TinTag - Unboxing and Review

A couple of months ago I was giving a talk in Romania - the organisers had set up a technology expo showing off some great local start-ups.

One which caught my eye was TinTag.

Tintag is pretty clever. BLE beacon but has built in Qi recharging. Very useful. https://t.co/wFjMRy6rlD#DevTalks pic.twitter.com/SJizDEW274

— Terence Eden ⏻ (@edent) May 11, 2016

I've previously reviewed the Chipolo - which is a similar beacon/tracker. So I thought I'd give this one a go.

At the airport last week, I put the Chipolo on my luggage and was able to detect when it came onto the baggage carousel. I used the buzzer to quickly locate my bag. These BLE beacons work with any modern smartphone and are quickly becoming indispensable.

So, how does TinTag stack up against Chipolo?

Pros

• Blinken Lights!
• No need to create an account.
• Buzzer.
• Waterproof.
• Sturdy.
• Wireless Charging.

Cons

• Cost is €29 / £22 + shipping. That's €5 more than the Chipolo. Although you do get the charging pad and USB cable.
• Lanyard hole is a little small.
• 4 month battery life which requires an overnight charge.
• Yet another app to install!
• No open source API that I could find.

Verdict

I think I prefer the TinTag to the Chipolo.

Yes, the TinTag is slightly larger - but it is sturdier and recharges using the same pad I use for my phone. Flashing LEDs are nice, and you don't need to register on the website to get all the functionality.

The app isn't brilliant - and I suspect BLE tracker support will eventually be built in to Android - but it does the job.

It's too big for a wallet or phone - but the perfect size for luggage, handbags, coats, and larger pets.

The TinTag is available to buy now.