Xiaomi Tag Tracker Clips On Without a Case

The Xiaomi Tag clips to keys—case-free and ready.

Xiaomi’s first Bluetooth tracker is designed to be seen as a practical everyday companion, and it comes with some notable design decisions. The device is described as “a bit larger than Apple’s second-gen AirTags,” a trade-off Xiaomi makes to include an integrated metal loop that lets you attach it to a keyring or carabiner without needing an extra protective case. That built-in loop is a small but meaningful difference for people who hate hunting for a protective shell every time they buy a new tracker.

Crucially, the Xiaomi Tag isn’t a one-network wonder. It supports both Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find Hub tracking networks and mobile apps, but not at the same time. Setup requires choosing one ecosystem, after which the tracker stays on that network. For households that share devices across iPhone and Android, this could be a real speed bump if you frequently flip between platforms or hand items off to others on a different device family. In other words: you gain the benefit of two ecosystems’ audiences, but you don’t get dual-network functionality in a single device.

Powering the Tag is a replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery, good for up to a year. The replaceable cell is a quiet virtue in a world of magnetic charging and non-removable internals, especially for a device meant to live on a keyring where the battery life and easy swap-out matter. The trade-off, of course, is the ongoing cost and hassle of periodically swapping cells, which is nothing new for trackers but worth noting for budget-conscious buyers.

From a design and usability perspective, Xiaomi’s approach ticks a few boxes that matter in real homes. The integrated loop eliminates the anxiety of losing a case or misplacing a small attachment, and the larger footprint might actually help people locate the tag more reliably in clutter—though it also means the device is less likely to vanish into a small pocket or wallet. In practice, that could translate to quicker finds when the item is four or five rooms away, rather than a frantic search around the sofa cushions.

Industry observers will watch how this cross-ecosystem approach plays out in the wild. The Xiaomi Tag’s willingness to support both Find My and Find Hub out of the box signals a broader push toward interoperability—without forcing users into a single company’s umbrella. That could press rivals to rethink how much to push users into one network with a bundled ecosystem lock-in, especially as new trackers surface in the next year.

Two concrete practitioner takeaways to watch: first, setup choice matters. If you primarily use Apple devices, you’ll likely lean to Find My for better crowd density in Apple-heavy neighborhoods; if you’re Android-first, Find Hub might offer faster locating in non-Apple environments. Second, form factor influences everyday use. The elongated, case-free design will appeal to those who hate extra accessories, but it may feel bulkier in tight pockets or small organizers. Availability and price will also shape adoption, and those details were not disclosed in the initial briefing.

Bottom line: Buy—if you want a no-fuss, clip-on tracker that works with either Find My or Find Hub and hate the idea of a separate protective case. Just be prepared to pick a single ecosystem at setup and to keep an eye on price and regional availability as Xiaomi expands support beyond the initial launch.

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Xiaomi’s tracker doesn’t need a case to clip to your keys