It costs a hundred per piece. Lidl started selling an extremely cheap Bluetooth locator, here's everything it can do

Have you ever lost your keys and wished you had a smart locator handy? If investing in models like the Apple AirTag with a price tag of 790 CZK seems excessive to you, Lidl comes with an alternative that costs literally next to nothing. In its e-shop, you can now find the Tronic Smart Tag Finder for 299.90 CZK for three pieces – so one locator will cost you less than a hundred.

What the Tronic Smart Tag can do

The Tronic Smart Tag Finder is a compact plastic locator with dimensions of 3.7 × 3.7 × 0.7 cm, which you can easily attach to keys, a wallet, or a backpack thanks to the included silicone strap. The device communicates via Bluetooth 5.4 with a range of 10 meters indoors and outdoors.

The manufacturer states a battery life of approximately 8 months in standby mode. The CR2032 battery is replaceable, and you get three pieces in the package – one for each locator. Lidl also provides a three-year warranty, which is certainly not a given for such inexpensive accessories.

Two versions for different ecosystems

The Tronic Smart Tag Finder is sold in two versions. The Apple variant works with the Find My app and requires iOS 14.5 or newer on an iPhone or iPad. The Android version uses the Find Hub app and is compatible with Android 9 and newer.

It is important to choose the correct version according to your phone – the locators are not mutually compatible. While the Apple version benefits from the extensive network of devices in the Find My ecosystem, for Android, functionality depends on the number of Find Hub app users in your vicinity.

This locator is not for everyone

The Tronic Smart Tag Finder makes sense for anyone looking for a basic solution for minimal money. If you occasionally forget where you put your keys and need to find them within your apartment or house, the locator will serve its purpose. For the price of one AirTag, you get nine pieces from Lidl.

On the other hand, limitations must be considered. The Tronic Smart Tag does not have a UWB chip, so it does not support precise centimeter-level localization like AirTag or Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag2. A range of only 10 meters means that if you lose your keys outdoors, you will only find them if someone with a compatible device passes nearby. For the Apple version, the user network is huge; for Android with the Find Hub app, this can be a problem.

The plastic construction also suggests that it is not the most durable device. If you need a locator for a bicycle, suitcase, or something exposed to harsher conditions, consider investing in a branded solution instead.

An interesting alternative could be the recently introduced Xiaomi Tag, although it is also significantly more expensive – a pack of four costs 1,299 CZK. However, compared to the competition, it is a very good offer.

Would you buy a locator from Lidl, or would you prefer a branded solution?