In April, Google unveiled an upgraded version of its Find My Device service, promising powerful global tracking capabilities. This launch coincided with announcements from several companies about new Bluetooth trackers designed to work with Google’s network. However, three months on, the service has encountered several notable issues.

^{Eufy’s Postponed Bluetooth Trackers}

Eufy, a prominent brand in the collaboration, has unexpectedly delayed the release of its Bluetooth trackers. Initially slated for a June 2024 release, the SmartTrack Link and SmartTrack Card for Android are now postponed to late 2024. This change, quietly noted in an updated April blog post and highlighted by 9To5Google, has caused some uncertainty regarding these products.

While Eufy asserts that more information is available on their website, the site currently only features listings for the iOS versions of the SmartTrack models. This implies that the Android versions might not differ significantly from their iOS counterparts, as suggested by the similar design in the product images.

^{Performance Issues Highlighted}

Beyond delays, the effectiveness of the Find My Device network has been questioned. A Reddit user, chiselpow, conducted an informal test comparing a Find My Device tracker from Pebblebee with an Apple AirTag. The results, while not scientifically rigorous, indicated that the AirTag was more reliable in updating its location over extended distances compared to the Find My Device tracker, which lagged behind in performance.

Additional concerns were raised about the network’s software settings. 9To5Google discovered that Find My Device’s default setting only functions in “high-traffic areas,” requiring multiple Android devices to detect a lost item before its location is reported. This setting likely contributed to chiselpow’s difficulty in locating their Pebblebee tag due to the absence of nearby Android devices.

Google defends this high-traffic default setting as a measure to prevent unwanted tracking to private locations, such as homes. Users can adjust the settings in Find My Device to enable tracking in all areas, providing more comprehensive protection.