I'll never lose anything again thanks to this little piece of tech

Sometimes I think I'd lose my head if it weren't screwed onto my neck. The number of times I go looking for something I'm not sure where I left it is getting ridiculous.

Just the other day, I was at the beach riffling through my bag to find the keys for my moped, and they were nowhere to be found. Once I checked my Life360 app, I realised I'd left them in the ignition! How it wasn't stolen, I'll never know.

Now, I have my keys, wallet, passport holder, suitcase, and scooter all decked out with these impressive Bluetooth tiles used in conjunction with the popular family safety and location-sharing app, Life360. And it's been a God-send to keep me from losing everything.

Though you can also track people via the app, I've been using it solely to watch my possessions. In my opinion, the Life360 Tiles are a perfectly good (and cheaper!) alternative to an Apple AirTag, and I'll tell you why.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at the time of publishing.

Life360 Tile

$22.95 | JB Hi-Fi

Granted, Apple AirTags have a vast Find My network and intricate distance and direction finding, but Life360 tiles are an excellent option for everyday use, particularly for items that are misplaced nearby.

And on sale now for just $22.95 at JB Hi-Fi, the Tile couldn't be more of a bargain!

How it works

Users activate the Tile by pressing its centre button, allowing the app to detect it via Bluetooth, then assign it a name and category – keys, car, passport, etc.

The tile trackers work with the Life360 app using Bluetooth to locate items within 100-500 feet. When the items are out of range, they use the vast networks of passers-by to update the item's last known location on the app's map.

To make life easier, you can ring a lost item or use the Tile's button to ring your phone so nothing gets lost.

What I love about it

The Tiles come in a range of shapes and sizes, all suited for different things. The original Tiles can be automatically hooked onto keys, backpacks, tucked into a car glovebox (or scooter boot in my case), and practically anything else. The Slim Tiles slot nicely into wallets and passport holders, and the Sticker Tiles are perfect to attach to suitcases, bikes, and even the remote (it's so annoying when it magically disappears...).

If I'm rushing to get out the door and fumbling to find my keys or wallet (which happens often), I can use the app to ring the Tile attached to my items. It saves a lot of time!

Each Tile has a 'day detail' feature, showing the item's journey throughout the day. This is particularly handy if you've misplaced anything while on the move. By linking your accounts, you can also view your items on the same map as your family members and see where your items have been. Plus, the app enables "left behind" notifications that alert you if a tracked item is left at a location.

While I don't have children, I can see why these Tiles would be handy to attach to a school bag or laptop. It feels like a non-invasive way to protect your child and their belongings and keep peace of mind.

You can also access driving reports based on Life360 itself or people's locations. This shares detailed insights into driving behaviour, including top speed, rapid acceleration, hard braking, and phone use. I feel like this would be particularly useful for children who have just learned to drive to ensure they're being safe on the road.

The free Life360 membership also includes a Family Driving Summary, while the paid Gold and Platinum memberships get the more detailed Individual Driver Reports.

Life360 Tile trackers have two main battery types: three-year, non-replaceable batteries (Mate, Slim, Sticker) or a one-year, replaceable battery (Pro). Compared with AirTags, which typically last one year, this is particularly helpful and cost-effective.

Shop the range

Tile Life360 4-Pack (Colours)

$79.95 | JB Hi-Fi

Prefer a pop of colour to your things? Look beyond plain black with these colourful Tiles.

Tile Life360 4-Pack (Black)

$139.95 | JB Hi-Fi

If you only care about simplicity and security, a four-pack is a great place to start.

Tile Life360 Sticker

$39.95 | JB Hi-Fi

The stickers are designed for items that cannot easily fit a keychain tracker, such as remotes, laptops, cameras, and drones. It can also fit into a tracker slot in your suitcase if it has one.

Tile Life360 Pro

$39.95 | JB Hi-Fi

The Tile Pro is the superior, more durable, long-range tracker with a 500ft range, replaceable battery, and 128dB volume, ideal for outdoors and high-value items. I've used this particular one to track my moped.

Tile Slim Bluetooth Tracker

$29.95 | JB Hi-Fi

The Tile Slim has been designed to fit into card holders, wallets, passport holders, tablet cases, and more, which are tight on space. I love this design when you have something you can't easily attach a keychain to.

Tile Life360 Starter Pack

$39.95 | JB Hi-Fi

Double up on security with the Starter Pack!

What is Life360?

Life360 is a GPS phone locator and tracking app for everything from family members to pets to vehicles. You can add friends, and parents can add a child to their circle if they provide proof of identity and parental consent. You can also monitor the location of objects such as wallets, keys or backpacks when used in conjunction with Tile devices.

READ MORE: Clever car mounts to keep your hands off your phone and your eyes on the road