Chipolo 2nd Gen 110071 Bluetooth Key Phone Car Luggage Wallet Item Finder & Selfie Remote, Sapphire Purple

Albert Einstein once said to make things as simple as possible but not simpler. My experience with the Chipolo devices (there was more than one involved) were hobbled by directions that were far too simple (though in something like 8 languages!) and software that only seemed to work to a point. For the purposes of this review, I will use the terms Chipolo, disk and chip interchangeably. They all refer to the device that is the principal item you purchase (along with a ring and a spare battery.)The device is a good idea…a small circular disk that attaches to your keys. Shake the disk on the keys and it lights up your cellphone and set an alert ringing. You’ve just found your cell phone. Separately, open the app, touch the right place (see the picture) and it sets the Chipolo ringing. If lost, you’ve just found your keys. With one device and one app, you’ve now managed to help yourself if you tend to lose thing. My wife, for whom the Chipolo was meant, loses keys and cellphone multiple times a day.The first Chipolo device that I got paired with the phone but then the app told me the chip was already installed on someone else’s phone. I called the help line and got the helpdesk on the phone. The gentleman I spoke to was very nice and he looked into his side of the software. I sent him a picture of the QR code inside the chip and he saw there was a problem (and that the installed battery was low, he asked me to swap for the spare) and promised a fix. The next day, maybe 8 hours later, the chip was free and paired with the phone. Unfortunately, it would not ‘wake’ the phone. I tried every test I could. I got it to work once…when the phone was unlocked and the app was open. I shook the chip and an alert showed up on the phone…once.I called for help again and they shipped me a new Chipolo. They were very apologetic and said there was a bad batch that made its way through QA, which does happen. A couple of days later, DHL delivered a new Chipolo. This one paired fine with the phone. I also got it to pop an alert when I shook it…once. After that, whenever I shook the chip, it would chirp at me but that was it, whether the phone was unlocked, the app was live or whatever. On the flip side, when I opened the app and touched the spot, it did successfully cause the Chipolo to ring.Now, this brings us back to that Einstein quote. The directions that it came with are very Apple-like. VERY simple, some drawn pictures to demo it but that’s about it. The letters were very small (needed to use reading glasses and could barely read them even with them. They told how to pair but not how to use. There were no troubleshooting instructions or even “Shake the Chipolo and look what your phone does” kind of instructions. Simple but too simple. If it worked perfectly, they would probably have been adequate.On the app, it said that the Chipolo was close to the phone (see picture, they were right next to each other) but there didn’t seem to be directionality to it. I went to the website, looking for help and it mentioned to reset the Chipolo by opening it with a thumbnail, removing the battery and then replacing it. Tried that (its not easy to get it back into place in the chip and the cover back one) and got it to alert one more time, but that was all and only when the phone is on and the app is up. Which is NOT likely to be the case if I’m looking for my cellphone. On the flip side, the Chipolo chirps every time my wife picks up her keys. I’m sure there’s a sensitivity control but I’m not going to bother looking for it.This is a lot of work. I’m three weeks into trying to get it to work and it’s still not working. Its possible that the Chipolo I’ve got has the same problem as the first one, part of the same batch, but I ordered a different color (Blue!) specifically trying for a different batch.Simple as possible but no simpler. Here are my suggestions to the organization:You’ve got a good idea…the execution needs work. The problem with the batch isn’t addressed on your website but may have saved me calling you at 2 AM your time when I went to go look it up.The directions that you sent with the Chipolo are too simple…I get that the chip may be sold elsewhere. It might have been better if you’d simply included a note (in all the languages) saying to simply go to the website for directions. As it were, the type was too small, the font was non-serif and difficult to read and the questions I needed answered on it weren’t there. The pairing of the phone, app and chip did go well the second time.Instead of a shake (or a tap or a knock against the side of the table) to get the chip to alert the phone (which doesn’t seem to work very well) have a button. If you’re worried about wasting batteries and sending false alerts to the phone, make it so you have to push three times in succession.The app is also a little too simple. There seems to be no way to delete the first Chipolo that I got that was faulty and randomly, it seems to switch into map mode. I like that there is a map mode (“Look, I left my keys at the market…wait, how did I drive home?”) and I’d REALLY like it if you could access the map mode from online (say at the website.) But I would allow for more user control, better help functions and a diagnostic to look at the chip and tell you if it is functioning well and how much battery is left. From my conversation with the helpdesk, those readings are all available, just not to me.Last, not least, I noticed that my iPhone was losing power. I usually keep the screen on half bright to conserve energy but it was draining a lot faster than usual. Then I realized I’d forgotten to turn off the app. Not a big deal but if I was trying to find my phone using the chip, it would be a very big deal. And if the opposite happened (couldn’t find my keys) I’m not sure if they would stay paired when I opened the app. In other words, not very useful.If you are considering purchased the Chipolo, I would suggest waiting past the current generation. It is a very good idea (particularly if you tend to lose things, like my wife) and once the current problems are over, it will be very useful. Their customer service people are very nice and they responded well and reshipped the replacement Chipolo but my problems with that one more or less remained.

