Google Enhances Find My Device System Speed, Yet Location Accuracy Lags Behind AirTag

Google’s Find My Device network, launched in 2024, faced a disappointing start with results lagging behind Apple’s AirTag network. To mark the network’s first year, The Verge conducted a test by tagging 3 brands using Google’s network – Pebblebee, Chipolo, Motorola, alongside Apple’s AirTag and Tile from Life360. The objective was to determine which brand’s tag performed the best.

Motorola’s Moto Tag was put to the test in various locations across London – from bustling areas (with a higher chance of tags encountering the same brand’s phone) to remote parks. The team then returned home and initiated the search for each brand’s tag, timing how long it took for the respective systems to locate the tag’s coordinates. Surprisingly, AirTag and Tile emerged victorious, while Google’s network lagged, sometimes failing to pinpoint the location at all.

The Verge pointed out that Google’s Find My Device network may have intentionally underperformed, aiming to obscure exact location data by using aggregated data from multiple devices to prevent potential tracking by individuals. While this method allows for user-controlled default settings, the downside is reduced accuracy when locating tags abandoned in sparsely populated areas.

The Verge’s findings also revealed that Google’s search capability, though faster in densely populated areas, reported less accurate coordinates, particularly when tags continually changed locations. Conversely, AirTag’s support for Ultra Wide Band (UWB) facilitated directional tracking, making it easier to locate lost tags based on direction, not just position. Another advantage of Google’s tags is their louder sound output compared to AirTag, aiding in easier location identification through audible cues.

TLDR: Google’s Find My Device network had a lackluster start in 2024, with Apple’s AirTag and Tile outperforming in a test conducted by The Verge. Despite potential intentional underperformance to safeguard location privacy, Google’s network showed inconsistencies in locating tags compared to AirTag’s directional tracking capabilities.