Kruidvat Smart Finder vs AirTag 2: what are the (price) differences?

You come across more and more (very) cheap trackers online. But how good are these trackers compared to the AirTag?

Kruidvat Smart Finder vs AirTag 2: what are the (price) differences?

Apple recently released the AirTag 2. But why would you buy such an expensive AirTag if you can now buy two trackers at Kruidvat? And that for a third of the price.

In addition, both the Kruidvat Smart Finder as the AirTag 2 both with the same Apple Find My network. So the main function of these trackers work pretty much the same. That’s not all, because other functions are also broadly similar.

The price difference, on the other hand, is significant, because for two Smart Finders you pay 9.99 euros at Kruidvat. For the AirTag 2 you have to pay € 34.99 (or 119 euros for four). Is it still worth choosing the more expensive AirTag?

Connect AirTag and Smart Finder to your iPhone

There is a difference in adding the tracker to Find My. You add the Kruidvat Smart Finder as ‘Other object’. The AirTag is often found immediately, or you can choose ‘AirTag’ in the menu. Both the AirTag and the Smart Finder can then be found under the heading ‘Objects’. Connecting is therefore a bit more streamlined with the AirTag.

Many similarities between both trackers

Most of the options are virtually the same for both trackers. They all clearly indicate the location and that is the most important. In addition, they both have a speaker to play a sound. That of the AirTag 2 is clearly louder and Apple’s tracker also responds a lot faster when you ask to play a sound.

Accurate search and battery: a big difference between the trackers

Where both trackers differ greatly is the Accurate Search function. If you look in Find My you will see that the AirTag has the option ‘Search Nearby’ (this is also called Precise Search). This makes it easier to locate the tracker when you are nearby. You can then ‘scan’ with your iPhone where your AirTag is. An arrow on the screen then indicates where you should walk.

The Kruidvat Smart Tracker does not have this option. You can just use playing a sound to find it. You can map out a route, but that is of course not of much use indoors.

Battery life Smart Finder vs AirTag (2)

With both trackers you can change the battery if necessary. But the Smart Finder does drain the battery faster. The AirTag 1 lasts approximately one year with a button cell. That’s about the same with the AirTag 2. However, with the Smart Finder we had to replace the battery within a few months.

AirTag 1 or AirTag 2?

In this article we compared the AirTag 2 with the Smart Tracker, but the AirTag 1 is broadly the same as its successor. Most of the advantages of the AirTag 2 apply to the first version. The AirTag 2 only has a longer range with Accurate Search and a louder speaker.

In addition, you can use the Precise Search function on the Apple Watch with the AirTag 2. Important: The enhanced version of Precise Search requires an iPhone 15 or newer.

Want to buy AirTag 2 or Smart Finder?

Do you want the easiest way to find your belongings (also indoors), with as little hassle as possible? Then the AirTag 2 is simply the best choice. In addition, Apple’s AirTag also looks a bit more premium than the Smart Finder.

But do you want to use a lot of trackers and spend as little as possible, for example to track your and your children’s suitcases during your next holiday? Then Kruidvat’s Smart Finder is also good enough. Keep in mind that you do not have access to Accurate Search and the battery will not last as long as with Apple’s tracker.