Why it matters
Battery life is the headline. Fi states up to 3 months between charges for the Series 3+, against up to 2 weeks for Tractive's DOG 6 and up to 48 hours for a GPS fence collar like the Halo 5. That changes how the device fits into daily life.
The tracker is built into the collar. That makes it secure and harder to lose than a clip-on, but it also means you buy Fi's collar rather than attaching a tag to the one your dog already wears.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Good fit if
- You want to charge as rarely as possible
- Your dog is medium or large and wears a collar daily
- You want activity and sleep tracking alongside location
Look elsewhere if
- You want to clip a tracker onto an existing collar (see Fi Mini)
- You won't pay for a plan
- Your area has weak AT&T LTE-M coverage
Pros and cons
Pros
- Up to 3 months of battery (maker)
- IP68/66K water rating, salt water included (maker)
- Wireless charging
- 500+ lb pull resistance claimed by Fi
Cons
- GPS/LTE plan required for every Fi device
- Collar-integrated design limits your collar choice
- Plan prices weren't shown on the product pages we read
Limitations to weigh
- Battery figures are Fi's maximums; frequent live tracking shortens them.
- No cellular tracker works everywhere: tracking needs cellular coverage, and indoor GPS fixes are less precise.
Specifications
Every figure below comes from the source shown in brackets. Where the maker doesn't state something, we say so instead of estimating.
| Price seen | $129 | Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Model number | smart-collar-v3b | Maker |
| Battery life (maker-stated) | Up to 3 months | Maker |
| Network | AT&T LTE-M | Maker |
| Subscription | Required (GPS/LTE plan chosen at activation) | Maker |
| Water resistance (maker-stated) | IP68/66K (maker-stated, salt water) | Maker |
| Pull resistance (maker-stated) | 500+ lb (maker-stated) | Maker |
| Warranty | 1 year | Maker |
| Charging | Wireless charging | Maker |
| Weight | Not stated in the maker's materials we read | Not stated |
Alternatives worth comparing
More gps & trackers we cover
- PAJ Dog GPS Tracker $21.99 seen
- Petcube GPS Tracker $52.99 seen
- PetSafe GPS Dog Tracker $79.99 seen
- Tractive DOG 6 XL GPS & Health Tracker $89 seen
Final verdict
If charging is the thing that makes you abandon trackers, the Series 3+ is the strongest case we cover. If you want to keep your own collar, the Fi Mini or Tractive DOG 6 fits better.
Where to buy
Our links open this exact model's product page. Prices and stock change; check what's included before you order.
Each button opens this exact model. We may earn a commission on tracked links; it never changes what we publish. Disclosure