Chipolo, an AirTag rival, debuts rechargeable trackers with a six-month battery life

Chipolo, the maker of item tracking devices that compete with AirTags, launched its latest additions to its lineup of rechargeable products on Wednesday, including an updated version of its colorful LOOP tracker and the slim Chipolo CARD.

The latter is designed to slip into your wallet and features a textured matte surface in an understated charcoal color, making it easy to blend in with other credit cards. Meanwhile, the LOOP can be attached to everyday items — like your keys, purse, or backpack — and comes in six colors: navy, mint, honey, coral, charcoal, and chalk.

Unlike AirTags, which rely on a replaceable CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery, Chipolo’s new devices have rechargeable batteries. The company claims the battery will last around six months before needing another charge. To charge the LOOP, you can use any USB-C cord, while the CARD can be charged using a Qi wireless charger.

While some consumers may prefer to simply replace a battery when it dies, others prefer to buy devices with rechargeable batteries to reduce e-waste. That’s why it’s important for there to be market competition in the tracker space, instead of allowing Apple to dominate with whatever design it feels is best. In addition, eco-minded shoppers should be aware that Chipolo says its products are made with at least 50% post-consumer recycled plastic.

Both new devices also feature an extended Bluetooth range of 400 feet (120 m), which makes it easier to find misplaced items nearby. When an item is missing, you can search for it using your phone via the Chipolo companion app, as Chipolo works with both Find My on Apple devices and the Find Hub on Android devices. The ring is loud, reaching up to 110 dB for the CARD, while the LOOP reaches up to 125 dB. If your phone goes missing, you can locate it by double-pressing on the tracker itself.

The Chipolo app also lets you configure other features, like out-of-range alerts for Android, the ability to change the ringtone or adjust its volume, and, now, a new ring-and-blink option, which will cause the device to blink its light when lost in the dark.

Both devices are also waterproof and dust-tight with an IP67 rating. That means they can withstand immersion in up to 1 meter of fresh water for up to 30 minutes and are impermeable to small particles.

The new trackers are available for preorder today on Chipolo’s website and Amazon and will later also be sold in stores, including T-Mobile retail locations, by the end of September. The CARD and LOOP each sell for $39 (€45/£39).