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Many advertisements talk about "bluetooth GPS trackers". This is misleading. There are two different types of trackers available. One is based on a bluetooth signal, the other uses the GPS network and the mobile phone network.
GPS Tackers.
These trackers are normally larger than bluetooth trackers as they need to have a GPS signal and antenna and also a sim card slot. They work by locating GPS satellites to work out their position, much the same as your navigation system or phone with google maps uses. This location is then pinged back to the closest mobile phone tower using a sim card and a subscription from a mobile phone carrier (a data only plan). If battery driven the life of a charged battery is at maximum 3 months. Some car be wired into vehicles as vehicle trackers for business.
Bluetooth Trackers
The bluetooth trackers (Apple Airtag, Samsung Smart Tag and the MiLi tags work on a bluetooth connection to a phone.
The tracker needs to be paired to a phone (the home phone). Whilst the home phone is within range of the tracker, a bluetooth signal allows the phone to locate the tag. When the phone is not within range of the home phone, the tag attempts to piggyback on other phones. This is where it gets tricky to evaluate performance.
An Apple Airtag that works in the iOS system can piggyback on other Apple phones that operate as a crowd source network called Find My Phone. Apple says there are nearly 1 billion devices that make up the Find My Phone network globally (although relying on an Apple device being close in the Australian outback is clearly not viable).
AirTag 2, released in January 2026, significantly improves on the original with extended Bluetooth range and faster location updates through the Find My network. For Australian
pet owners and travellers, AirTag 2 represents the most capable Bluetooth tracker currently available.
Then there are two types of Android tags. Since Google has been slow to release an equivalent earlier tags on the Android system relied exclusively on a downloaded 3rd party app. The network of phones that could track the tags was limited to phones that had downloaded the app. This clearly was a fraction of the Android devices and was one of the drawbacks to the early Android Tags. These tags are still on the market and are normally priced low as they only effectively work when the home phone is in bluetooth range.
However, the newer Android tags work with Google Find My Device in the same way that Apple tags work with Find My Phone capability. As there are many more Android devices available, in theory the Android apps should be even better than Apple when outside the home phone bluetooth range. However product reviews are still mixed on the Android tag. They are also a different size and so do not fir cases designed for the Apple AirTag.
Ready to Track Your Pet or Valuables with AirTag?
Now that you understand how Bluetooth trackers work, the next step is choosing the right
AirTag holder for your needs.
For dogs and cats:
Our collar attachments and purpose-built collars keep your AirTag secure on any pet collar.
→ Shop AirTag Dog Accessories
→ Shop AirTag Cat Accessories
For bags, luggage and valuables:
Our clip-on, stick-on and magnetic holders attach to
almost any surface.
→ Shop AirTag Holders
For vehicles and equipment:
Our purpose-built vehicle cases include extended battery options
for long-term tracking.
→ Shop Vehicle AirTag Cases
