Keyringer Key Finder

[Bharath Capelle]

Designedto fit perfectly inside your Ekster Key Holder or hook onto any other item, this is the smallest smart key finder out there. It comes with two-way ringing, voice activation, selfie mode, and a built-in LED light ensuring no more scratches on your car or door in the dark.

Early models of key finder were sound-based, and listened for a clap or whistle (or a sequence of same), then beeped for the user to find them. Determining what was a clap or a whistle proved difficult, resulting in poor performance and false alarms. Because of this low quality and unreliability, these early key finders were soon discarded and were unpopular for serious needs.

As electronics became smaller and cheaper, and battery life improved, radio became viable to locate the keys, which were fitted with a small receiver. A separate transmitter is used to activate one or more receivers. All wireless key finders have to "listen" for a searching transmission, resulting in battery replacement at intervals ranging from 3 months to a year. Using a radio signal removes the risk of false alarms.

Some distributors include a cost-effective key-return service that assists in returning the keys should they be lost in a taxi, bus or other public place, provided the customer registered their devices and contact information. The transmitter can also contain information to help return it to its rightful owner.

Peer-to-peer key finders no longer require a separate "base"; they are all functionally identical and based on a communication system wherein each device can find all the others individually. The user can, for example, use a digital wallet to find misplaced keys and vice versa, or a mobile phone to find a lost TV remote control or eyeglasses. In addition, since the keyfinders have their own transmitters, they can reply to each other by radio as well as by beeping and flashing a light to attract attention. The seeking unit can then follow this beacon to find even a buried set of keys. Having a transmitter in each unit also means that, unlike second generation units, losing a single transmitter does not result in total loss of the ability to find other items it tracks.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons are crucial in the functionality of key finders. These beacons, characterized by their efficient energy usage, emit signals that can be detected by compatible devices, usually smartphones, for location tracking purposes. Key finders with BLE beacon technology primarily aid in locating personal items. The beacon attached to an item like keys emits signals that, when in range, are detected by a smartphone app, indicating the item's location.

BLE beacons transmit signals that are detected by a compatible device, enabling the device to determine the beacon's location. This technology is widely used in key finders, where the beacon is attached to items such as keys or wallets, facilitating their location through a smartphone application.[1]

Tracking devices have been implicated in criminal activity, such as stalking[4] and identifying when properties are empty.[5] Safeguards built in to some tracking devices to notify a person when they are being tracked, are compromised because devices can be turned off once tracking is undertaken sufficiently, can be muffled or hidden out of view, or require an app to notify of illicit tracking, which is not usually in use by a victim.[4]

According to our pros, an AirTag is one of the best luggage trackers out there, but that doesn't mean this gadget isn't a fantastic key finder for iPhone users as well. Our pros love how quick and easy it is to set up an AirTag and how seamless it is to use. We also like that you can track your missing keys or belongings in real-time by using Find My Network and that its expected range is likely up to 800 feet thanks to Bluetooth 5.0, though we haven't yet confirmed this in our Lab.

The only downside is that the design doesn't come with a hole so to be able to get the AirTag around your keychain, you'll need to purchase an additional key ring for the AirTag itself. But thankfully there are several fun colorful options online.

The sleek design and functionality make this key finder our most stylish pick. While most key finders are black or white, testers loved the fun pops of color available online. "Even buried in my purse it's easy to spot!" says one tester. In addition to colorful designs, our pros like that the key locater sends an alert if it gets out of range. Just keep in mind that the range, which is around 100 feet, isn't ideal for anyone that wants to track items that may have been left behind far away, like the office or school.

There are a few other key finders that are water-resistant, but what sets the Cube Pro apart is that it's waterproof and has a replaceable battery. Its design makes it a reliable choice for pets who spend a lot of time outdoors in all sorts of weather. Our pros like that the Cube app will show you the last known location of your missing item and the tracker can also help you find your lost phone. And reviewers love the bonus feature of alerting you, via the disconnect feature, if you get too far from your phone.

While most key finders are designed to attach to a key ring, this key finder has an adhesive so you can attach it to just about any flat surface. Reviewers of the Tile Sticker love that you can stick this on smaller items such as AirPods, remotes and other important items that seem to always get lost. Just keep in mind that the battery is non-replaceable, though should last about three years, according to the brand.

Jamie Ueda is a consumer products expert with over 17 years of experience in areas of product development and manufacturing. She has held leading roles at both mid-size consumer goods companies and one of the most notable and largest apparel brands in the world. Jamie has contributed to several of the GH Institute Labs, including Kitchen Appliances, Media and Tech, Textiles and Home Appliances. In her free time she enjoys cooking, traveling, and working out.

That's a particularly impressive result given who Tile competes against. Apple and Samsung both have key finders, and Google's Find My Device network goes live this month to help users find lost items via their Android phones. (Tile is joining fellow key finder makers Chipolo and Pebblebee in supporting Find My Device.)

We've tested a lot of different key trackers, and we've discovered that some are more deserving of a place at the end of your keychain than others. Here's how the best key finders rank after we've put each one through their paces.

The most recent version of the Tile Pro, the top key finder available from Tile, offers a new look from past editions. Instead of the square design you may have grown used to, the Tile Pro (2022) now looks more like a traditional key fob with a rectangular shape and rounded edges at one end. It's not as stylish as past Tile trackers, but it's still a very capable tracker.

And that's why the Tile Pro remains our pick for the best key finder you can buy. It's got the best range of any key finder we've tested with a good, loud alarm. A two-way find feature helps you locate your phone if you've misplaced it just by pressing the Tile logo twice on the key finder. And the Tile Pro's battery remains easy to replace after about a year of service.

Tile continues to improve the software that accompanies its trackers. Tile has added an anti-theft mode which makes it hard for thieves to scan for Tile's trackers. That increases the odds you'll be able to recover a stolen item. (Anti-theft mode is available for all the Tile devices included in our best key finder rankings.)

If you've got the previous version (the Tile Pro 2020), there's no need to upgrade, as the feature set remains as strong as ever. But if you have an older Tile or are looking for the best key finder around, your search should end with this latest edition of the Tile Pro.

Tile made some great improvements to the latest addition of the Tile Mate, which now performs more reliably than its predecessor. We consistently reached 200 feet when range testing this Bluetooth-based tracker, which is pretty impressive. The Tile Pro is a more fully featured device, but the Tile Mate costs $10 less, making it a great value for bargain hunters.

All Tile trackers work with both Android devices and iPhones, and the Tile Mate costs less than competing products from Samsung and Apple. That's why you should consider this key finder if you want a low-cost device that still delivers solid range and an audible alarm.

Owners of Samsung phones looking for the best key finder should consider the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag alongside the Tile Pro. Like the Tile Pro, the SmartTag fared well in our range testing, as we were able to stay connected to our keys from up to 225 feet away. We can also point to some real-world successes with the SmartTag, as our tester was able to find keys that were left behind using last-seen data from the companion SmartThings app.

There's a unique component to the SmartTag that other key finders don't boast. Because the key finder connects to Samsung's SmartThings app, you can use it to automate some smart home features with a press of the tracker's button. Be aware that this version of the SmartTag doesn't support Ultra Wideband connectivity for more accurate tracking like Apple AirTag does; for that feature, you'll need to pay up for the SmartTag Plus, which costs an extra $10.

SmartTag compatibility is limited to Samsung Galaxy phones running Android 8.0 or later, so if you've got another handset, you want to consider some of the other best key finder options. But Samsung's smart tracker is a perfect companion to devices like the latest Galaxy S models.

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