Key finders have become indispensable tools for everyday organization and living, but do you know the best one to select?
If you have trouble keeping your keys in one place and constantly struggle with losing them, then you do know the importance of having a key finder by your side better than anyone. In this article, we compare two of these finders and see what the better pick is.
What are the differences between the XY Find It and Tile? How do they compare?
| Finder model | XY Find It | Tile |
| Dimensions (inches) | 1.5 x 1.75 x 0.39 | 1.3 x 1.3 x 0.18 |
| Battery | Replaceable | Not replaceable (although replaceable in newer models) |
| Range | 300 feet | 74 feet |
| Check here | Check here |
XY Find It vs. Tile – What are the differences?
Range
In terms of the range, the XY Find It is quite impressive. In fact, it is capable of finding lost or misplaced objects as far as 91 meters (300 feet) away. You can operate it through sounding an alarm, which helps you find it. The optimum range though is the Bluetooth range, which is within 10 meters (30 feet) since this is the most effective distance range of Bluetooth.
The Tile is good for its range, but it has a shorter distance that it can cover effectively – up to a range of 74 feet, so the XY Find It beats it in this area.
Use of GPS
The XY Find It has a GPS feature, which the Tile lacks. The locating of objects in the XY Find It combines both GPS and Community finding features. Through GPS, it can track the exact placement of lost objects. In addition, records your parking spot immediately when you leave it in your car. However, the Tile only uses Bluetooth tracking and community find (present in the XY Find It as well) to locate your misplaced item.
Third party services
When searching for a key finder, it is also important to check whether it can link with third-party services. In the case of the XY Find It, you can link it to Amazon Polly, while for the XY Find It, you can use it with Amazon Polly. The advantage of both is that you do not need prior coding knowledge to link them, and it remains a user-friendly system even for beginners.
Replaceable battery in the new Tile models
In the case of the Tile, even though the older series of Tiles were good, they shared a certain problem – once the batteries became worn out, you had to buy a new Tile key finder because they were non-replaceable. Newer versions do not have the same problem though, and you can work with the battery for a whole year before it runs out.
XY Find
In order to this key finder at its optimum, you will need an Apple or Android mobile device. For the case of Apple, it will need an iPhone or iPad with iOS of 9.0 or higher, while your Android device must have a minimum of KitKat (4.4).
You can use the Community find feature when you fail to locate the object or finder.You can mark it as a lost item, and allow other users to help you find it, or get notifications when the finder comes back within range. However, the crowd finding feature might not work when the other users are dishonest, or you cannot find them.
Pros
- Battery is replaceable
- Attractive and compact design
- Works in quiet places
- Easy to set up and use
Cons
- If your phone is on silent, you cannot find it
- Difficult to find hints
Tile key finder
The form and capability of the Tile is significantly different compared to how it began, but the benefits are still the same –at least for the most part.
It works through physically attaching to any item you have, for instance your key set or wallet, and then will pair with an iOS device or Android (in the later versions), all through Bluetooth, to allow you to monitor its location at all times.
Pros
- It is loud, especially when looking for lost items
- has an extensive range, making your finding job easier
- It has an app, which you can use in conjunction with the finder
Cons
- Pricey
- Difficult to use with Android devices
Final thoughts
Both of these finders have their merits, but the Tile wins in this round. It may prove difficult to use if you use an Android device (it is optimized for Apple), but the other factors like efficiency and distance coverage make it a better option than XY Find It.
FAQs
What is a key finder?
This is a small electronic device, which you use to find misplaced key sets or lost items. This will significantly reduce the time it takes for you to find personal items or your keys, even as they do not give a lot of distraction.
How do you attach the keys to the finder?
The usual case is that the key finder will have a small opening that is circular in shape, and this is what you use to attach to your keys through the split ring of the chain. Certain key finders will also be flat in their shape, while others have a more curved or angular shape. Your ultimate choice will depend on the design of your keys as well.
How does the finder locate your keys? Is there GPS tracking involved?
Most the key finders you can get, if not all, will use the location service on your phone to locate your keys, and the location service needs GPS to work. The finder app creates a Bluetooth signal between the keys and phone, and then uses the location service to give you a map of the location.
When buying a key finder, can it be used to locate you?
Since it uses GPS, then yes. When buying the finder, it is good to check the privacy policy of the company so that your information does not get into the wrong hands. If this is the case, then a password can deter people from finding out your location, or choosing to buy radio signal key finders instead of Bluetooth key finders.
