Locate your keys or bag with iPhone and also with Android

Tracking tags have existed for many years, but they made their big breakthrough in recent years thanks to Apple’s AirTag and Samsung’s SmartTag. The problem with both products is that each one is designed to work only with its own ecosystem, and in Samsung’s case, you can’t even use the SmartTag with Android devices from Xiaomi or Nothing. This is where Chipolo comes in, a company founded in 2013 in Slovenia.

Chipolo previously offered tracking tags that were compatible only with its own tracking network (more on that below), but it recently entered the Israeli market officially with products that support both Google’s and Apple’s tracking networks – Find My, meaning that with one tag you can work with all smartphones on the market (you can choose only one network).

Apple’s and Google’s networks operate on the same principle. All smartphones of that company or operating system become passive detectors for the devices. When they pass near the tag, it communicates with them and sends a location update on a map.

The POP is one of the company’s first products to arrive in Israel. It is a round tag that can be easily placed inside a bag or hung on a keychain, or even on an earbud case. The tag already includes a hole for attaching it to the item you want. This is not a trivial feature in tracking tags — just ask AirTag users.

The tag comes in four colors: Blue, red, white, and black, and includes a single physical button in the center. It is also resistant to dust and water splashes with an IP55 rating.

I used the POP with both an iPhone and an Android device, and as soon as I opened it, a notification popped up suggesting I pair it with the smartphone.

This review focuses on using the POP with an Android smartphone, with the usage capabilities expected to be identical, except for the ability to receive an alert on the smartphone when you forget the POP. This is an alert received when the smartphone moves away from the tag.

In the Android app “My Devices Center”, I found the POP among the other devices I own, such as headphones and a tablet. You can see the tag’s location on a map and check whether it is nearby. You can also see the last time it was detected, and send another person a link so they can locate the tag as well. Another feature is the ability to mark the tag as lost and receive a notification once it is detected.

What the POP does not have is direction-finding. This feature allows receiving a directional arrow pointing toward the item. Instead, you get a kind of “hot-cold” game, where a shape on the screen fills with color as you get closer to the tag, along with textual feedback. The connection range between the smartphone and the tag is 90 meters.

In addition to Apple’s or Android’s tracking app, it is strongly recommended to download Chipolo’s own app, as it enables additional functions for the tag, including firmware updates.

Among the available features is choosing the tag’s ringtone. The sound it emits is loud (120 decibels) and easy to hear, even when something is covering the tag or when it is inside a bag.

A double-press on the POP lets you locate your smartphone, which will start ringing. You can also use the double-press for taking a photo with the smartphone camera, effectively turning the tag into a remote shutter.

The POP uses a CR2032 coin battery that should last for a year.

Price: NIS 90 for one unit or NIS 350 for four units (Black Friday price at Bug; afterward, NIS 130 and NIS 400).

In conclusion, the market in Israel has until now been split between two companies: Samsung and Apple with their tracking tags. But there hasn’t really been a proper solution from a well-known brand for owners of Xiaomi, OnePlus, or Nothing smartphones. The Chipolo tag provides that solution, while also working with iPhone and Galaxy.

The POP offers the familiar capabilities of locating your suitcase or keys anywhere using Google’s or Apple’s network. It has a loud ring and the ability to make your smartphone ring when you can’t find it at home.