Dog trackers are so innovative these days! Not only can you use them to find your missing dog, but you can even train and monitor a dog off-leash with just the use of a smart collar. One of the most popular smart collars on the market right now is the Fi Dog collar (Series 3 model). It’s their newest model and definitely their best offering so far.
Keep on reading to learn more about this newfound gem in dog training! I tested and used over 30 different dog GPS trackers, but I personally use Fi for all four of my dogs. Below, I’m sharing my expert review of Fi Collar and explaining what makes it better than others. We have a lot to discuss, so let’s get started!
DISCLAIMER: I need to let you know that Fi sent me the collars for the sake of doing this expert review. If you purchase an item using my link, it provides me with a small referral fee. They also shared a discount promo code with my readers.
What is the Fi Series 3 Model Dog Tracking Collar?
Fi recently released a new Series 3 model, which is cheaper than the previous one. Why would they update their collar AND make it cheaper than their other models??? One word: competition. See, Tractive Collar also updated their collar around the same time as Fi and offered it at a lower price point. However, let’s stick to Fi Collar in this review.
The Fi Smart Dog Collar allows you to track your dog remotely anywhere and anytime. It also uses its own app to locate and track your dog and also serves as an activity tracker for your dog’s daily activities. This dog collar is made by Fi (obviously) and comes in 4 colors for its band, including:
- grey
- yellow
- blue
- pink
I went with blue for my new Fi Series 3 collar, as you can see.
This collar is perfect if you want to train and track your dog off-leash who is always off on an adventure.
Once you buy the Fi dog collar, you need to register your account on their app. This app lets you track the whereabouts of your dog using the Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking and the LTE-M network. The collar serves as a locator for your dog when you check it on the app tracking from the Fi base.
Table could not be displayed.Fi Dog Collar Technical Features Review
For the Fi collar to work properly, you need to have both the app and the collar itself. Keep on reading and let’s take a look at the technical features of the Fi collar.
Tracking
Fi smart collar combines the use of GPS tracking and LTE-M networks for tracking your dog. It utilizes up to three satellites which are very helpful when locating your dog’s coordinates. With this technology, tracking the dog’s location can be accurate up to 7ft in radius on an open sky. The LTE-M network which is used for low-power and long-distance communications communicates with the GPS when tracking your dog. This new technology that is first used by Fi for tracking has a signal that can reach up to 30% more than the usual networks can reach. With these two technology combined, you can worry less about the whereabouts and exact location of your dog. The tracking system of the Fi collar is also capable of notifying you when it has detected that your dog has escaped from your yard.
Sleep Tracking
Fi has recently added a new sleep-tracking feature to their collar which I find pretty nifty. Your dog’s sleeping habits are a good indicator of his general health. If they change, it might indicate a potential health problem. Fi Smart Dog Collar has the ability to notify you if there are any changes in your pup’s sleeping pattern.
For example, maybe your dog regularly wakes up during the night to drink extra water. Fur parents aren’t normally aware of this behavior, but with Fi collar’s Sleeping Tracker, you can now see whether there is something to be concerned about.
Size
The Fi GPS dog collar has a wide variety of sizes ranging from small to extra large. For the small size, it has a collar length of 11.5 to 13.5 inches and is perfect for small-breed dogs such as Boston terriers, Frenchies, and pugs. If your dog is about the size of a bulldog, corgi, or beagle, then choose the medium size collar, which has a length of 13 to 16.5 inches. If your pooch falls into the “bigger than medium but still not quite a large breed” category (in other words, has a 15-22.5″ neck) go with the large-sized collar. You can see it on my handsome pup below.
Fi smart dog collar also offers a fit for large breed dogs including standard poodles, Siberian huskies, and golden retrievers. The extra-large collar has a length of 22 to 34.5 inches and is perfect for big dogs such as bloodhounds, great Danes, and mastiffs.
A word of advice, though, don’t rely on breed size alone to determine the right size collar. Measure your dog’s neck and choose the right fit based on that.
Color and Design
If you prefer fun colors, then the Fi dog collar is just right for you! This smart tracking collar that allows your dog to be off-leash is available in colors including gray, yellow, blue, and pink. As I mentioned earlier, for series 3 I got a blue one.
The band itself has also a cool design that has doodles of lines and they also have a Fi Maker program in which buyers can choose different designs and materials for the accessories of the collar. Some of these custom-made designs include a band made of leather, a chic design made of beads, and a bright and bold band made of polyester webbing.
