Put a Prox PRD in your keychain or in your purse and also you’ll all the time be alerted when begin to go away with out your iPhone.
It’s not an AirTag or a tracker, and doesn’t gather any information about you. The gadget merely makes positive you don’t stroll off with out your handset.
I’ve examined the Prox PRD for weeks. Right here’s why I’m glad with it.
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Prox PRD evaluate
AirTag is nice — should you go off with out your purse or backpack, Apple’s tracker tag will provide you with a warning. However it may’t warn you that you just’ve left your iPhone behind.
That’s the place the Prox PRD — Telephone Reminder System — is useful. It’ll begin ringing should you carry it too far-off out of your iPhone (or Android.)
I actually can’t keep in mind the final time I left my iPhone at house as a result of I exploit it because the GPS in my automobile. However I do generally neglect the handset on the sprint of the automobile. After I do, Prox’s gadget rings to warn me.
And it does so with out monitoring me in any manner.
Keychain-ready design
Because it’s designed to go on a keychain, the Prox PRD is simply 1.75 inches sq. and 0.25 inches thick.
The {hardware} features a polished aluminum outer body, with the remainder of the housing made from white plastic. There’s a built-in loop to make clipping it to your keychain a breeze.
Press a recessed space on the highest to carry out varied features, like flip the PRD on or deactive it. A blue LED lights as much as present the gadget is working.
The highest panel might be eliminated to exchange the battery.
Photograph: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Does precisely what it guarantees
The Prox PRD follows a primary rule: “Do one factor, and do it effectively.”
I put it by way of weeks off real-world testing. I began by making a Bluetooth connection between my iPhone and the gadget, then attaching the gadget to my keys.
Thereafter, when the PRD and iPhone get up to now aside that their Bluetooth connection is damaged, an alarm goes off on the PRD. However it’s a little bit extra sophisticated than that, and that’s the key of Prox’s success.
I used to be initially involved the gadget would go off each time I took my iPhone to the far finish of my home. Nope. That’s as a result of the gadget has a built-in movement sensor.
When my keys are sitting by my sidedoor, the Telephone Reminder System doesn’t pay any consideration to my iPhone. Solely after I choose up my keys with the gadget connected does it begin watching to make certain my iPhone is close by.
Prox’s gadget works fairly effectively, as famous. In fact, I experimented with intentionally leaving the home with out my iPhone and I all the time acquired an alert on the PRD. And I used to be happy to get a warning the couple of occasions I really left my iPhone in my automobile over the month of real-world testing.
The only a few occasions I’ve gotten a false alarm have come as a result of I did one thing to barely jostle my keys — the movement sensor is kind of delicate.
You’ll be able to alter the sensitivity of the Bluetooth receiver, however I by no means wanted to. I think that function is generally for affordable Android handsets with sucky Bluetooth.
A yr of battery life
The battery is replaceable, and Prox says one will final a couple of yr. However that relies upon closely on how a lot it will get used.
Often setting off the alarm is a drain on energy. And consistently shifting the PRD is one other — that retains the gadget in perpetual Bluetooth communication together with your iPhone. Leaving the gadget sitting by your door is the best-case situation.
Prox says that, at worst, you’ll want a brand new battery perhaps each six months.
My testing went on for a couple of month, and the battery nonetheless experiences it’s at 100%, so don’t be involved you’ll have to consistently change the battery.
Bonus function: Distant digital camera button
However wait … there’s extra. Open your iPhone Digicam app and double-press the operate button on the highest of the Prox PRD to take an image. If the Digicam app is in video mode, a double-press begins recording whereas a second double-press stops it.
It’s a pleasant addition to the featureset. You’ll be able to arrange your iPhone on a stand pointing towards you and a bunch and snap an image with out having to set a timer.
Subsequent model must be an AirTag, too
One of many advantages of Prox PRD is that it’s not a tracker. It doesn’t know the placement of something. You should use it with the peace of mind that the gadget received’t invade your privateness in any manner.
That mentioned, attaching the gadget to a keychain that already has a AirTag on it’s greater than I actually want to hold round.
I’d like a Prox PRD Professional that additionally features like an AirTag. That’s a risk — each Chipolo and Pebblebee make tracker tags that use Apple’s Discover My system, simply as AirTag does.
Then the gadget would let me discover my keys, or warn me if I’m leaving them behind, along with alerting me that I’ve forgotten my handset.
Prox PRD ultimate ideas
Photograph: Prox
Prox’s Telephone Reminder System isn’t an AirTag, nevertheless it does one thing Apple’s merchandise tracker doesn’t: warn you that you just’re leaving your iPhone behind.
It appears a easy job however a poor design would have turned this gadget right into a supply of irritation. As an alternative, it performs fairly effectively.
★★★★☆
I like this product, however the worth pushed my ranking down barely.
Pricing
The Prox PRD prices $57.95. To be clear, there are not any subscription charges.
Purchase it from: Prox or Amazon
The value is a bit excessive should you don’t regularly neglect your iPhone. However should you commonly stroll off with out it, the Telephone Reminder System appears an excellent funding.
Prox supplied Cult of Mac with a evaluate unit for this text. See our evaluations coverage, and take a look at extra in-depth evaluations of Apple-related objects.
