I adopted a beagle named Oliver earlier this year, and one unexpected benefit has been discovering an entirely new category of tech gadgets. One of the first things I bought was the Fi Series 3+ GPS tracking collar. After about four months of daily use, I feel like I have enough experience with it to give a fair review.
GPS Tracking & Connectivity
Beagles are notorious escape artists. They’ll happily follow an interesting scent wherever it leads, so having a reliable way to track Oliver provides a lot of peace of mind.
The Fi 3+ includes GPS and LTE-M cellular connectivity through AT&T, which is covered by the subscription plan. When you’re away from home, the collar can also connect to your phone via Bluetooth. At home, it connects to the Fi base station. Both of these connections help reduce cellular usage and extend battery life.
Using the mobile app, you can create safe zones around your home or other locations. If your dog leaves one of these boundaries without you, you’ll receive an alert. From there, you can use GPS tracking to view your dog’s location. If your dog goes missing, Lost Dog Mode increases the frequency of location updates, though it does consume battery more quickly.
Fit & Comfort
The tracking unit itself is relatively small and thin. The collar attaches using a proprietary clip system on either side of the device. Once you learn how it works, swapping collars is quick and easy while still feeling secure. I haven’t had any issues with it accidentally disconnecting.
The unit is noticeably thicker than a standard fabric collar, but it doesn’t look overly bulky on my 25lb beagle.
One minor complaint is that the device produces a slight rattling sound when the dog is moving. That said, it’s no worse than the typical jingling of dog tags on a collar.
Battery Life
Fi advertises up to three months of battery life on a single charge. In my experience, I charge the collar every three to four weeks, usually when the battery reaches around 50%.
That’s partially a personal choice. If Oliver were ever to get loose, I’d want as much battery reserve as possible for tracking him. Based on my usage, I suspect the collar could go significantly longer between charges if I allowed the battery to run lower.
Activity Tracking
The collar also tracks activity, including step counts and estimates for sleep and naps. While the data isn’t nearly as precise as what we’ve come to expect from devices like an Apple Watch or Fitbit, it’s consistent enough to be useful for monitoring trends over time.
The Fi app also attempts to detect behaviors such as barking, eating, drinking, licking, and scratching. In my experience, these detections aren’t accurate enough to be particularly useful. They’re interesting to look at, but I wouldn’t rely on them for meaningful insights.
Price
The Fi Series 3+ typically retails for $189, which includes a 12-month subscription. There is also a one-time $20 activation fee, bringing the first-year cost to approximately $209.
After the first year, subscription renewal options are:
- 6 months: $99
- 1 year: $189
- 2 years: $339
That’s a significant ongoing expense, so it won’t make sense for every dog owner. However, if you have a breed known for wandering or escaping—or simply value the added peace of mind—the cost may be easier to justify.
Personally, I expect to renew my subscription when my first year expires.
Third-Party Collar Options
Fi sells its own collars, but there are also several third-party manufacturers that offer Fi-compatible options. This gives you a wide selection of sizes, colors, materials, and patterns.
I’ve been particularly happy with the collars from Stunt Puppy, which can be customized with your dog’s name and contact information printed directly onto the collar.
Final Thoughts
The Fi 3+ succeeds at the thing that matters most: helping you find your dog if they ever get lost. The activity tracking features are nice extras, but the GPS tracking and escape alerts are the real reasons to buy it.
If your dog is prone to wandering—or if you simply want additional peace of mind—the Fi 3+ is an easy product to appreciate. The ongoing subscription cost is its biggest downside, but for me, the reassurance it provides has been worth it.