I monitored my luggage with both the AirTag and the Galaxy Tag 2, and this one comes out on top.

      One of the top reasons to choose an iPhone or any other Apple device is the Find My network. Introduced over ten years ago with iPhone OS 3, it has developed into the most effective way to track the whereabouts of your Apple devices. The rise of the iPhone and the Apple ecosystem has also led to the creation of numerous accessories that support the Find My network, such as the Nomad Wallet card, which I keep in my wallet to ensure I always know its location.

      Nearly four years ago, Apple released the AirTag, a product that has solidified the Find My network as essential for travelers. Since its introduction, Apple has sold over 55 million of these small trackers, and after adding nine to various bags and luggage items recently, it has become clear: every traveler should use an AirTag.

      During a recent trip, I utilized Apple's AirTag to monitor my bags across the globe, while also comparing it to the Samsung Galaxy Tag 2 connected to my Galaxy S25 Ultra. The findings were surprising to me; here’s why.

      The effectiveness of the Find My network

      Although Apple's Find My network has been in existence for more than a decade, it is only recently that Android competitors have made a concerted effort to create a similar system. While there have been attempts in the past, it was primarily led by Samsung, which still lacks a tracker compatible with Google's rival network.

      The triumph of the Find My network is closely tied to the success of the iPhone and other Apple devices. As the iPhone's global presence has grown, so has the number of devices capable of temporarily transmitting the location of your items. With billions of Apple devices sold worldwide, there's a strong likelihood that you are never too far from an Apple product, which theoretically means your item is always trackable.

      Why the AirTag is essential for travelers

      Seasoned travelers have long praised the advantages of using the AirTag for travel, and I experienced them firsthand on a recent trip. I typically travel at least 150,000 miles a year, always relying on airline baggage tracking services to verify if my bag made it onto the flight. Unfortunately, most airlines are ineffective at tracking luggage, but the AirTag simplifies the process.

      I intended to attach AirTags to my bags over a year ago, but I procrastinated and forgot. Before embarking on two months of travel ahead of CES 2025, I added an AirTag to each bag. Since then, checking my bags’ locations while I'm on a plane or after landing has become almost a ritual for me.

      My mother and sister, both dedicated Samsung users without an Apple device, recently followed my example and purchased the Samsung Galaxy Tag 2. For the past two weeks, I've been traveling in India with my mother, and while I anticipated that the AirTag would far outperform the Galaxy Tag 2, the results surprised me. Here’s what I found.

      Which option is better depends on the country you’re in

      The primary difference lies in the tracking distance of each device. While an AirTag can only be tracked within a range of 30 feet, you almost certainly are never more than 30 feet away from an Apple device. It's important to note that only an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running iOS 14.5 or newer can track an AirTag, but these devices number in the hundreds of millions.

      Additionally, it operates virtually anywhere globally, and many airlines have started accepting AirTag locations to aid in tracking lost luggage. You can also make an AirTag emit a sound, though this utility is often diminished amidst the noise of hotels or airports. Beyond sound, tracking the location of a nearby AirTag is also quite simple.

      Now, let's compare this to the Samsung approach. On paper, the Galaxy Tag 2 appears to surpass the AirTag significantly. It allows tracking items from a distance of up to 120 meters—12 times that of the AirTag—and is compatible with a broad range of devices. Given that Samsung is the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, it's likely that there are at least as many devices capable of tracking a Galaxy Tag as there are for the AirTag.

      However, in practice, I found there to be considerable variability in performance. In the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, the Galaxy Tag outperformed the AirTag regarding reliability and consistency, and the location history feature is something that Apple’s tracker lacks. However, while I was traveling in India, I discovered that the Galaxy Tag’s performance was lacking, often requiring much longer to locate than the AirTag.

      I still appreciate the AirTag, but I was surprised by the Galaxy Tag 2

      I expected Apple’s tracker to outperform the Galaxy Tag 2, but my testing yielded unexpected results: Samsung’s Find network is surprisingly strong, and the app includes many features I wish Apple would incorporate. Specifically, tracking the location history of a particular tracker allows you to