died after a few months. no sign of life. Getting new batteries for it, I thought they would last way longer based on claim.UpdateI changed the battery. It lasted two days and no sign of life again. So I changed the battery for another new one. It worked for 3 days then it stopped again.I followed all the instructions to reset/pair again and all that but nada. Emails are back saying my chipolo has lost communication for over 48 hrs. And now it's dead again. This is the worst tech-buy in a while. Downgraded to one star and chipolo will be thrown away. What a waste of time and I even bought a pack of new batteries for it. Unreliable, can't trust this thing. Buyer be aware.UPDATE 3Battery inside the chipolo now lasts about 2 hrs. That's it.Chipolo on the table, phone next to it. After 2 hrs the app doesn't see the chipolo, I test the battery (brand new when I put in) and it's now completely depleted.Joke

Tested both Chipolo and Tile.While both work well for "Find your Cell Phone, Find your Keys" function. Neither one worked well with the CROWD FIND function.Attached both to my wife's keys, then marked as lost. She travels all over east metro Atlanta for her work.Over a two week period, I did not get one notification of the "crowd" finding the lost item with either Tile or Chipolo.Attached the Tile to my sons jacket when he went to a concert in down town Atlanta.I did get one hit off of the Tile, so they get one more star than Chipolo.If you just want to find stuff within range of your phone, or find your phone with device, either one will work.But at least in East Metro Atlanta, there is not enough of a CROWD to do anything.

While it does work to find your keys, it is a little quiet and hard to hear. And the shaking feature to find your phone worked at first but then stopped working the first week. It would be nicer to have a button than shake it. I picked this brand mainly for the option of being able to change your own battery.

It works as advertised. The only thing I don not like is that you have to keep the app opened for it to work. This causes a problem for someone who has a habit of closing all apps to preserve the battery life.

Use it to keep track of my kitty. The range is excellent (for Bluetooth). Set up was painless.... Nice industrial design. I'll be buying more of these.

Came in wrong color and not reliable. I have several tile bluetooth locators and they work much more reliably. I tried this one because I liked the pretty color, and then I didn't even get the sky blue I ordered, it came in bright green. Too much trouble to return, so I used it, but I have never gotten it to actually locate anything.

I ordered this so I would not lose my keys. The idea is great. The first one I bought would not ring the Chipolo and would not stay connected to my phone. I called tech support, they said it was defective, and I returned it to Amazon for a replacement. The second one came in the mail and I was excited. It won't stay connected to my phone, so it is useless for me. I am returning it for a refund. I will try another device my a different manufacturer.

Ich habe diese Dinger im Video vorgestellt bekommen. Und musst sie gleich kaufen. Ich kann Schlüssel und andere Dinge sehr gut verlegen.Über die Handyapp wird die Suche ausgelöst und der chip fängt an zu piepen. Von der Lautstärke her geht es. Andersherum funktioniert die Suche ebenso. Aber auch nur, wenn man Bluetooth am Handy aktiviert hat. Das mach ich aber nicht, da ich dann für die Handysuche meine Alexa habe. Haha

Il chipolo ha funzionato perfettamente ma sia il primo che il secondo all’improvviso hanno irrimediabilmente smesso di funzionare . Ho attivato il servizio di supporto , ma non sono riusciti a risolvere il problema ....

Mon fils a maintenant la clé de la porte d'entrée accrochée à ce petit gadget qui sonne depuis son téléphone grâce à une appli gratuite. Il peut aussi faire sonner son téléphone en pressant 2 fois le Chipolo. Bien sûr, il ne faut pas être trop loin de l'article égaré car la sonnerie n'est pas super forte. La géolocalisation de l'article est possible mais elle n'est pas précise au mètre près, donc vous saurez uniquement dans quel coin vous l'avez perdu mais pas exactement où. Facile à appairer sur iPhone ou Android. Un peu cher pour ce que c'est, mais je l'ai acheté dans les Offres Reconditionnées d'Amazon pour une fraction du prix de vente.

Hat bei uns nicht so gut funktioniert. Also würde ich nicht nochmal bestellen.

No puedo vivir sin chipolo desde que descubrí el invento. Me lo regalaron, y ahora ya tengo dos dispositivos. Súper útil.