close to the cell phone, with Geonav MyFinder (see test). *Contributed by Victor Hugo Silva This report was produced with total editorial independence by our team of specialized journalists and collaborators. If the reader chooses to purchase a product from the links provided, Globo will be able to earn revenue through commercial partnerships. We clarify that Globo does not have any control or responsibility regarding the eventual purchasing experience, even through the links provided. Questions or complaints regarding the product purchased and/or the purchase, payment and delivery process must be directed directly to the responsible retailer.

[ad_2]

Source link