Waterproof Rating
The Fi dog tracker is completely waterproof, even to the water of the ocean! The Fi collar has a waterproof rating of IP68 and it can be submerged in water at 1.5m deep. It can handle being submerged for up to 30 minutes without malfunctions. This is perfect for you and your dogs if you love going on adventures around lakes and rivers or just during the rainy season.
Battery
The Fi smart dog collar battery is rechargeable and can last up to months depending on your dog’s activities. If your dog gets lost and the collar is in lost dog mode, it can last up to 2 days. If your dog is active and the collar just uses the GPS for tracking, the battery life can last up to 3 weeks with a 2-5 minute refresh. The battery life of the Fi dog collar can last up to 2 months with a 2-5 minute refresh time if your dog just walks outside your home since the collar uses both Wi-Fi and GPS for tracking your dog’s location. And if your dog is a lazy couch potato that just stays at home and never goes out, the battery can last up to 3 months before being drained.
The App
The Fi GPS collar uses an application where you can see the real-time location of your dog from the Fi base. This base is the basepoint of the tracking and is usually set in your house. It is helpful, especially for lost dog scenarios since you can be notified when your dog has escaped and can pinpoint its location.
The activity tracker on the app tracks and shows a report of your dog’s daily activities including the number of steps it has made. What’s cooler is that you can set and customize your dog’s daily goal to make it healthy. With the activity tracker, you can also compete with other Fi users and see your dog’s rank among others. Connecting with other Fi users near you is also possible with the app.
You can also add many dogs and owners to your Fi account in the app. This will help you to monitor your dog’s location remotely in real-time and you can have access to the history of any owner that you added to your account. This is very helpful if you leave your dog with a dog sitter as you can set boundaries on where the sitter is allowed to walk your dog and can see your dog’s exact location. Worried that you might lose your dog during the night? Worry no more! Using the app, you can choose your favorite color and set it as the color of the LED light on its collar.
Subscription
2023 Update: As of now, you cannot buy the Fi dog tracker without a subscription. In fact, you actually pay for the subscription and the collar comes with it. This subscription is for your GPS plan since the tracking collar uses GPS/LTE technology to track the dogs. Subscribing means you can also check the daily, weekly, and monthly history of activities of your dog.
You can also track your dog remotely, anytime, and anywhere with monitoring alerts. The subscription options they offer are for a year, two years, and three years. These can be paid end of the subscription period or weekly. You can save money if you choose the 2-year plan. If you have the budget, you can go for these two to have a long GPS plan for your collar.
The subscription price for Fi Series 3 collar (updated in May 2023)
- Month-to-Month: $19
- Prepay for 3 Months: $54
- Prepay for 6 Months: $102
- Prepay for 1 Year: $192
- Prepay for 2 Years: $336
Some notes regarding subscriptions, as these are the biggest drawbacks to the collar. First, your Series 3 collar comes with a 30-day free trial subscription. After that, you have to commit to at least 6 months. Yep, even with the month-to-month plan. Per Fi, “When you sign up for Fi, you can try it for 30 days. If for any reason you decide that Fi is not for you, you can return your Fi within the return window. Otherwise, the month-to-month and 3-month memberships have a minimum commitment of 6 months.” In addition, Fi charges a one-time activation fee of $20. So, you’ll want to add $20 to the cost regardless of which plan you choose. If you cancel your plan and decide to purchase it again later, however, they’ll charge you a $20 reactivation fee.
Fi Smart Dog Collar Series 2 VS Series 3: What Changed?
The new model of their smart dog collar, the Fi Series 3, has the same main features as series 2. But what’s new about series 3? Here are some of the changes and updates you should look forward to:
50% Smaller
Fi Smart Dog Collar Series 3 is 50% smaller compared to Series 2. It is half the size of the Fi series 2 so it is also lighter. This is an advantage for small-breed dogs who find Series 2 a bit heavy.
Additional Sizes and Collar Choices
This new series also offers more collar sizes: extra small and extra large. The extra small size has neck measurements of 9.75″ to 11″ and 3/4″ wide. While the extra large size collar is a one-inch wide collar and measures 19.75″ to 30.5″ for your pup’s neck.
Given this, there are now more options to choose from. You can better select a collar that fits perfectly to your dog. Aside from that, series 3 also offers eight different collar choices.
50% More Pull Force
The body frame of the Fi Series 3 is made entirely of stainless steel. It can now withstand 400 lbs of static force compared to the 300 lbs of pull force of the Fi Series 2. Fi Series 3 dog collar is now more durable and can help you keep your dog on a leash with its better pull force.
