The smallest GPS tracker are always what people look for when they search for the right GPS trackers. However, the search always ends by getting the wrong product or cannot find the right GPS tracker for the project as it is not small enough.

As a professional GPS tracker factory since 2011, we see that all the clients that search for smallest tracking device are looking for a non-GPS tracker device. It is a common misunderstanding of GPS data logger, Bluetooth tag and GPS Tracker.

What is a GPS data logger?

GPS data loggers are devices that records GPS location data including coordinates, time, speed, altitude and direction, which are stored locally in the logger itself without sending these data to any other place. The GPS location data stored in GPS logger can be used for afterwards analysis. GPS data logger is the smallest GPS tracking device and with the longest battery life in the world.

What does GPS logger do?

By connecting it with a computer or laptop, we can analyze the traces on special software or Google Earth.

Wildlife Tracking on land air or sea

It is widely used to record the traces and life styles of animals, especially for those endangered species like Cheetah, African Wild Dog, Rhino and Leopard.

Sports data connection

GPS technology has revolutionized the understanding and analysis of players’ performance. For example in football area, the vests with GPS logger can collect the data of a football player. With proper data display and analysis software, we can know the player workloads, physical exertion levels and movements patterns. It is also used in other human sports as well, like bicycle racing.

Birds Racing

Birds racing like pigeon racing are popular and the pigeons normally wear a GPS ring. Once the racing is over and they fly back, the GPS ring will be taken off and connected with computer to analyze their racing speed and traces.  A bird GPS ring can be as small as 11 mm, as light as 500g, as long as 12hrs with a 45mAh battery.

However, GPS data loggers do not offer real time tracking.

What is a Bluetooth Tag?

Bluetooth tags are location devices that get position data from the phone which are paired. Bluetooth tracking tag is widely used as an anti-lost device or as a reminder to alert people if they have left anything behind, like keys, bags and files, etc. Due to the restriction of Bluetooth range, Bluetooth tracking tag can only work for distance less than 100 meters. But due to the world popularity of iphones, Iphone connected tag can track things world wide without Bluetooth limitation. One of the most famous bluetoth tag is Invisawear as below

What is a GPS tracker?

GPS trackers are IOT (Internet of Things) devices. Its full name is GSM GPS Tracking device or LTE GPS Tracking device. GPS tracker is a combination of GPS positioning and GSM/TEL communication device, which enables real-time tracking remotely from anywhere at anytime with a phone or a computer by web or APP.

What can GPS trackers do?

GPS tracking systems are widely used in the tracking and management of vehicles, people, animals, pets and assets.

1 Live tracking

GPS trackers will send the GPS position data to a cloud server, where we can lively view the location, speed, time and direction.

2 Geo-Fencing

Per the cloud based tracking software, we can draw virtual fences to limit the tracking device at certain areas and there is email alert if the device moves in or moves out the pre-determined areas.

3 Anti-lost

GPS tracking device is widely used by banks, finance organizations and end users to keep the security of vehicles, assets and people.

4 Fleet management

With advanced fleet tracking software, companies can have a full view of the entire fleet of travelled mileage, refuel and fuel consumption, history locations and over speed alerts.

5 Alerts

Any trigger alerts shall be displayed on web tracking software and APP. As well, they are sent to the owner’s email too. Alert are such as, over speed, engine idle, fuel leak or fuel theft, fatigue driving, route deviation, over or low temperature, over or low weight, and engine ON and OFF.

What is the smallest GPS tracker in market?

The best seller and smallest GPS Tracker in Amazon is Tracki. The Tracki size is 46mm*38mm*14mm.

If not to consider GPS, the smallest GSM tracker in market is GF09. GF09 size is 33*22*16mm

If to consider GPS, the tinest GPS tracker in market is GF21/GF22, the size is 43*26*13mm

Why GPS Tracker battery can not last long?

For GPS datalogger, GPS module will consume the most power. For Bluetooth tracking tag, Bluetooth module shall consume the most power. For GPS Tracker, GPS and GSM module shall consume the most power.

From above, we can find out easily why GPS tracker battery does not last longer than GPS data logger even its battery is larger.