Alza finally sells the AlzaGuard locator for Android too. It costs 599 Kč and you can choose from six colors

iPhone users have been able to buy a cheap AirTag alternative directly from Alza for quite some time. Android owners, however, were out of luck and had been asking for a version for themselves in the e-shop’s advice section since last spring. Now they’ve finally got it: Alza has introduced the AlzaGuard Premium Hero Universal Tag locator, which works with both Google Find Hub and Apple Find My networks. You can attach it to your keys or throw it into your backpack, and then see its location on your phone’s map.

Location is reported by nearby unknown phones, but you have to choose the network

The principle is the same as with the more famous AirTag. The locator emits a Bluetooth signal, and its location is anonymously reported by nearby phones that are connected to the respective network. On Android, you’ll find it in the Find My Device app, and on iPhone, in the Find My app. If your keys are somewhere at home, you can make it beep. For the last approximately 10 meters, Android will guide you with a graphical indicator, according to Alza. However, Alza does not list a UWB chip for centimeter-level tracking in its specifications, so in an apartment, rely mainly on sound.

The locator is only half-universal. When pairing, you choose one of the networks. According to 9to5Google, this is a limitation for similar locators stemming from Apple’s rules, and switching to the other network requires a factory reset.

Fits in a wallet and battery lasts up to a year

The locator measures 32 × 32 × 9 mm, so according to Alza, you can even hide it in your wallet. It is powered by a common CR2032 coin cell battery, which you can replace yourself after it runs out and which, according to Alza, lasts up to 12 months. You’ll find it in the package along with a keychain, which is worth using: the manufacturer states that the locator has IP66 protection against dust and jetting water precisely with it. However, this standard does not cover immersion in water. Alza provides a three-year warranty for it.

It has a safeguard against tracking people: both Android phones and iPhones will alert you to an unknown locator nearby, and it can also emit a beeping sound itself.

Six colors for 599 Kč, in a four-pack each piece costs 425 Kč

Individually, the locator costs 599 Kč, and you can choose from six colors: black, white, yellow, green, pink, and blue. At the time of writing, all colors were in stock. Compared to the original Hero Tag for iPhones only, which typically cost 499 Kč, the new version is a hundred crowns more expensive. Meanwhile, the original second-generation AirTag costs 789 Kč and is not compatible with Android at all.

Those who want to tag their keys, backpack, wallet, and suitcase will do better with a four-pack for 1,699 Kč. One piece in it costs just under 425 Kč, and you save 697 Kč compared to four individual pieces. However, Alza only offers the four-pack in black.

It can also be done cheaper in other ways. Alza also sells the basic Hero Universal Tag for 499 Kč, which is, however, larger (44 × 44 × 11 mm). And in the Black Friday sale, the Xiaomi Tag locator now costs only 149 Kč instead of 399 Kč, and it too can handle both Google and Apple networks.

Do you carry a locator on your keys, or are you constantly searching for them in your pockets?