2x LTE Network Distance Coverage
The LTE-M signal from all Fi Collar has a 30% greater range than that of any other cellular network. With Series 3, Fi increases signal sensitivity by another 100% to ensure that your dogs can be located even in the most remote locations.
40% More GPS Satellites
Four positioning satellite constellations are used in Fi Series 3. This gives the Fi Series 3 collar an advantage in dog tracking as there are 78 satellites that can immediately locate your dog within a 6-foot radius.
Waterproof
We know that all Fi smart dog collars are waterproof including the Fi Series 3. This new collar is not only waterproof but also rated both IP68 and IP66K.
Your dog can swim, play, and dive in any sort of water, including salt water, fresh water, and chlorine, thanks to the Series 3 and 2 Collars’ ability to withstand immersion in water up to 1.5 meters deep for up to 30 minutes.
Because it has passed IP66K testing, the Series 3 Collar can be sprayed with water for up to three minutes at 150 PSI in a 1/4″ stream without getting damaged.
Price
The Fi Series 3 subscription has a minimum subscription period of 6 months and costs USD17 per month. A one-time activation fee of USD 20 is also required and will be billed to you upon placing your order.
This may be more expensive than the Fi Series 2 options, which start at USD1.59 per week (depending on your selected plan).
Fi Dog Tracker General Features Review
Photo Fi Collar
Now that we know the technical capabilities of the Fi dog collar, let’s tackle its general features:
- The collar features smart power management as it will connect to any WiFi access points inside and outside your house to minimize battery usage.
- It is dog-proof and adventure-proof as it is made of an armored aluminum faceplate and internal metal armor. These materials make the collar resistant to dog bites and other things that can break the usual dog collars.
- Fi smart collar has a longer battery life that can last between 2 days up to 3 months depending on usage and activities being done.
- Fi dog tracker has increased antenna sensitivity up to 4x the usual which is very useful for locating dogs in remote areas and areas that have less signal coverage.
- Fi shows a more accurate and reliable escape detection when the dog escaped your Geo fence with the combined technology of GPS and the LTE-M network and the algorithms used by the collar.
- It has better signal coverage for locating and tracking with the use of GPS and LTE-M networks.
Pros and Cons Of Fi Collar Series 3
Like any other product, the Fi dog collar has also its pros and cons. Check the table below to know more about these
PROS
- Long battery life
- Waterproof and adventure-proof
- Can add multiple owners on the account and set desired geo boundaries
- Cheap subscription
CONS
- You need the plan to take full advantage of the features
- While it’s cheaper than the Series 2, it’s still pricey (but worth it)
- May not work as well in very remote rural locations (it all depends on satellite and LTE-M network coverage in your area)
What Sets The Fi Dog Collar Apart From Its Competitors?
There are already many GPS dog collars available out there in the market for all the dog owners and trainers to choose from but it can get conflicting at times because there are now way too many iterations of them. However, in my opinion, the Fi Dog Collar just has that edge that sets it apart from the others.
The company behind Fi makes sure that your voices are heard and they always take it to the next level when dealing with the customer’s feedback. With their newest release of the Fi Dog Collar Series 2, they made sure that the wifi integration has far better accuracy than its previous model, the Series 1. This means that it has now better escape detection accuracy, reliable signal, and longer battery life which can last up to three months.
The Fi Dog Collar is also the first to utilize the LTE-M network which reaches farther than LTE, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. The GPS tracking ability is also much faster than its competitors as it uses constellations of satellites that buffs up its accuracy and tracking speed, especially in an open area and sky.
Fi Smart Dog Collar Vs. Other Smart Collars
Table could not be displayed.The Reason Why I Consider Fi Collar As the Best GPS Collar For Your Dogs
The top three dog GPS collars we picked are Tractive, Whistle, and Fi smart dog collars. There are products that are comparable with each other such as the Tractive and Whistle; however, we have tested them ourselves, and one of them stood out for us: the Fi dog collar. This is because even though all of them have very similar features but one has improved more on their dog collar’s overall model or product but the Fi dog collar made their version even better.
The Tractive GPS dog collar is better than the Whistle GPS dog collar in one way or another and vice versa. Tractive gives you live location updates of your pup with a 2- to 3-second update rate while Whistle does this every 60 seconds. They both record your pup’s location history however Tractive also shows you the altitude and speed of the collar and therefore can give you data about your dog’s speed and your height above sea level. They both allow you to set up and customize safe zones or virtual (GPS) fences where you can choose where you want to let your dogs stay and be safe or stay away from.
