pros and cons
- These touch tags can withstand life on key chains and being dropped.
- They feature a USB-C rechargeable battery, so there are no button cells to mess with.
- They work with both iPhone and Android devices.
- The little cover for the USB-C port isn’t attached, so it could become lost.
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Yes, once again, I declare my undying love for the Apple AirTag. Overnight, that little plastic disc has pretty much eliminated the stress of losing things like keys and bags. But if you’re an Android user, you’re not invited to the AirTag party. Thankfully, a host of third-party makers have stepped in to fill the void. And while no tag is quite as good as the AirTag — precision finding that takes you directly to the tag feels like magic — there are still some great alternatives out there.
But there’s one big problem: durability.
Life on a keychain is tough. Keys are hard, sharp, and they get dropped, stepped on, and banged around. While AirTags are relatively robust — partly because they require an additional holder to attach them to keys — a lot of third-party tags aren’t as durable. Sure, they’re probably good enough for the average person, but I’ve had tags crack, break, and even burst apart (a common issue with replaceable-battery tags that snap together).
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That’s why I found the new Finder Pro tags from Ugreen so impressive. These tags have earned the title of “toughest tags I’ve tested.”
Features and design
Before diving into their durability, let’s take a look at the tags themselves. The Finder Pro tags are standard keychain-style tags, but instead of the circular shape most manufacturers use, these are square, measuring 1.25 x 1.25 x 0.6 inches. They’re made of a tough polymer, and there’s a hole in one corner to make attaching them to keys and luggage easy.
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The tags feature a built-in 90 mAh polymer lithium-ion battery that’s rechargeable via a USB-C port on the bottom. The battery has an estimated runtime of a year, so you won’t be using the USB-C port very often.
The USB-C port has a little cover — it can be lost but is not really necessary.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
To keep dirt, moisture, and other pocket grime out of the port, Ugreen has included a small rubber cover. This cover is detachable, so there’s a chance it could get lost, but all of mine have stayed in place. Even if you lose it, it’s not the end of the world — after all, your smartphone’s USB-C port doesn’t come with a cover, and it lives in your pocket or bag just fine.
Sound comparison
The Finder Pro is also louder than an AirTag. Ugreen claims the speaker outputs a sound in the range of 80 to 100 dB, and when I tested it (using a smartphone app for this, which, while not perfectly accurate, is good enough for this kind of test), I got readings around the 90 dB mark. For reference, that’s on par with a power tool or a nearby motorcycle. By comparison, Apple AirTags are around 80 dB, equivalent to the noise level of a vacuum cleaner, heavy traffic, or a busy restaurant.
I ran my usual test of hiding the tag under some sofa cushions, and the Finder Pro was noticeably louder than the AirTag.
A quick note on decibels
It’s worth noting that the decibel (dB) scale is logarithmic, not linear. This means that every 10 dB increase represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity. However, the human ear perceives a 90 dB sound as being about twice as loud as an 80 dB sound. So while the Finder Pro’s 90 dB output may not seem like a huge jump on paper, it’s significantly louder in practice.
Compatibility and range
Like many third-party tags, the Finder Pro works with both the Apple Find My and Google Find My Device networks. However, keep in mind that you can’t connect it to both simultaneously — you have to choose one when setting up the tag.
I tested the range of the tags, and the quoted Bluetooth range of 30 to 65 feet checks out for line of sight and when there’s not much between the tag and the searching smartphone, which is pretty typical for Bluetooth-based finder tags.
Durability testing
Now, let’s talk about durability. To put these tags through their paces, I subjected them to a series of grueling tests. I attached them to a bunch of old keys and tumbled them in the dryer (on cold) for a couple of hours. I tossed them around.
I even drove over them.
Drove over your tag? No problem!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
No problem.
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These tags are tough. Sure, they pick up some scratches and scrapes along the way, but nothing that affected the performance of the tag.
Not much damage even after being driven over a few times.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
I subsequently took the tag that was driven over apart (the tag was driven over several times to get the shot I wanted), and there was no real damage to the case, seams, or interior.
Curious about what’s inside a finder tag? Here you go!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Ugreen Finder Pro tags are durable, loud, and feature-packed, making them some of the best third-party alternatives to the Apple AirTag that I’ve tested. While they may not have the precision finding magic of AirTags, their rugged build and long-lasting rechargeable battery make them a fantastic choice for anyone prone to losing things and looking for a reliable, hard-wearing tracker.
These tags — which are called Finder Duo over on Amazon, but it’s Finder Pro on the box (confusing) — normally retail for $50 for a four-pack, but they are currently only $30, making them an unmissable deal!
