AirTags are Apple’s round-shaped solution for misplaced keys, bags, pets, and wallets. However, their design renders them too bulky for a conventional wallet – especially for slimmer versions. This is where Ridge’s Tracker Card becomes relevant. Its credit card shape, thickness, and weight allow it to fit seamlessly into a wallet, but without the AirTag’s ultra-wide band chip, how effective can it be?
In the video above, I tested both items and discovered a notable limitation.
The Stolen Wallet Experiment
I enlisted two friends to take my wallet – one with an AirTag and the other equipped with a Ridge Tracker Card to determine if I could locate either within 20 minutes. Both devices utilize Apple’s Find My network and should alert you when they depart from your (phone’s) proximity. Regrettably, in both instances, it took more than 10 minutes to receive that notification. This halved my search time, and while the Ridge Tracker Card did send pings more frequently than the AirTag, the updates were spaced minutes apart.
Getting Lost
Indeed, in both scenarios, I failed to locate my wallet. The Ridge Tracker Card and AirTag simply were not providing updates quickly enough – particularly in a busy area of a European capital city – leading me to believe it would be even less effective in less populated regions. My pickpockets were always a step (or three) ahead of me.
Naturally, in a real pickpocket scenario, the thieves would likely discard an AirTag immediately. The Ridge Tracker Card is more discreet, so it may not be thrown away as swiftly. However, the most probable situation involves someone stealing a wallet, retreating a few blocks to a quieter location to offload the cash and cards, and leaving everything else behind.
Not All Is Lost
Both the Ridge Tracker Card and AirTag offer various functionalities, but they are not GPS devices. They don’t refresh often enough to actively track someone in most situations. For misplaced items, however, they can provide location information, notify you if you left your wallet at home, or inform you that a considerate barista is watching over the wallet you forgot at the café.
When time is of the essence, an AirTag and Ridge Tracker Card might just be a bit too sluggish for you to stay ahead of a thief.