Google recently expanded and improved its 11-year-old Find My Device network, previously known as Android Device Manager. This network helps locate a variety of devices, including Android phones, tablets, Wear OS devices, and Bluetooth trackers like Chipolo’s One Point. On the other hand, Apple’s Find My network has been around since 2010 and can find Apple products such as iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and AirTags, as well as third-party devices compatible with the network.
To compare the two networks in 2024, a test was conducted at Pier 39 in San Francisco using both the Chipolo One Point and an AirTag. The trackers were hidden out of Bluetooth range, and the Find My app on an iPhone 14 Pro and Find My Device on a Google Pixel 8 Pro were used to locate them. The test revealed that Apple’s Find My network is more efficient than Google’s Find My Device network in locating lost items.
Both Apple and Google systems use an encrypted, collaborative network of devices to help find lost items. They allow users to view current and last known locations of items on a map, play a sound to find items nearby, and share item locations with friends. Setting up Bluetooth trackers on both networks is simple, requiring the trackers to be brought close to the phone.
One key difference between the two networks is that Apple AirTags use Bluetooth and ultra-wideband technology, offering more precise location information and separation alerts. Apple’s network requires only one iOS device to locate a lost item, while Google’s network relies on multiple Android devices passing by to triangulate the item’s location.
In a test scenario at Pier 39, the Apple Find My network located the AirTag in a few minutes, while the Google Find My Device network failed to provide a notification within 30 minutes, despite showing an approximate location on the map. Apple’s network also provided more detailed directions and distance markers compared to Google’s network.
Overall, the test showed that Apple’s Find My network outperformed Google’s Find My Device network in locating lost items. However, improvements in Google’s network, including more devices connecting to the network and potential ultra-wideband support for Android trackers, could level the playing field in the future. Further tests in the coming months will reveal how Google’s network evolves and whether it becomes more competitive with Apple’s network.
Article Source
https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-find-my-vs-google-find-my-device-theres-a-clear-winner-so-far/