Best smart trackers in South Africa

South Africans can buy a smart tracker for a cost-effective way to monitor the locations of their most prized possessions.

The past few years have seen an explosion of Bluetooth-enabled tracking tags hit the market, including from tech giants like Apple and Samsung.

These tags can be attached to items like keys, laptop bags, handbags, cars, or even pet collars. These tags can then be tracked on a compatible app.

The first important thing to understand about smart trackers is that they do not support GPS.

Instead, they rely on your and other people’s Bluetooth phone connections to relay their locations.

When your tag is within range of your device, you can navigate to its precise location using its signal strength or by letting it ring by pressing a button on your phone.

The latest iPhones boast ultra-wideband technology to find AirTags with precision.

There is a simple reason for the lack of GPS on these devices — the power requirements.

With current technology, real-time GPS tracking requires a sizeable battery, making such trackers much bulkier.

Vehicle trackers have GPS built-in because they come with batteries that can charge through your car’s power.

Although there are GPS trackers for pets, they are well over double the size and weight of smart trackers.

In addition, they usually require a SIM card with data to send information and a subscription to the relevant tracking service.

The upside is that you get much better location accuracy than with a smart tracker.

Bluetooth is much more energy efficient at the cost of accurate real-time data.

Where a GPS tracker might require a daily recharge, Bluetooth trackers’ batteries can last a year or longer before being replaced.

Limited interoperability between devices and networks

Your smartphone brand will be a major factor in deciding which tracker you will use.

For example, Samsung’s Galaxy Smart Tags only work with one of its smartphones.

In addition, there is currently no universal specification for Bluetooth networks that allows devices made by different companies to “ping” a tracker if it is incompatible with their specific smart device network.

In South Africa, this gives Samsung’s SmartThings an edge because more people own the company’s smartphones.

If your item is stolen or lost out of range of your own smartphone, it may be more likely to be detected due to more Galaxy smartphones in use across the country.

Tracking a Galaxy SmartTag2 on the SmartThings Find app

AirTags offer slightly better interoperability with Android.

Setting up an Apple AirTag will still require an iPhone or iPad. It is possible to track and manage an AirTag with a Mac after initial setup.

If you prefer the more compact size and features of the AirTag, you can still opt for this if someone can set up the AirTag for you using your Apple ID on their iPhone.

This could also be an option for those who use a Mac computer but don’t own an iPhone or iPad.

In addition, you can technically keep track of your AirTag’s location using the Tracker Detect app for Android, which can scan for Bluetooth devices within range.

However, the iPhone has a smaller market share in South Africa, so the likelihood of your AirTag being spotted “in the wild” is reduced.

Below are five of the best smart trackers you can buy in South Africa in 2024, with detailed specifications.

Apple AirTag — R749 (iStore)

Eufy Security SmartTrack Link — R399 (Takealot)

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 — R499 (Samsung Store)

Tile Mate 2022 — R600 (GeeWiz)

Tile Pro 2022 — R864 (GeeWiz)