I replaced my AirTags with this super-loud alternative – and there’s more to it

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There’s no doubt that the Apple AirTag is the crown jewel of tracker tags, largely because its precision finding gives you pin-point accuracy on its location. 

But the AirTag has its flaws. First, a saucer-shaped disk is not that easy to attach to your keys of luggage. Then there’s the CR2032 batteries inside it that need replacing every year or so. 

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Oh, and the chime isn’t all that loud, and there’s no flashing LED. to help you find your lost stuff in the dark.

The Pebblebee Clip 5, the latest tag from a company that’s been slaying it when it comes to finder tags, solves all these problems and has a few extra features built in. Let’s take a look. 

First off, it’s a palm-sized tag that has a loop built into the polymer, and it comes with a strong and secure metal clip for attaching it to your keys or luggage. No additional bits to buy, like you have to with the AirTag. 

Also, the loop is tough enough to survive day to day use without breaking off.

Inside the tag is a super-loud, ear-splitting 130 dB beeper that is far superior to the puny 80 dB beeper in the AirTag. This extra power makes it much easier to find your keys when they’ve gone down the back of the sofa (yup, that’s happened to me) or fallen out of your hand and into a prickly bush (also happened to me).

And for when the beeper isn’t enough, there’s also an ultra-bright LED strobe, which would have been so handy when my keys were in the middle of that prickly bush! 

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On the bottom of the tag is a USB-C charging port, and you’ll need to use that about once a year to keep the tag running. 

On the back of the tag is a QR code. Someone who finds your tag can scan this and get information on how to reunite you with your lost possessions while keeping everyone’s details private. And the cool thing is you’ll be securely notified as soon as anyone scans the QR code. 

All this in a tag that measures 1.77 by 1.49 inches, and weighs 0.35 ounces. 

Pebblebee claim the tag has an effective Bluetooth range of 500 feet/150 meters. I’ve tested this with my tag, and I was able to connect to it using Bluetooth over this distance, and even when the tag was inside a vehicle, the range was a good 250 feet/75 meters.

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The tag is built to survive being on keys and in your pocket, and is IP66 rated for dust- and water-resistance — so it can handle dusty deserts, chaotic construction sites, or even a surprise thunderstorm, but it’s if you’re planning to go for a swim, you need to leave it behind. 

ZDNET’s buying advice

Every Pebblebee find tag I’ve tested has been great, and the Clip 5 is no exception. It’s a well-designed, well-built tag that goes above and beyond almost everything that the AirTag brings to the table, with the exception of precision finding (a feature not available to third-party finder tag makers). While I like precision finding, the AirTag is let down by the lack of an LED strobe and weak speaker, and having these features on the Clip 5 makes it much easier to recover. 

The Clip 5 is available in graphite, emerald storm, and amethyst purple. Normally priced at $35, because Black Friday is imminent, you can now pick up the Clip 5 for only $25.