I've been testing key finders for a decade — and this is my new top pick

The Tile Mate often finds itself playing second fiddle to the Tile Pro in Tile's key finder lineup, but not so with the 2024 models. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if you're looking for a Bluetooth-based tracker to help you pinpoint the location of any object, the Tile Mate 2024 is the best key finder you can buy.

In part, that's a reflection of the current edition of the Tile Pro, which felt like a step backward after I got done testing it. But it's also because of the superior value that the Tile Mate has to offer, delivering the same tracking tools, but at a lower price. My Tile Mate 2024 review explains why this is the tracker most people should get.

Tile Mate review: Price and availability

At $25, the Tile Mate joins the Tile Sticker as least expensive options in the Tile lineup. The Mate costs $10 less than the Tile Pro while sharing many of the same capabilities. It's also less expensive than both the Galaxy SmartTag 2 and Apple's AirTag, both of which cost $29. Unlike those two trackers, the Tile Mate works across both Android and iOS, connecting to a wide array of phones over Bluetooth.

The Tile Mate also offers more color options than the Tile Pro, which is only available in black and white. In contrast, you can pick from a variety of colors for your Tile Mate, including a two-tone design. For example, my review unit comes with a green front, with an aquamarine frame and backing.

Tile Mate review: Design and features

Not much has changed with the look of the Tile Mate since the 2022 version. The part of the tracker where you latch on your keys is a little more subdued compared to the round circle of its predecessor, but that makes the device easier to attach in my opinion.

The Tile logo in the center of the tracker has been replaced by a Life360 logo, now that the location tracking and family security specialist has snapped up Tile. The new tracker also has a better IP68 water resistance rating, so it can survive a deeper dunk in water than the 2022 version.

Unlike the Tile Pro and its replaceable battery, the Tile Mate is completely sealed up. You use the tracker until it runs out of juice, which should be about three years after purchase. That's going to put off some people who prefer to repurpose their tech instead of constantly replacing it, but at least Tile trackers can be turned in to e-cycling facilities.

The basic feature set for the Tile Mate hasn't changed at all since the last version came out. You pair the tracker over Bluetooth to your phone using the Android or iOS version of the Tile app, and you can press a button in the app to sound an alarm on the tracker. That helps you track down your misplaced item if its in range, and if not, you can mark it as missing. That way, other Tile owners who pass by the item will be able to detect it and anonymously pass on its location to you.

Pressing the middle of the Tile Mate twice makes your phone ring — a very helpful feature if you misplace your phone as often as I do. New to the 2024 version of the Tile Mate is the ability to set an SOS alert though the Life360 app; when you press the button on your Tile Mate, three times, an alert will be sent out to your Life360 contacts notifying them of your location. The feature includes the ability to cancel the alert within 15 seconds of that triple press.

Concerned parents may appreciate the addition of SOS alerts to Tile trackers, but the implementation is a bit limited. You can either set the tracker to buzz your phone or send an alert, but you can't do both. I wish I didn't have to choose.

As part of the Life360 integration, you can now manage Tile trackers like the Mate through the Life360 app (Android, iOS). But you can access those trackers and the SOS feature without having to upgrade from the free membership tier.

Tile Mate review: Performance

When I test key finders, I head to an open space like a park, set down the tracker and walk away to see how far I can get before I lose the connection with my phone. The Tile Mate 2024 promises a 350-foot range, but across multiple tests, I feel well short of that distance.

In fact, the furtherest I could ever get from the Tile Mate was 60 feet before the app would warn me that I was out of range. While I never expect to reach the maximum range in these tests, I do think the Mate 2024's performance is short of what I've come to expect from Tile products historically, though it has been a consistent issue with the 2024 Tile models that I've tested, be it the Mate or the Pro.

If there's any consolation to be had from lackluster range, it's that you'll never have any problem hearing the 100-decibel alarm from that distance. And in the most common use case — trying to track down keys you've misplaced in your home — the Tile Mate will perform admirably. Across larger areas, though, I'd be a little less confident.

Tile continues to offer a $30/year Tile Premium subscription that adds features like alerts when you leave behind your tracker (and whatever valuable you've attached, too.) The alerts can be helpful, but they also appear on your phone after a delay — in my testing, I was a mile away by car when a Smart Alert appeared on my phone. That's not a terribly long gap, but I still believe you can skip the Premium subscription and still get a lot of use out of any Tile product.

It's also worth noting that the Tile Mate doesn't offer Ultra Wideband activity like trackers from Samsung and Apple do. (In fact, no Tile tracker currently has this feature.) That means you're missing out on the precision finding features you'd get with the SmartTag or AirTag, but in my experience, Tile's Bluetooth connectivity has met my key-finding needs.

Tile Mate review: Verdict

Range issues with this iteration of the Tile Mate aside, I've found the Mate to be fairly dependable for tracking down the location of objects around my home. Its low price, colorful look and durability make it the optimal choice if you're looking at Tile's lineup of key finders and are trying to decide which one to buy.

The Tile Pro delivers a louder alarm and promises longer range (at least on paper). But those advantages don't account for the $10 price difference between it and the Mate. If you don't mind the non-replaceable battery powering the Tile Mate, it's the key finder you should attach to your keychain.