Onn item tracker review: I tried Walmart's $15 AirTag alternative

Always losing your stuff? An item tracker can help. These little gizmos typically ride shotgun on a keychain, though you could also toss one in a purse, strap it to a backpack, tuck it in a suitcase and so on. Apple AirTags are the best-known trackers out there and a decent deal at $29, but there's a much cheaper option: The Onn Item Locator for $15, available exclusively from Walmart. Feature-wise, it's virtually identical to an AirTag (and actually better in one respect), so is there any reason you shouldn't save some money? Yes. Read on for my Onn Item Locator review.

First things first: Onn's locator works only with iPhones. If you're looking for something Android-compatible, I highly recommend Tile. (Read more about that and other options in my roundup of the best trackers for finding lost stuff.)

The Item Locator pairs via Bluetooth, effectively creating a wireless tether between the two. Why only iPhones? Because it relies on Apple's Find My network, just like Apple's own AirTags.

But AirTags have a fundamental shortcoming: Unless you pay extra for a case, there's no way to attach one to your keyring, backpack or the like. It's just a loose item, like a quarter, fine for tossing into a purse or suitcase but no good for anywhere that requires attachment.

The Onn tracker, however, has a hole built into the case, so you can easily slip it onto a keyring. And, again: half the price. Sounds great, right?

Wrong. My first unit started out OK but developed major problems. Within two weeks of buying, activating and attaching it to my keychain, the battery level (as indicated in the Find My app) was below half. It's supposed to last as long as a year, same as AirTags. But much worse, the tracker didn't seem to function consistently. It would beep once and then stop, even when I stood right next to it.

Thinking perhaps it came with a faulty battery (it happens), I popped open the case (using a flathead screwdriver, just like opening a car key fob) and swapped in a new CR2032. Same result. Verdict: Defective unit, back to Walmart with it.

Unfortunately, the replacement fared even worse: Right out of the box, it failed. Although it emitted the initial "pairing beep," my phone simply couldn't detect it. I tried every possible troubleshooting step, including rebooting the phone, with no success. Other Find My devices were still connected and able to be located, so I don't believe this was a phone-related issue.

Bottom line: I can't recommend the Onn Item Tracker. Even when my first unit was working, it wasn't as loud as an AirTag, meaning I'd have a harder time hearing it beep while trying to locate it. But the reliability is obviously the larger concern; two defective units in a row means you're better off with a different tracker.