Summary
- Chipolo has launched the new Card and Loop trackers, which won’t end up in a landfill since they can be recharged.
- The Card and Loop have a 6-month battery life, Bluetooth range of 400 feet, and water/dust resistance.
- Priced at $40 each, the trackers work with Apple’s Find My network and Android’s Find Hub network.
An issue with many trackers, especially wallet trackers, is how they’re frequently just… Disposable. Seeing how we have a huge problem with e-waste globally, non-rechargeable, non-replaceable batteries are not ideal. This was a pain point in some Chipolo trackers, but finally, this is getting fixed.
Chipolo has just announced a pair of new trackers, including a redesigned Chipolo CARD as well as the new Chipolo LOOP. The Chipolo CARD is a thin, wallet-sized tracker with a side-corner speaker designed to project sound effectively even when inside a wallet or cardholder. The Chipolo LOOP is your average tag-style tracker with a flexible silicone loop for attaching to keys, bags, or other items. According to Chipolo, both models have a battery life of approximately six months on a single charge, but the big thing about them is that they are rechargeable, so when you do run out of juice, you won’t just have to replace them. The Chipolo CARD can top up via a Qi-compatible wireless charger, while the Chipolo LOOP charges via a standard USB-C port.
This was a major issue with the previous Chipolo CARD, since it had a battery life of one year, but you couldn’t recharge it—when it died, you had to replace it with a brand-new tracker. Honestly, the number of trackers that don’t have this problem is slimmer than you think. I’m sure a lot of people would take a tracker with way shorter battery life, but one that you could actually recharge, and this is what the new Chipolo CARD lets you do. It lets you use it for way longer, and more importantly, it means that trackers without juice won’t just end up in a landfill. The trackers work natively with Apple’s Find My network, so they’re a great fit for Apple users, and they are also compatible with Android’s Find Hub app for devices running Android 9 or later.
Both the CARD and LOOP support a Bluetooth range of up to 400 feet (120 m), letting you locate a misplaced item anywhere within a more open space. The audio alert system on the Chipolo CARD can reach a volume of 110 dB, and the Chipolo LOOP is capable of producing a slightly louder 125 dB. Both trackers are also rated IP67 for water and dust resistance, meaning they can be submerged in up to 1 meter of fresh water for 30 minutes. The Chipolo companion app gives you access to features such as “Ring and Blink,” which causes the tracker to emit light, helping you search for it in dark environments. You can also adjust the ringer volume directly through the app to suit your surroundings.
Both trackers are a neat $40, and the LOOP comes in a few fun colors, so it will really just come down to your specific needs. They are both available for pre-order on Amazon now, so head over there if you want one of these.
Source: Chipolo
