I have an AirTag attached to my keychain to keep tabs on my keys, but it’s too bulky to fit inside a wallet. That’s where the SwitchBot Wallet Finder comes in.
Shaped like a slim credit card, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder pairs with the Find My app on your iPhone, allowing you to track its location. It also includes a speaker so you can make it emit a sound, helping you locate your wallet if it gets misplaced in your home. Read on for my review …
Setup
The setup process is incredibly straightforward. While it has its own app and supports Android, I’ve only utilized it through Apple’s Find My app. I didn’t even need to download the SwitchBot app. To set it up, just open Find My, tap Add Item, and hold down the button on the Wallet Finder card for a few seconds.
You’ll then choose a name and emoji to help identify it later. It suggested ‘Benjamin’s Keys’ by default, but I opted for ‘Benjamin’s Wallet’, selected a wallet-related emoji, hit Continue, and it was all done. Then, I tucked it away in one of the spare card slots in my wallet.
Location Tracking
It’s important to note that Find My accessories do not come equipped with GPS. Instead, they emit a low-energy Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The location data is then securely sent to the Find My network, enabling you to locate your lost item.
Even if you’re far away, as long as someone with an Apple device is within range, the wallet can be tracked on the Find My app map. Additionally, there are no ongoing fees or subscriptions to worry about, unlike some competitors.
As evidenced by the popularity of AirTags, the Find My network is quite effective, and the SwitchBot Wallet Finder performs just as well. If your item is stationary and within range of the billions of iOS devices worldwide, its location should appear on Find My quickly. If it is moving, there may be a slight delay in location updates.
You can also use the Find My app to mark the item as lost. If someone finds your wallet, they can utilize the Identify Found Item feature in Find My, which will show your contact details to facilitate its return. The forthcoming iOS 18.2 update adds the capability to create a shareable link to aid in the search for lost items.
Locating Nearby with the Speaker
Unlike the AirTag, the Wallet Finder does not use ultra-wideband technology, meaning it lacks the Precision Finding feature that AirTags offer when you’re close to the item.
Nevertheless, the built-in speaker in the Wallet Finder is quite effective for locating your misplaced wallet. Within Bluetooth range, the card emits a fairly loud sound. It’s slightly quieter than an AirTag but still audible enough to be heard from a considerable distance, even when inside a closed wallet.
In those (embarrassingly frequent) moments when I misplace my wallet in my house, I can simply open the Find My app, hit ‘Play Sound’, and instantly determine which room it’s in.
Find My also works with Siri for added convenience. For instance, I can ask my HomePod, ‘where’s my wallet?’ and it will begin to ping the Wallet Finder for me.
Safety and Tracking
Similar to AirTags, the Wallet Finder is aimed at helping users recover lost items. It’s not intended for tracking people or addressing theft concerns. If the card is distanced from its owner for a certain time, it will emit a sound to alert others nearby and trigger ‘Unknown Item Moving With You’ notifications on nearby iPhones.
It’s also important to note that someone who finds the card can deactivate the Find My connection by following a specific shutdown sequence.
Conclusion
When used as intended, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder is highly effective and offers great value. While it’s meant to be kept inside a wallet, it features a built-in cutout hole if you wish to attach it to a lanyard or keychain. I wholeheartedly recommend it.
One potential downside to consider is that the Wallet Finder card does not have a replaceable battery. It operates as a single-use device, with an approximate lifespan of three years. However, given the value of the contents in your wallet, it may be worth simply purchasing another once it eventually runs out. Just be mindful of the environmental implications.
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