I keep an AirTag on my keychain to track my keys, but it’s too bulky to fit in my wallet. That’s where the SwitchBot Wallet Finder comes in.
Crafted to look like a slim credit card, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder connects seamlessly to the Find My app on your iPhone, allowing you to monitor its location. It even has a built-in speaker that lets you sound an alert when your wallet goes missing somewhere in your house. Read on for my review …
Getting Started
The setup process is incredibly straightforward. While it technically supports its own app and Android devices, I’ve used it exclusively with the Apple Find My app on my phone, skipping the SwitchBot app entirely. To begin, simply open the Find My app, tap on Add Item, and press and hold the button on the Wallet Finder card for a few seconds.
After that, you can assign a name and emoji to help identify it later. It initially suggested ‘Benjamin’s Keys,’ but I opted to rename it to ‘Benjamin’s Wallet,’ chose a relevant emoji, hit Continue, and that was it. The finder then slides easily into one of my wallet’s card slots.
Location Tracking
It’s important to note that Find My accessories do not feature GPS. Instead, they emit a low-energy Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Macs. This location data is then securely transmitted to the Find My network, allowing you to locate your lost item.
Even if you’re far away, as long as another Apple device is nearby, the wallet’s location can be tracked on the map in the Find My app. Plus, there are no ongoing subscription fees to consider (unlike some competing products).
The Find My network has proven to be effective, similar to what we see with AirTags, and the SwitchBot Wallet Finder performs equally well. If your wallet is stationary and near one of the billions of iOS devices worldwide, its location will show up in Find My relatively quickly. When moving, location updates may lag slightly behind real-time.
You can also use the Find My app to mark your wallet as lost. If someone finds it and wants to return it, they can utilize the Identify Found Item feature in Find My to access your contact information. Furthermore, the upcoming iOS 18.2 update will introduce a shareable link feature, allowing you to request help in locating your lost items.
Finding It with the Speaker
Unlike AirTags, the Wallet Finder lacks an ultra-wideband radio, meaning it doesn’t support Precision Finding when you’re close by.
However, the Wallet Finder’s built-in speaker efficiently aids in locating a misplaced wallet. Within Bluetooth range, the card emits a sufficiently loud tone. While it is a bit quieter than the sound produced by an AirTag—and slightly muffled when inside a closed wallet—it’s still audible enough for you to hear from a decent distance.
For those (embarrassingly frequent) times I’ve misplaced my wallet in my house, I can simply open the Find My app, tap ‘Play Sound,’ and quickly determine which room it’s in.
Additionally, Find My is compatible with the Siri voice assistant. For instance, I can ask my HomePod, ‘where’s my wallet?’ and it will start pinging it for me.
Security and Tracking
Similar to AirTags, the Wallet Finder is intended as a means to recover lost items, not for tracking stolen goods or spying on individuals. If the card remains separated from its owner for a while, it will emit a sound to alert those nearby. It can also trigger ‘Unknown Item Moving With You’ notifications on any iPhones in proximity.
It’s essential to note that someone in possession of the card can disable its Find My connection by pressing a specific button sequence.
Final Thoughts
When used as intended, the SwitchBot Wallet Finder proves to be an effective and cost-efficient solution. While primarily designed to be placed inside a wallet, it also features a built-in hole for those who may wish to attach it to a lanyard or keychain. I highly recommend it.
A potential downside to consider is that the Wallet Finder card lacks a replaceable battery. Rated for about three years of use, it is a single-use item. Given the value of your wallet’s contents, however, it may be worth buying a replacement when it eventually dies—just be mindful of the environmental impact.
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