Both the Tractive and Whistle dog collars require you to have cellular coverage so it works where your cell phone works and you guessed it, it will not track your dog without any network coverage. The Tractive dog collar receives signals from satellites in space to calculate your dog’s location and is then transmitted via a cellular service for better tracking while the Whistle 3 uses GPS, wifi, and cellular service to track your pups.
The Fi dog collar just has it all and has some features better. It sends you your pup’s live location updates with GPS and has a 1-, 5-, or 15-minute update rate depending on the state of the Fi dog collar. This dog collar still requires you to have a cellular data network to track your pup however it has a better method of locating your dog by using the LTE-M network and GPS and by using constellations of satellites to better track your pup’s coordinates. It even has a lost dog mode feature where it increases its attempts to locate your pup once every minute with the LTE-M and GPS.
How Fi Collar Series 2 Is Better Than Series 1 (Previous Model)?
The Fi Collar Series 2 possesses all the features and benefits you can get from the Series 1 but with added features and improvements and gives you more freedom to roam.
The module of Fi Series 1 requires you to have the Fi Bases for the device to be able to track indoors and the Fi Series 2 improved on its limits and made it wifi compatible for you to be able to track your dog wherever there is a WiFi connection. The GPS antenna of Fi Series 2 also has 4 times better coverage than the previous one. The Series 2 also improved its battery performance for travel and if you live in a larger home.
Conclusion
With all the features it has, I believe that buying the Fi dog collar is worth its price especially if you are into leash-free life for your dogs. What I like the most about this product is its long-lasting battery life. This will save you time from charging it now and then and also saves your electricity consumption from charging! I also like the cool designs of the collar itself. What I dislike about it is that it can be overwhelming for a first-time user to understand everything about the collar and the app – how it works, what it can do, and how to set up things.
I hope this article has helped you to know more about the Fi collar. If you ever decide to buy one, take the time to discuss it with your dog’s vet so that you can set goals in using it. If used properly, I believe that this will help your dog have a leash-free, healthy, and happy life. It can also give you peace of mind since you can easily locate your dog using its tracking system.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you found this review helpful and decided on buying Fi, I would highly appreciate if you use my referral link for purchasing. I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. It will keep me motivated to buy expensive dog gadgets, properly test them and provide unbiased reviews.
Fi Dog Collar Final Score
-
Fi Dog Collar Final Score By Technobark
If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you. 2023-05-19
How big and heavy is it? Mfg doesn’t say.
Fi is adjustable and works for small and large dogs. It weighs 1.3 ounces.
I have two questions about the Fi tracking system.
1) My rescue Collie is very fearful. Is the safe zone like an E collar? Because he is fearful I do not want to expose him to any adverse stimulation.
2)What are the current subscription costs?
1) No, Fi collar won’t vibrate or shock your dog but you will receive a phone notification when your dog outside of the safe zone.
2) I updated this in the articles the current prices are:
– 1 Year Plan: $99
– 2 Year Plan: $186
– 3 Year Plan: $248
Does the app track the water intake and calories, activity, scratching? I’ve looked at the whistle and I like those features, but I think the Fi is probably a better tracker and I like the lost dog mode
Yes it does dog activity tracking. Check my comparison of these two: https://technobark.com/fi-vs-whistle/
It may sound like a stupid question, but…..
I take Ivy off leash for hikes in the NH mountains where cell phone service can be iffy. Sometimes she chases a squirrel or animal that leads her out of my sight and voice range. I need a system/collar that will help me find her quickly when this happens. Do you recommend Fi Collar for us?
And, please remind me of the discount code if we decide to buy.
Thank you.
Leslie
Hello Leslie, I would not recommend Fi Collar for hikes and outdoor adventures with bad cell phone service. Fi collar is amazing but only within a good internet connection. For your purposes, I’d recommend Garmin Alpha 200i, or you might consider cheaper Garmin collar options, e.g. Garmin Astro 430 or Garmin Alpha 100. You can also consider other good alternatives that would work without cell coverage, e.g. Dogtra Pathfinder or SportDOG Tek. All of these use sattelites to track your dog, so cell coverage not required.
However, if you are looking for a daily use tracking collar with proper cell service, Fi is the best option for many reasons I mentioned in the review.
How accurate is the GPS in the downtown area (NY City)?
Fi collar has one of the best GPS accuracies of all the dog trackers I tried. The range is not that big in the downtown area but accurate
Good review. I have used Fi and Whistle. For a long time, Whistle had much better accuracy over the Fi series 1. However, the Fi series 2 is far superior over the Whistle, at least for my dogs. My dogs are very active, and they have lost several Whistle trackers. Some have been recovered, some have not. The greatest weak point for the Whistle is the attachment. Fi is rock solid in this department, and with the series 2 upgrades, is the best all around tracker on the market, in my honest opinion.
