Tile Sticker (2022): A big leap forward for Tile's smallest key finder

Our Verdict

The Tile Sticker (2022) is a definite comeback over its predecessor with improved range and more consistent performance. Other key finders are more fully featured, but they can't attach to the surfaces that the Tile Sticker can stick to.

For

Better range and performance than previous Tile Sticker
Sticks to surfaces that other key finders can't attach to
Meaty design
Ii-way find characteristic for locating misplaced phones

Confronting

Non-replaceable battery
Push button for activating two-way find feature is hard to printing

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Tile Sticker (2022) is a definite improvement over its predecessor with improved range and more consistent performance. Other key finders are more than fully featured, but they can't attach to the surfaces that the Tile Sticker can stick to.

Pros

+
Ameliorate range and operation than previous Tile Sticker
+
Sticks to surfaces that other fundamental finders can't adhere to
+
Compact design
+
Two-way find feature for locating misplaced phones

Cons

-
Non-replaceable battery
-
Button for activating 2-way discover feature is hard to press

Tile Sticker 2022 specs

Size: ane.1 x 0.3 inches
Listed range: Upward to 250 feet
Tested range: 150 to 170 feet
Water resistance? IP67
Bombardment: Not-replaceable/3 years
Colors: Black

Even though the Tile Sticker (2022) is a near dopplegänger to its predecessor, you'd barely recognize this version of Tile'southward smallest key tracker. The original Tile Sticker, released ii years prior, was an interesting concept with disappointing execution and inconsistent range. "Lacks polish," I concluded in my original Tile Sticker review.

Tile's done enough of polishing since and so. The new Tile Sticker retains its predecessor's compact design and adds better performance to the mix. This is still a key finder that serves a very specific purpose — a Tile tracker that can stick to surfaces instead of attach to a primal ring like the Tile Pro or Tile Mate — only it'southward 1 we tin more enthusiastically recommend to people looking for something to attach to luggage, laptops and other flat surfaces. The Tile Sticker certainly deserves a place among the best fundamental finders.

Tile Sticker review: Price and availability

The Tile Sticker costs $thirty, placing information technology betwixt the $25 Tile Mate and Tile'due south two $35 trackers — the Tile Pro and Tile Slim — in Tile's cardinal finder lineup.

You'll pay the aforementioned amount for an Apple AirTag as you would a Tile Sticker, though Apple'south fundamental finder lacks the Sticker'southward adhesive back. Of class, the Tile Sticker only connects to your telephone via Bluetooth, whereas trackers like the AirTag and Samsung's SmartTag Plus utilise Ultra Wideband to give more precise locations of your valuables.

Tile Sticker review: Pattern and features

The Tile Sticker (2022) has the aforementioned round shape as its predecessor, though this new version is fractionally taller — 0.31 inches compared to 0.28 inches. That would seem to compound an consequence I had with the original sticker — because it's designed to stick on smooth surfaces, it can interfere with sleek designs of devices like laptops and tablets. I've attached the Tile Sticker to my passport, for example, and it'south like I've added a little knob to the cover. That complicates sliding my passport in and out of my pants pocket.

Tile Sticker 2022 stuck on passport — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

Tile has gone with a more stylized design this time effectually, as it looks to unify the advent of all of its key finders. The Tile logo remains in the center of the Sticker, just the push button for activating the tracker's very valuable ii-way finding feature for sounding an alarm to locate your misplaced phone. At present in that location's a push button on the side for that, which streamlines the look of the Sticker, even if I found the button a piffling hard to depress.

Equally before, y'all tin't fit a replaceable battery into a tracker this small. Instead, the Tile Sticker relies on a non-replaceable battery that's supposed to final for three years — the same time the tracker's adhesive is rated to concluding, conveniently. (In my experience, the Sticker remains reliably stuck on most surfaces. It certainly takes some effort to yank off, which y'all won't want to do, as that tin can weaken the adhesive grip. This is a tracker that's meant to remain in place until it's time to swap in a new 1.)

Tile Sticker 2022 next to stack of quarters — (Image credit: Tom'southward Guide)

The Tile Sticker'southward compact size likewise means it misses out on a feature establish on other Tiles in the current lineup: at that place's no QR code embossed on the device that people can scan to aid you lot retrieve your lost item. Instead, y'all're at the mercy of Tile's sometime system where other nearby Tile users passing past can observe a missing Tile tracker and beam its final known location to you.

Tile Sticker review: Performance

Every bit earlier, you pair the Tile Sticker to your smartphone using either the Android or iOS version of the Tile app. From that app, yous tin can tap a button to audio an alarm that will assist y'all pinpoint the location of whatever misplaced item you've attached the Tile Sticker to.

Tile says that this version of the Sticker has a range of upwards to 250 feet, the same listed range for the Tile Mate and Tile Slim. In my testing, the Sticker didn't achieve quite that far, but I was able to go a signal from upwards to 150 feet away when testing the tracker in a public park. The Sticker usually dropped out of range anywhere betwixt 150 and 170 feet in this testing area.

Tile Sticker app — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

That's definitely an comeback on the old Tile Sticker, which was reliable for up to twoscore anxiety at all-time and rarely stayed connected past 70 feet. You tin can definitely await more reliable functioning from this year's Sticker.

The Tile Pro continues to boast the loudest alarm in the Tile lineup, but the warning on this year'due south Sticker is loud enough to hear from 120 feet abroad. That'south nigh equal to the Tile Mate'southward performance.

Tile Pro, Tile Mate, Tile Slim, Tile Sticker — Tile's current fundamental finder lineup — the Sticker is in the lower left corner. (Paradigm credit: Tom's Guide)

Tile offers a $2.99/month Tile Premium service that adds extra features similar alerts when you go out your home without whatever item is stuck to the Tile Sticker, plus the ability to share your Tile with an unlimited number of users. I haven't found Tile Premium to exist so essential that it's a must-have, simply of all the Tile key finders, it'south the one most suited for Tile Premium's smart alerts characteristic.

Tile Sticker review: Verdict

The tile Sticker serves a very specific purpose — it tin can attach to valuables with shine surfaces that aren't peculiarly accommodating to conventional key finders. While the first Tile Sticker felt like a piece of work in progress, this 2022 edition is a more polished product that delivers what Tile promises.

Philip Michaels is a senior editor at Tom'southward Guide. He has strong opinions about Apple, the Oakland Athletics and old movies. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels.