UGREEN’s AirTag alternative has 7 years of battery life, but is it worth it?

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Finding your lost valuables is the kind of emergency task you want to accomplish as quickly as possible. This is why it may be a good idea to invest in item tracking technology like the Apple AirTag. The AirTag is multi-generational at this point and relies on Apple’s Find My Network to locate what you’ve lost. However, AirTags aren’t the only Bluetooth trackers on the market, and UGREEN has just released the latest version of its competing product, the UGREEN FineTrack 2. It promises much longer battery life than the AirTag, but is it worth making the switch? Let’s find out.

For starters, the FineTrack 2 looks like a miniature football and is designed exclusively for iPhones and iPads; As it uses Find My for tracking, it is not compatible with Android devices. According to UGREEN, the FineTrack 2’s battery cannot be removed, but should last between five and seven years. That’s pretty impressive, especially considering that an AirTag Gen 2 will need to change its battery after about a year of use. Luckily, this AirTag battery is just a CR2032 model, which you can usually buy in bulk on Amazon for less than a few dollars apiece.

The FineTrack 2 is a compelling alternative to the AirTag, but it’s locked to standard Bluetooth tracking, while the AirTag uses both Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth to locate items. Additionally, you can purchase the AirTag individually ($29 at Amazon) or as a four-pack ($99). Of course, you can buy as many FineTrack 2 units as your heart desires, but at the time of writing, UGREEN did not offer a multipack option. Singles, however, register at a lower price ($19.99) than the AirTag.

The form factor is another big difference between the FineTrack 2 and a traditional AirTag. The former is relatively small, but it’s not as flat or sleek as an AirTag. It’s almost impossible to avoid seeing the FineTrack 2 when attached to a bag or luggage, which can be a potential deterrent to thieves. On the other hand, an AirTag can be easily stored in most pockets, which is very convenient. The FineTrack 2 may not be a problem for larger compartments, but it may be too bulky for some smaller spaces.

The FineTrack 2 has an official IP68 rating, making it slightly more water resistant than an AirTag Gen 2 (IP67). However, the additional level of moisture protection only increases the depth and duration of immersion from 0.5 meters for up to 30 minutes to 1.5 meters for up to 60 minutes. And while UGREEN claims you’ll get up to seven years of battery life, it’s hard to say how accurate that number is since the FineTrack 2 is relatively new – no user could have owned one for that long.

The FineTrack 2 is not the only UGREEN tracker on the market, however. The original generation FineTrack Air Tracker is still available, and you can get a four-pack for $26. There’s also the UGREEN Finder Duo for $37, which adds Android support through Google Find Hub. AirTag alternatives are plentiful as well, so while the FineTrack 2 seems decent for the price and features, UGREEN isn’t the only third-party team making Bluetooth trackers. Deciding whether the UGREEN – or any other AirTag alternative – is worth switching depends on your needs and which factors matter most.