The Huawei Tag is an alternative to Apple’s AirTag Bluetooth tracker, and while they don’t look the same, they have several key features in common.
The Huawei Tag is the latest entrant into the Bluetooth tracker market, but how is it different from Apple’s popular AirTag? Bluetooth trackers have existed for years with brands such as Chipolo and Tile offering a variety of trackers. More recently, smartphone brands have begun to offer their own options.
Samsung was the first to launch its own Bluetooth trackers in form of the Galaxy SmartTag and Galaxy SmartTag+ which were announced in January 2021. A few months later, Apple followed suit with its AirTag. The same year, a patent filing revealed that OnePlus was working on a device called OnePlus Tag. There were speculations it would launch soon, but it’s been more than a year without any sign of the product hitting the shelves.
The Huawei Tag looks very different from the AirTag. The device is shaped like a guitar pick, unlike the AirTag which is round. Huawei’s tracker is also slimmer, with a thickness of 5.6mm in comparison to the AirTag which is 8mm thick. It is also almost 50 percent lighter at 6 grams than Apple’s tracker which weighs 11 grams. Despite these differences, there are still some similarities. For starters, both trackers have an IP67 dust and water resistance rating which means they will survive immersion in up to 1 meter of water for up to half an hour.
More Similarities Than Differences
The mode of operation is similar across both devices. All users have to do is connect the trackers via Bluetooth and attach them to their belongings or even pets. When an item attached to the tracker is lost, owners can use their phone to find it. The Huawei Tag and AirTag have speakers and will emit a sound to make it easy for users to locate their missing items once they are nearby. In addition, Huawei, just like Apple, has its own version of the Find My network that’s made up of millions of Huawei devices that can help users to locate a missing item. A neat feature Huawei has added is a reminder mode that works in tandem with on-body detection. Users can turn on the feature and get a notification immediately after the said item leaves their body. This feature works best with small items such as wallets and keys. Apple provides a similar feature which it calls Separation Alerts.
In addition, AirTags also have a feature called Lost Mode. When an AirTag is put into Lost Mode, users will get a notification when a device on the Find My network detects the AirTag. Furthermore, owners can add their info to their AirTag so that when someone with an NFC-enabled smartphone finds their item, they can tap the AirTag to get a link with the owner’s contact info. The Huawei Tag spec sheet also mentions a similar feature is available via NFC. Huawei and Apple claim there are privacy features built into their location trackers. Both claim location information is encrypted at both ends and users will receive a notification on their device to inform them if an unknown tracker is detected nearby. The trackers will also emit a sound to make it easy for them to be found.
The Huawei Tag isn’t rechargeable, instead, it uses a removable CR2032 coin battery, like the Apple AirTag. Both Apple and Huawei claim the battery in their location trackers will last more than a year before needing to be replaced. Those who pick up an Apple AirTag can only use it with compatible Apple devices with certain features even being exclusive to select iPhone models. Huawei is no different. The Huawei Tag is only compatible with Huawei phones and tablets and a handful of Honor devices that were launched before the brand was sold in 2020. Huawei is also limiting support to Mainland China. The AirTag sells for $29 for a single unit and $99 for a pack of four. In comparison, the Huawei Tag is cheaper with a price tag of ¥99 (~$15) for a unit or ¥299 (~$45) for a pack of four.
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