Tile plans to introduce item trackers with ultra-wideband support

Tile is ready to compete with Apple’s long-rumored AirTags and plans to introduce an improved line of item trackers that include an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip for more accurate tracking.

Apple’s ‌AirTags‌ are rumored to include the U1 ultra-wideband chip added to the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models. Apple’s U1 ‌AirTags‌ will be able to provide better tracking capabilities than is possible with Bluetooth alone, meaning it’s the technology that Tile must match to remain competitive.

According to TechCrunchTile’s upcoming item trackers will also use augmented reality capabilities to guide users to the location of a lost item using the Tile mobile app. Apple is working on a similar solution, and based on code we’ve found in different versions of iOS, the ‌AirTags‌ will also rely on augmented reality to make it easier to find missing devices and accessories.

Previous tile item trackers relied solely on Bluetooth, which isn’t as accurate as UWB due to the spatial data the newer technology can collect.

Because UWB offers spatial awareness capabilities, it can locate missing items inside or out, even if you can’t hear the tracker’s ring. This can help if the missing item is under something – like a sofa cushion – or in a chest of drawers, for example. It can also help make items easier to find in a larger space, such as a multi-story house.

The Tile app allows users to open an AR camera view that helps guide them to the location of the item using overlays such as directional arrows and an AR view of the item’s location.

The ‌iPhone 11‌ and ‌iPhone 12‌ models have U1 chips and some Android phones support UWB, so these devices will be compatible with Tile’s upcoming trackers. Apple gave third-party developers access to the U1 chip in the latest iPhones last year.

Concept art for Tile’s new item tracker suggests it resembles Tile’s existing trackers with a square shape, center button, key fob mount, and a flat back that’s adhesive compatible.

Tile plans to release the new item trackers later this year, and they will be compatible with iOS and Android devices. Apple has implemented a new system that allows item trackers to work in the Find My app, but it sounds like Tile will be using its own app for item location purposes.

There’s no word on when Apple plans to release ‌AirTags zijn, and there have been signs of it across multiple versions of iOS. Many rumors suggested we would see them before the end of 2020, but Apple has delayed a release. Earlier this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the AirTags would be released sometime in 2021.