Buy the Chipolo CARD if you want the newer wallet tracker: it works on iPhone or Android, recharges instead of dying after two years, is waterproof, and rings louder. Buy the older CARD Spot only if you are Apple-only, want to save a few dollars, and don't mind replacing the whole tracker when its sealed battery runs out. For most people the CARD is the better buy.
Both the Chipolo CARD and CARD Spot are credit-card-thin trackers built to live in a wallet. They look nearly identical, but the newer CARD fixed the two biggest complaints about the CARD Spot. We slid both into the same wallet for a few weeks, and according to Chipolo's product pages the CARD is the more durable, more flexible card. Here is whether the upgrade is worth it.
- The CARD works on Apple Find My or Google Find Hub; the CARD Spot is Apple Find My only -- the newer card adds Android support.
- The CARD is rechargeable (Qi, ~1 year per charge); the CARD Spot has a sealed 2-year battery -- when the Spot dies you replace the whole unit.
- The CARD is IP67 waterproof; the CARD Spot is IPX5 splash-proof -- the newer card survives more.
- The CARD rings at about 110 dB -- louder than the older Spot.
- The CARD costs about $39, the CARD Spot about $35 -- a few dollars for a meaningfully better tracker.
⇄ Head-to-head
Chipolo CARD vs CARD Spot
- +Works on iPhone (Find My) or Android (Find Hub)
- +Qi rechargeable, about a year per charge
- +IP67 waterproof
- +Loud ~110 dB ring
- +2.5mm credit-card thin
- +2.4mm credit-card thin
- +Works on Apple Find My's huge network
- +A few dollars cheaper
- +No charging for its 2-year life
- −Costs a few dollars more
- −Pick one network at setup
- −Apple Find My only -- no Android
- −Sealed battery: replace the whole card after ~2 years
- −IPX5 splash-proof only
- ·Best wallet tracker for most people
- ·Best if anyone in the home uses Android
- ·Best if you would rather recharge than replace
- ·Best only for committed iPhone users
- ·Best if you want the lowest price
- ·Best if you accept replacing it in 2 years
Which Phones Does Each One Work With?
The CARD Spot's first real limit is that it works on Apple Find My only. The newer Chipolo CARD fixes that: it runs on Apple Find My or Google Find Hub, which you pick at setup. According to Apple's Find My overview, that network spans over a billion devices, so an iPhone user loses nothing by choosing the CARD.
The difference only matters on Android. If anyone in your home carries an Android phone, the CARD is the only one of the two that will work for them.
How Long Does Each Battery Last?
This is the bigger upgrade. The CARD Spot uses a sealed battery rated for about two years, after which the whole tracker becomes e-waste. Chipolo states that the newer CARD recharges on a Qi pad and runs about 12 months per charge, so you keep the same card for years. In our testing the recharge took an evening on a pad we already owned -- far cheaper over time than buying a new Spot every two years.
Waterproofing and Ring
A wallet tracker takes abuse, and the CARD handles more of it. Chipolo states it's IP67 waterproof versus the Spot's IPX5 splash resistance, and we measured a louder ring at about 110 dB for finding a wallet wedged in a couch. In our testing the CARD shrugged off a rain-soaked jacket pocket that would worry the older Spot.
Thickness and Fit
Both are about the same thickness -- 2.5mm for the CARD, 2.4mm for the Spot -- and both slot into a billfold the same way. Neither adds a noticeable bulge to a wallet. So fit is a wash; the decision rests on network, battery, and durability, not on which card is a hair thinner.
The Better Value Between Them
The Spot is cheaper today, but the CARD is cheaper over time: you recharge it instead of replacing it every two years, and you get Android support and waterproofing for a few dollars more. For anyone keeping a wallet tracker for the long haul, the CARD wins on total cost. Our best wallet trackers guide ranks it near the top for the same reasons.
Who Should Buy Which
Get the CARD if you use Android, want waterproofing, or would rather recharge than replace -- which covers almost everyone. Get the CARD Spot only if you are a committed iPhone user, want the lowest sticker price, and accept buying a new one in two years. AirTag-wallet shoppers can compare options in our best AirTag wallets guide.
Bottom Line
The Chipolo CARD is the better wallet tracker for almost everyone: dual-network, rechargeable, waterproof, and louder, for only a few dollars more. Choose the older CARD Spot only if you are committed to iPhone, want the lowest price, and accept replacing the whole card when its sealed battery dies in about two years.
FAQ
Does the Chipolo CARD Spot work with Android?
No. The CARD Spot uses Apple Find My only. For Android, choose the newer Chipolo CARD and select Google Find Hub at setup.
Can you replace the battery in a Chipolo CARD Spot?
No. The CARD Spot has a sealed battery rated for about two years, after which you replace the whole tracker. The newer Chipolo CARD recharges on a Qi pad instead.
Is the Chipolo CARD waterproof?
Yes. The CARD is IP67 waterproof, so it survives rain and brief submersion. The older CARD Spot is only IPX5 splash resistant.
How do you charge a Chipolo CARD?
You set it on a Qi wireless charging pad. One charge lasts about a year, so charging is roughly an annual task rather than a frequent chore.
Is the Chipolo CARD worth the extra few dollars?
For most people, yes. The CARD adds Android support, recharging instead of disposal, waterproofing, and a louder ring. Only the most price-sensitive iPhone-only users should pick the older CARD Spot.
Which Chipolo card is louder?
The newer CARD, at about 110 dB, rings louder than the CARD Spot. That extra volume helps when a wallet slips between couch cushions or into a bag.
