last month, I took a look at UGreen’s Smart Finderan Apple Find My-compatible tracker that looks and behaves a lot like AirTag, which it's clearly modeled after, except it's square.
What I'm going to check out today is Finder ultra-thinwhich functions almost exactly the same but looks very different. It's almost exactly the same width and height as a credit card, and although it's about twice as thick, it's clearly designed to fit in a wallet, passport holder, or other places where a standard tracker won't fit.
Given that it typically costs more than the Smart Finder, sometimes as much as twice as much, my main question before I started testing it was: Is it worth the extra money?
What's in the box?
As I mentioned above, the Finder Slim is almost exactly the same width and length as my credit card, measuring 85 x 53 mm (3.3 x 2.1 inches) and 1.7 mm (0.07 inches) thick, which is about twice the thickness of a credit card.
However, I was surprised at how light it was. It looks like it should weigh more than 21 grams (0.4 ounces), especially since that includes an internal rechargeable battery.
When it comes to rechargeable batteries, I'm of two minds. Being able to charge the battery instead of hunting for a replacement when it dies is an undeniable advantage, but having to use weird little non-standard cables to do that isn't great.
Proprietary cables like these are troublesome, especially ones that are only used once or twice a year. The chances of losing it in the meantime seem relatively high, and since UGreen doesn't currently sell replacement cables, you'll need to buy a new tracker if you do.
One end of the cable is a small circle that magnetically attaches to a metal ring in the upper left corner of the tracker. The magnet is so powerful that it at least emits a corresponding beep and flashing light, so you definitely know when it's connected.
The other end of the cable is USB-A, which I don't like either. I'm sure most people will still be able to find a suitable wall charger in a few years, but even then, USB C won't be around in 2025.
Some other third-party trackers use Qi wireless charging, which strikes me as a better approach: being able to use almost any wireless charger from the past decade or more is an easier option.
In addition to the tracker itself, inside the box is a bunch of paperwork (instructions and safety information), a lanyard for connecting the tracker to other items, and of course the charging cable that I just spent a few paragraphs complaining about.
The tracker itself is made of plain matte black plastic, with subtle UGreen branding on the front, a charging socket, a small hole for passing a lanyard, and an equally tiny power button just below.
There are a bunch of technical specs printed on the back, but one thing not listed is the amount of ingress protection. Most trackers like this don't have any meaningful water or dust resistance, but that's not the case here: an IP67 rating means it can handle dust and wet conditions just fine, even if you manage to take it swimming.
Note that Finder Slim is only compatible with Apple's Find My network, not equivalent versions from Google, Tile, or anyone else. Therefore, it will be of most interest to those who already own an iPhone or other Apple device.
Setup and use
After charging the tracker until the red light went off, I held down the power button for a few seconds until a series of beeps and a light display let me know it was now in pairing mode.
The power button is very small and requires a firm press to activate: if you're having trouble getting it to do anything, try pressing it harder. The tracker is detected immediately after selecting the “Other” type of device in the Find My app on iPhone 16.
Once paired, the Finder Slim works very similarly to the AirTags I already own and the Smart Finder I reviewed last month. The Find My app displays its last known location, and you can get directions to that location as long as Apple Maps is installed.
Through the app, you can also have the tracker beep for audible cues to help find it. The feature works, but I wish the speakers were louder: in my purse, the sound was audible from the next room when the purse was out in the open, but I could barely hear it in my jacket pocket.
To test how well the tracking works, I stuffed the device into my wallet, left all the devices at home, and headed to a store a few blocks away. As I walked along busy streets and the aisles of my local supermarket, my partner could see my location updating every minute or two as the tracker pinged a nearby iPhone.
Since you'll also get an alert whenever you're separated from the tracker, I also tried the opposite approach: Put the Finder Slim on the kitchen bench and go for a run. Sure enough, when I walked a block or two away from my home, the “Find My” notification popped up.
However, since third-party trackers don't have access to the ultra-wideband chip in the iPhone, you won't get precise tracking. This feature provides accurate distance and direction once you're within a few feet of the AirTag or any other Apple device you're looking for.
That's a bit of a shame for a device like this, since it's probably housed in something relatively small. It's not UGreen's fault, of course, but coupled with the low speaker volume, it's not that easy to track a wallet dropped behind the couch.
Should you buy this?
At the beginning of this review, I mentioned that my biggest question about the Finder Slim was whether it was worth spending the extra money over the cheaper UGreen Smart Finder I checked out a few weeks ago.
For some people, it is. It's a well-made, lightweight device that makes it easier to digitally monitor items like wallets and passports than any traditionally shaped tracker, including AirTags.
If these are the items you're most worried about losing or misplacing, spending a few extra dollars will feel like money well spent the first time you don't have to spend half an hour turning the house upside down looking for them.
Likewise, if you need to keep an eye on objects that are likely to get wet or covered in dust, other trackers often don't offer water and dust resistance.
But if that wasn't the case, the Slim Finder would be a hard sell. As much as I like the idea of rechargeable batteries, the non-standard, non-replaceable charging cable feels like a looming problem.
Likewise, a relatively quiet speaker is a problem, as it's likely to be masked by whatever is placed inside it. Combined with a lack of precise tracking, this makes it difficult to get close enough to hear the speakers, and you'll probably still have to spend a fair amount of time flipping through the couch cushions.
All in all, the Finder Slim remains a practical, lightweight, and well-made device that may serve someone's specific tracking needs well. However, it's not as polished as the lower-cost Smart Finder due to some limitations and questionable design decisions.
All pictures are from the author
