The KeySmart SmartCard is a lot thinner than an AirTag. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
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Apple AirTags have been a total game-changer, saving me countless hours hunting for keys and bags, and other bits and bobs that I absent-mindedly misplaced. But AirTags are far from perfect. First, the replaceable battery means I'm chucking away handfuls of CR2032s yearly. And I don't know about you, but that saucer-shaped UFO-esque object isn't easy to attach to things, especially wallets.
There are all sorts of holders and straps tYou can buy them, but since the AirTag is 8 mm/0.31 inches thick, that's the minimum thickness you're dealing with. I've even modified AirTags to make them thin, but that's not a job for the faint-hearted.
Also: I built a custom AirTag that Apple will hate me for (and how you can do it, too)
If you want a thin solution, you'll have to look for another finder tag, and after a lot of testing, my favorite is the KeySmart SmartCard. And now through Oct. 6, save 20% on the SmartCard with code "ZDNET20OFF" at checkout.
The first thing I love about the SmartCard is its thickness, or more specifically, its thinness! At only 2 mm/0.08 inches, it's the equivalent of two credit cards, so it sits nicely in your purse or wallet with no unsightly and uncomfortable bulges or bumps.
KeySmart managed to make this card so thin by eliminating the bulky CR2032 coin cell and replacing it with a rechargeable battery. This battery is recharged using a wireless charger, and requires a charge every five months or so. It'll even stick to a MagSafe wireless charger!
Yes, there's a lot inside that thin shell, from the finder tag circuitry to a battery and a wireless charging coil.
Because there are no battery compartment covers to break off or lose, the tag is super robust. It is built to IPX7 standards for dustproofing and water resistance, meaning it can survive up to 30 minutes of immersion in 3 feet of water. Despite being thin, these tags are tough and take quite a bit of bending and squeezing, so they will survive a life of abuse in wallets and purses.
The SmartCard may be thin, but it's tough and dust and water-resistant. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
On top, there's a slot cut for a luggage tag, turning this wallet tag into a luggage tag. Mine has survived the rigors of quite a few flights and is still going strong!
And yes, contrary to what some people think, finder tags are allowed in checked luggage as well as carry one in the US under FAA rules and internationally under IATA rules as long as the battery has less than 0.3 grams of lithium or have a Watt-hour rating below 2.7 Wh (note that international flights might have different rules, and while I've not found an exception, that doesn't mean that every airline and every country allows them). I've confirmed that the battery inside the SmartCard is small enough to be allowed through a teardown of one of the cards I was sent.
Also: My favorite travel charger is a power user's dream - and works in over 220 countries.
Third-party finder tags have limitations, one of which is that they do not have precision-finding capability. You can still see it on the map and make it make a sound, but you can't use your iPhone to locate it and guide you to it like you can with AirTags. This is a limitation of all third-party finder tags.
Why I recommend this product
AirTags are great, but Apple has undoubtedly designed them to be obvious rather than easy to conceal. That has upsides and downsides. The biggest downside is that they are better suited to attaching onto keys than storing in wallets and purses. For now, the KeySmart SmartCard is the best AirTag for those who want a thin solution for their wallet, purse, or as a luggage tag.
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