Google Find My Device Network (Review)

When Apple launched its Find My network, it shadowed all of the Bluetooth trackers that had already been available before it. Uniting trackers onto one large network of devices (aka, iPhone users), resulted in greatly improved tracking with finer accuracies and more global coverage. This is something that Android users have been missing out on ever since. At least, until Google finally launched its own Find My Device network.

Google’s network has experienced a slow takeoff, but things are finally shifting toward a better experience for Android users and compatible third-party devices are starting to become available, making it all come together. Making for the perfect time to jump in and give it a test.

We obtained a Chipolo CARD Point, a new tracker that has recently launched. It is one of the company’s first compatible trackers for the Google Find My Device network/app. It can be found via Best Buy currently for $34.99/each (at the time of writing this), and you can be sure multi-packs will be available via the retailer soon.

The company was nice enough to provide one for us to test. Allowing us to take Google’s network for a spin to see how well it performs. Comparing it side-by-side with some of our Apple AirTags that we have in just about every pelican case or bag of gear we have, and even a Chipolo tracker that supports Apple’s network all the same.

Getting the tracker to add to Google’s Find My Device app was quick and easy. Upon pressing a built-in button in the card, it immediately started broadcasting and the phone saw it within seconds. A few more seconds and it was added.

From this point, it could be seen within the Google “Find Device” app and tracked appropriately.

Once hitting the road, we were able to track its movement with each location update. Just as you would Apple’s network using an Apple-compatible tracker. Thus finally, Android users are no longer left waiting for a comparable solution.

At least, that’s what we hoped. We still had to put it through a number of scenarios before we could determine what our ultimate opinion of the network was. So it has been traveling with us for over almost two weeks now as we consistently pop in to see how accurate its positioning is and putting it through various situations.

While riding with us, its position was quite specific. Mostly because we were right there. So in order to get more realistic results, we had to part with it from time to time. Thus the various “situations” we put it through.

At first, one of us placed the card in one of the bags and stored the bag somewhere. No one else knew where that somewhere was, so the rest of us got to track it down, attempting to find it. It made for a nice easter egg hunt that lasted a number of rounds.

Most of these attempts were made during/at Comic-Con 2024 in San Diego. Thus there were plenty of hiding spots and a thick crowd to blend in with. A few booths allowed us to make use of them to hide the bag safely and so that it wouldn’t be seen as a suspicious bag randomly hanging about. The bag also had an Apple tracker as a comparison.

It took a few tries to find it each time since you can only zoom in so far using Google’s map. This was pretty similar to Apple’s solution.

We then started hiding the tracker by itself, sliding it into odd places where it would remain hidden. That turned out to be a disaster since we were able to find the general area, but there wasn’t enough detailed information to pinpoint its exact location. Also, similar to Apple’s solution. Again, you can only zoom in so far. Thus it is much easier to detect a bag or case you have a tracker in, and not the tracker by itself. We should have seen that coming.

We have seen a few reviews where others have been testing the network out. They have pointed out that, at times Google’s network would be inaccurate, showing the tracker in the wrong location when compared side by side with an Apple AirTag. We didn’t run into this during our testing of this tracker (at least, not yet).. However, we have run into it using Apple AirTags.

An example of this can be seen in the above image. Where one of our colleagues was stepping onto a plane at JFK airport in New York. One AirTag showed that the luggage was with the plane, while the other claimed to be out in the city nearby in an area it had never traveled in, since it was a connecting flight (thus the baggage would have never left the airport–if all is well). This actually raised a lot of concern as it didn’t update for over an hour until it finally showed as being with the plane as well.

Thus, either network can experience glitches in the Matrix from time to time. Which could explain the other source’s review/experience using Google’s network. Likely, there wasn’t enough Android devices in the area that participate in the network and it was having a hard time triangulating the trackers location. Or, it might have been a defective tracker.

In our case, the tracker maintained a similar result as the Apple alternatives we used, every time. Taking it into neighborhoods helped to create a more realistic scenario. Say, your bag gets stolen and you have a tracker hidden somewhere within it. You track it down to a specific home where you know the thief ran off to. In our experience, it was accurate with the exact home or unit we tucked it away in, each time. Thus it would give you an accurate result to provide law enforcement (since it would be wise not to take matters into your own hands).

Of course, location updates can slow down if there isn’t enough Android devices in the area reporting nearby devices. This is something that will improve as more Android devices are compatible and participating.

Our Conclusion

Google’s Find My Device network is becoming every bit as strong as Apple’s. At least, it is finally getting to a point where it is capable of doing so. As Google expands participation to more devices through updates of the Android OS and more modern smart phone models enter the market, this performance will only get better.

It’s nice to finally see that Android users are no longer being left behind. Apple’s decision to not to allow Android devices to track down devices via Apple’s app was a cold move. It definitely fits in with Apple’s strict ecosystem and strategies since it always wants to promote the use of its own products and nothing else, but at what point does it become an “enough is enough” scenario. This allowed Google to fill that gap and it will likely provide a much more universal solution that all users could benefit from. Potentially taking some business away from Apple.

For now, it is still in its growing phases and still has a way to go. Despite that, based on our usage of it as we traveled all over these last few weeks, we’ve had nothing but great experiences with it. We can also confidently say that the Chipolo CARD Point tracker is a solid product. With the only exception that it doesn’t allow for recharging or battery replacement. So you get a few years out of it and then you’ll have to buy another one. I’ve never been a fan of that as I find it hard to support disposable technology that forces you to replace or upgrade every so often. Hopefully, the next generation model will be even better.

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