User chiselplow on Reddit revealed an experiment comparing the functionality of the Apple AirTag with the Android camp’s tracking tag using Google’s Find My Device network (which just started in April). They placed the AirTag alongside a Pebblebee tag in the same package and sent it via mail to a relative in another state to track how well each network could perform.
The results showed that the AirTag worked exceptionally well, constantly notifying the location of the package. Meanwhile, the Pebblebee tag only returned coordinates once at a local postal facility near the sender’s location. It can be said that Apple’s Find My network emerged victorious.
chiselplow speculated that one reason could be that the test took place in the United States, where iPhone usage is more widespread compared to other countries. This made it harder for the Pebblebee tag to get close to Android smartphones to send back coordinates to the server. He plans to conduct a similar test in other countries as well.
Additionally, the website 9to5google provided further information from a Google spokesperson that the Find My Device network is not yet fully operational. Currently, it only functions in high traffic areas (like cities) and some Android smartphones have not joined the tracking network yet. They are gradually being added, but there is no specific timeline for when it will be fully operational.
Sources: Reddit, 9to5google
Image of Pebblebee tag
TLDR: An experiment comparing Apple AirTag with an Android tracking tag reveals that Apple’s Find My network outperforms due to iPhone’s widespread usage, while Google’s Find My Device network is still in the early stages of deployment.
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