I use an AirTag on my keychain to monitor my keys, but it’s too cumbersome to fit inside a wallet. That’s where the SwitchBot Wallet Finder comes in handy.
Designed to resemble a thin credit card, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder pairs with the Find My app on your iPhone, making it easy to track its location. It even features a speaker that allows you to sound an alert, making it easier to locate your wallet when it gets misplaced in your home. Continue reading for my review…
Setup
Setting up the Wallet Finder is incredibly straightforward. Although it claims compatibility with its own app and Android devices, I exclusively used the Apple Find My app on my iPhone, skipping the SwitchBot app altogether. To get started, simply open the Find My app, tap “Add Item,” and hold the button on the Wallet Finder card for a few moments.
After that, you can select a name and emoji to identify the device later. The default suggestion was ‘Benjamin’s Keys,’ but I opted to change it to ‘Benjamin’s Wallet’ along with a wallet-related emoji, then pressed Continue, and the setup was complete. The card fits conveniently into an empty slot in my wallet.
How It Tracks Location
Keep in mind that Find My accessories do not utilize GPS technology. Instead, they send out a low-energy Bluetooth signal that is detected by nearby Apple devices, such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The location data is then transmitted securely and privately through the Find My network, helping you locate your misplaced item.
Even if you’re far away, as long as someone with an Apple device is in the vicinity, you can track your wallet’s location on the Find My app. Plus, there are no monthly fees or additional costs involved (unlike some other options).
The Find My network has proven to be very efficient, just like the approach taken with AirTags, and the SwitchBot Wallet Finder performs admirably as well. If your item is stationary and nearby one of the billions of iOS devices worldwide, its location will usually appear on the Find My map without delay. However, if the item is moving, location updates may take a bit longer to reflect in real-time.
You can also flag your item as lost within the Find My app. If someone discovers your wallet and wants to return it, they can use the Identify Found Item feature, which provides your contact information to facilitate the return. The upcoming iOS 18.2 update will even introduce a shareable link to assist others in tracking down your lost belongings.
Finding Nearby Using the Speaker
Unlike an AirTag, the Wallet Finder doesn’t have ultra-wideband technology, meaning it lacks the Precision Finding capability that the AirTag provides for close-range tracking.
Nevertheless, the Wallet Finder’s built-in speaker is more than sufficient for locating your misplaced wallet. Within Bluetooth range, the card emits a reasonably loud tone. It’s a bit quieter than the sound produced by an AirTag and may be somewhat muffled inside a closed wallet, but it’s still loud enough to be heard from a good distance away.
In the (all too common) scenario of losing my wallet within my house, I can easily open the Find My app, hit ‘Play Sound,’ and quickly determine which room it’s in.
Find My is also compatible with Siri, adding an extra layer of convenience. For example, I can simply ask my HomePod, ‘Where’s my wallet?’ and it will start pinging the device to locate it.
Safety and Tracking
Similar to AirTags, the Wallet Finder is positioned as a device to help recover lost belongings. It is not intended for theft prevention or tracking individuals without consent. If the card is separated from its owner for a certain period, it sounds an alert to make its presence known. It also activates ‘Unknown Item Moving With You’ alerts on nearby iPhones.
It’s essential to note that if someone else holds the Wallet Finder, they can deactivate its Find My connection by pressing a specific button sequence.
Conclusion
When used for its intended purpose, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder is an effective and economical solution. Although it’s made to be placed inside a wallet, it features a cutout for attaching to a lanyard or keychain if desired. I highly recommend it.
The only potential downside to consider is that the Wallet Finder does not allow for battery replacement. It’s a one-time-use device, estimated to last around three years. However, given the value of the items in your wallet, it likely makes sense financially to purchase a new one when it eventually expires. Just ensure you’re comfortable with the environmental implications.
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