I love AirTags, but this alternative slips right in my wallet and solves their biggest flaw

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source. I absolutely love them. They’ve been the one piece of tech that has truly transformed my life.

But as much as I adore them, they’re not perfect. One thing that hasn’t changed in the nearly five years since their release is their shape. No matter how big of a fan I am — and I consider myself their No. 1 fan — even I have to admit that their little UFO-like design doesn’t fit well into a wallet or purse.

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I’ve tried all sorts of solutions to make AirTags work for wallets, even going so far as to take one apart and retrofit it into a 3D-printed credit card shell. But, in the end, the best option I’ve found is the clip that Ridge uses — and even that is far from ideal.

Thankfully, third-party tags have entered the market, and many of them are perfect for slipping into a wallet or purse. Even better, some offer a few improvements over Apple’s AirTag.

One tag I’ve been testing recently is the UAG Metropolis by Urban Armor Gear

Why it works for wallets

The Metropolis is designed to fit perfectly alongside your credit cards. It measures 3.4 x 2.2 x 0.1 inches (85.8 × 53.6 × 3.0 mm), making it about the thickness of four credit cards.

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The card is made of a tough polycarbonate shell, ultrasonically welded along the edges. It’s IPX4-rated, meaning it’s not dust-resistant and can handle splashes. I even immersed the card multiple times, and it kept working flawlessly.

Durability: Can it handle everyday use?

A common concern with slim tracker cards is their durability. Wallets and purses tend to experience a lot of bending and flexing, which can potentially damage something containing a rechargeable battery.

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To test this, I carried the Metropolis tag in my back pocket without a wallet for over a week. Despite all the bending and flexing, the tag remained unaffected.

Battery life and charging

Inside the Metropolis is a 110 mAh battery that lasts about five months under normal use. When it’s time to recharge, you can simply place it on a Qi or MagSafe wireless charger for a couple of hours.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I really like the UAG Metropolis, which adds a touch of style and practicality.

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At $45, the Metropolis is competitively priced compared to other high-performing tracker cards, like those from Ridge, or KeySmart