T-Mobile is preparing its own competitor to Apple’s $29 AirTag. On Wednesday, the carrier introduced the SyncUp Tracker to help you recover items that go missing.
The $60 handheld device can attach to your car keys, wallet, or purse. In the event, you can’t find the item, simply go to your smartphone. T-Mobile’s app will pinpoint the location for the attached SyncUp Tracker, enabling you to easily find the lost item.
However, there’s a big difference between AirTags and T-Mobile’s product. The carrier's version doesn’t rely on Bluetooth signals from nearby phones. Instead, SyncUp Tracker taps T-Mobile’s cellular LTE network—which covers entire cities—to pinpoint the device's location.
Hence, the carrier claims its product “can be found virtual anywhere.” According to T-Mobile, you can see a SyncUp Tracker's real-time location, even if you're hundreds of miles away.
Through T-Mobile’s app, you can also set virtual boundaries for the SyncUp Tracker. If the device crosses a boundary, the app will immediately send out an alert so you can quickly react. Like Apple’s AirTag, the SyncUp Tracker can emit a sound to help make it easier to find. In addition, the product has an IP67 rating, giving it some resistance to dust and water.
However, there’s a big limitation with SyncUp Tracker. T-Mobile says the device's 900mAh battery can only last up to seven days on a single charge. So you’ll need to recharge it regularly. In contrast, an Apple AirTag can run for over a year.
T-Mobile's product is also more expensive. Although each SyncUp Tracker costs $60, it appears the carrier plans on charging another $5-a-month fee to run cellular service on the device. The trackers will work through an app available for both Android and iOS. But for now, the carrier is only selling the device to customers on a Magneta Postpaid voice plan.
The SyncUp Tracker arrives at T-Mobile stores on Friday, May 7, a week after Apple’s AirTags officially go on sale.