Pawfit 3 GPS Tracker: The Ultimate Review

1. Pawfit 3: The Basics

The Pawfit 3 Pet Tracker is developed by Latsen Technology, with the Pawfit 3 being their latest and most advanced model.

The Pawfit 3 includes a fully embedded SIM card, impressive battery life, 4G technology, and a live tracking mode. Having been impressed with previous models, we were excited to put the Pawfit 3 through rigorous testing.

Collar Attachment

The dog-friendly design of the Pawfit 3 is immediately apparent. Weighing only 27g, it's incredibly lightweight – once attached to your pet's collar, they'll barely notice it's there.

Unlike many competitors that use simple rubber fastenings, Pawfit takes the design further with smart technology built into the attachment itself. The device comes with a separate tracker attachment base designed to fit securely on various collar and harness widths.

To remove the tracker, you simply push the orange buttons and lift it off. This secure locking mechanism prevents it from accidentally falling off your pet's collar or harness during active play or exploration.

Pawfit also offers GPS collars and harnesses with built-in tracker attachment bases, made from durable materials for long-lasting use.

Here's the clever part: once you've downloaded the companion app, you'll receive a notification if the device is ever removed from your pet's collar. This unique safety feature significantly sets the Pawfit 3 apart from its competitors.

Mobile App

Setting up the Pawfit 3 is straightforward. Simply charge the device using the included charger and download the app on your smartphone. Once fully charged, follow the instructions to pair the device with the app, and you're ready to go!

The battery can last up to 8 days (depending on usage), which is one of the best battery lives we've seen in pet GPS trackers. The device alerts you when the battery level drops below 15% – the tracker itself flashes, and you receive a low battery notification on your phone.

Throughout our testing, we found the companion app intuitive and user-friendly. Despite being feature-rich, it's easy to navigate and use. We've included screenshots throughout this review so you can see for yourself.

Location Tracking

The GPS tracking works in real-time with two update frequency options: Passive and Live mode.

Depending on your pet's activity level, the Pawfit 3 automatically adjusts how frequently it updates their location. In Passive mode, location updates occur between 30 seconds and 2 hours – the more active your pet is, the more regularly the device updates the app.

If your pet is running around playing, the tracker will update every 1-2 minutes. With a premium subscription, you can increase this frequency to every 20 or 40 seconds.

We found that Passive mode accuracy was sufficient for regular walks, showing our pet's position while conserving battery life. Pawfit also offers options to add photos, videos, and mark key places on your route – features we found particularly useful for holidays and day trips when you might want a more detailed record of your walk.

While Passive mode works well for routine walks, it's not frequent enough if you've lost your pet. That's where Live Tracking comes in. When activated, Live Tracking increases location updates to every 5 seconds, providing the most accurate and up-to-date information about your pet's whereabouts.

To activate Live Tracking, select 'Find' at the bottom of the Map screen. This mode only lasts 10 minutes to preserve battery life, but you can re-enable it as needed. In addition to 'Find', Pawfit has added two more features to help locate your pet: Light and Alarm tracking.

Once the Alarm or Light tracking is enabled, the tracker sounds and/or flashes for 10 minutes. We found these additional alerts particularly useful for locating pets in the dark or when they're hiding in dense vegetation.

The final option, 'Voice', lets you record your voice or a command and play it through the device on your pet's collar. In our testing, this feature didn't work as well as we'd hoped – the sound from the device was somewhat muffled, and our dog seemed confused by it. However, having multiple location features at your disposal definitely makes for more confident walks.

2. Pawfit 3: Additional Features

Beyond the basics, the Pawfit 3 Tracker is packed with advanced features specifically designed for pets, from safe zone to activity monitoring and various alerts.

Safe Zone

For those unfamiliar with safe zone, they are virtual safety zones that alert you when your pet enters or leaves a designated area. Like a real fence, they create a separation between that location and the surrounding area.

We tested this feature by creating a geofence around our home. When our dog left this area during a walk, we immediately received a notification. This feature provides peace of mind, especially if you're concerned about your pet escaping from your yard or a pet sitter's home.

The Pawfit 3 allows you to set up multiple safe zone, which is particularly useful if you regularly visit different locations with your pet, such as a relative's house or a favorite park. You can easily add, edit, or delete these virtual boundaries through the app.

Activity Monitoring

The Pawfit 3 doesn't just track your pet's location – it also monitors their activity levels, similar to a fitness tracker for humans. The device tracks your pet's daily activity and provides detailed insights into their exercise patterns.

The app displays your pet's activity data in easy-to-understand graphs, showing how much time they spend being active versus resting. You can set daily exercise goals based on your pet's breed, age, and weight, helping ensure they get the right amount of physical activity.

We found this feature particularly valuable for maintaining our dog's health and preventing obesity, which is becoming increasingly common in pets. The ability to track activity over time also helps identify any unusual changes that might indicate health issues.

Safety Alerts

The Pawfit 3 includes several safety alerts designed to keep your pet protected in various situations:

• Temperature Alert: The device monitors the ambient temperature and alerts you if it becomes too hot or cold for your pet. This is especially useful during extreme weather conditions when walking your pet might be unsafe.
• Removal Alert: As mentioned earlier, you'll receive a notification if the tracker is removed from your pet's collar, adding an extra layer of security.
• Low Battery Alert: The device notifies you when the battery level drops below 15%, ensuring you have time to recharge before it runs out completely.

The temperature alert is unique to the Pawfit 3 among the GPS trackers we've tested, making it particularly valuable for pet owners concerned about their pet's comfort and safety in varying weather conditions.

Audio ID

Another standout feature is the Audio ID. If someone finds your pet, they can press the power button on the side of the device to play a message with your pet's information.

Using the app, you can include your pet's name, your name, phone number, and/or address in this message. While some of this information would typically be on your pet's ID tag, the Audio ID allows you to include additional details that might help reunite you with your pet more quickly.

3. Pawfit 3: Subscription Plans

Like all GPS devices, the Pawfit 3 uses mobile/cellular networks to send your pet's location to your smartphone. This connectivity requires a subscription fee to cover the cost of the embedded SIM card.

It's worth noting that Pawfit offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you're concerned about weak mobile network coverage in your area, you can buy and test the device to ensure it works effectively before committing to a long-term subscription.

Pawfit offers two different subscription plans: Basic and Premium. While all the differences between the plans are listed on the Pawfit website, the key distinctions are:

We recommend starting with a Basic plan, as you can always upgrade to a Premium subscription later if you want to take advantage of the additional benefits.

The price varies based on the length of the subscription plan, with options ranging from as short as one month to as long as two years. The longer the subscription period, the lower the monthly cost.

4. Our Verdict

The Pawfit 3 tracker is an impressive piece of technology. While it can't replace solid recall training (teaching your pet to come back when called remains essential for their safety), it offers an additional layer of protection and peace of mind.

Unexpected situations – from fireworks to wildlife encounters or aggressive dogs – can cause even well-trained pets to run off. In these moments, having a reliable GPS tracker can make all the difference.

After thorough testing, we believe the Pawfit 3 offers excellent value. For a reasonable monthly subscription, you get an accomplished GPS tracker with accurate location updates, additional alarm and light tracking features, and comprehensive geofence capabilities.

The only minor issue we encountered was with the voice command feature. While it caused our dog to tilt his head as if trying to identify the sound, the audio was quiet and somewhat muffled, causing more confusion than assistance. However, this might work better with particularly well-trained pets.

The additional features – health and activity monitoring, safety alerts, and a log of your pet's walks – make the Pawfit 3 GPS Tracker a game-changer for pet owners who want to ensure their companions' safety and well-being.