Losing your wallet is never a fun time. Who wants to cancel every credit card they have or brave the local DMV to get a new driver’s license? A smart wallet is a great way to keep track of your possessions, without having to carry around a safe. Aside from smart wallets, there are also GPS trackers. These tracker devices are typically the size of a credit card and can emit a sound triggered by your phone to help you find your wallet or whatever else you had it with. That said, if you’re in the market for a new wallet, there are plenty around that have integrated gps technology.
What’s the difference between the two? Tracker cards are smaller and can be moved to another wallet or even carried in a phone wallet, while a wallet with integrated tracker comes loaded with other features that the card can’t match, but the gps tracker itself can’t be moved or replaced.
GPS Tracker?
While it sounds scary (or maybe a little James Bond) gps tracker cards are fairly simple. The cards themselves are battery powered but can’t be recharged. There are also solar-powered cards, meaning you really only need to leave it out in the sun for a few hours after you’re done traveling to keep it charged up. The lifespan of the cards depends on the manufacturer. Some solar-powered cards will last a three months or so after a few hours in the sun. The battery powered cards will last at least a year, with some lasting three without needing to be replaced.
The cards themselves are about the size of a credit card, although a tad thicker, since they need to have space for the electronics that make them work. Once paired to your phone via Bluetooth, the tracker cards are all locateable from 200 feet. If they’re outside that range, they’ll use a community search, which pings other phones and creates a last location on a map.
The advantage of the card is its ability to be moved and carried with other electronics as well. Most tracker cards also have a cousin that can be slipped onto a key ring, so you can use one app for both. If you’re leaving the house without a normal bifold or trifold wallet and instead opt for a minimalist wallet, the card can be carried without requiring any extra space.
Integrated GPS Wallets?
If you want to keep track of your wallet but are also looking to replace your old one, the good news is that there are plenty of wallets with a gps integrated in that have the same features as a tracker card. The benefit to wallets with the tracker technology built-in is that they’re built to be recharged rather than replaced.
While the wallets are more expensive, a rechargeable battery offsets that price difference, as most tracker cards are cheaper but need to be replaced every year or two, leading to a greater cost over the long term. The integrated wallets also have more features and special add-ons as opposed to the tracker cards. Since the cards have more electronics in them and a rechargeable battery, they tend to double as a portable battery or have more pockets for cards, money, or other essentials such as pens.
If you’re frequently looking for your wallet or simply want the extra peace of mind, a gps tracker for your wallet can be the extra security you’re looking for without breaking the bank if you spring for the tracker card, or completely replace your old wallet while getting extra features on the top if you’d rather try something new.