We live on12 acres of land. What is the tracking range for this tracker? How many miles will it track up to? Does it only show dog’s location when out of the safe zone?
Why is customer service so hard to get a hold of. Been stringing for weeks with no reply. Very frustrated.
I had responses the same day. How do you contact Fi collar customer service?
My dog is 14 lbs with a neck about 10-10.5 inches with a little wiggle room. Will the small fit?
Yes, Fi collar is adjustable and should fit
I was reading on the PetFon2 website and it states that it is only rain proof not waterproof , I also read reviews on amazon where dogs went swimming with the PetFon on and it is now dead. You may want to change that information on your PetFon review . Thanks for these reviews they are very informative !
Hello,
For the first time I am about to go on a one month road trip from Portland, Or to Arizona and then up the west coast for a month with my 16 month old, 57 lb, strong and energetic doggie who lives in an apartment with me and who had never been a truly “free doggie”. I let her off lease in dog parks and occasionally elsewhere. She’s bolted a few times. I’m very nervous about her running away and loosing her and I’m researching which is the best gps collar to get for her. I’ve been looking at the Fi 2 but you also suggested that the Gamma Alpha 200i would work better for bad cell phone coverage. We will be in places with coverage but also places without coverage.
You also said that the Fi 2 is alot to learn. Not being a digerati, I’m nervous about that.
I want my doggie to be both safe and free.
I look forward to your recommendation.
Thanks,
Susan
In this case, I’d recommend Garmin 200i if you let her free on hiking trails or park areas with bad coverage.
Hi! I am looking for a good GPS tracker without an monthly subscription. For my Motorcycle and Boat I have an GPS tracker with my own SIM card inserted.
My question is if I can insert my own SIM card in the FI or Tractive collar to have the GPS tracking activated or does that only work with their own subscriptions?
I purchased a series 2. I have had multiple dogs hit by cars and wanted to be able to know my pup was safe when I was gone. The 1st day he wore to collar it alerted my he left “Home” three times sending my PTSD into over drive. after the third time I just ignored it. (Defeats the purpose) I reached out to FI and was told this happens when the collar switches from WIFI/BASE/LTE. Well I live on 2 acres cant keep the collar on WIFI all the time. In addition to that it died in 3 days…. not 3 months… I sent it back after 3 days of use and they said it was damaged and took off 25%!!!! Buyer Beware
Does your GPS system cover International countries and cities as well?
I have a Fi and I cannot pair with my phone. There is a Green flashing bar on the collar that I have never seen before. I’ve tried to activate several times but it keeps failing. I have followed the rebooting process (disconnect base, turn off Wi-Fi, etc.) without success.
There someone who can help me wit this issue?
I live on 55 acers of timber land, and I’m wondering how well Fi works in the timber?
The specs state this network will show unobstructed location. If my dog goes into an obstructed area and tracking is lost, will Fi save his last location so I have an idea where to look? My dog is fast and this would be helpful.
Read your review, thank you – very informative. Decided to order. Measured dog’s neck, it’s right on the cusp. Tried messaging Fi. Got a list of times they are not available (?) – staff meetings Mondays and Wednesdays, lunch 12-2 ET, etc. Never mind this was a Friday at 3 ET so someone should have been around. Then they sent an email. I reply right away. Just need to know if a small or a medium, nothing complicated. No reply. Now it’s the weekend. Not promising for future customer service needs. Big fat F. Will be ordering another collar.
Fi d ooo g collars are worthless and the customer service is even worse. Don’t waste your money on these crap collars
Hi,..Are there any models which will be able to accommodate local network sim cards ?
I’m in Namibia.
Kind regards
My FI collar (version 2) broke — solely using the attachment keeping the FI device attached to the collar with little wear, solely charging the device, Will the version 3 attachments be more sturdy?
I would not say it’s more sturdy but more lightweight so should be harder to break.
Working at the animal hospital for 14 years. I’ve seen many cases of pets who were found, but didn’t have a collar with tag or microchip on. Other cases of people finding pets and never taken to be scan or temporarily stay at a pound for 10 day wait period to see if owner been looking before keeping the pet. Mostly people claim to me “The previous owner abandon this pet and has been roaming around the neighborhood. I’m not giving back this pet since it was clearly abandon.” Not even giving actual owner a chance to explain what has happen. So I always recommend gps collars and microchip combine. Microchip is an extra security just in case if your pet pulls the collar off for being to loose.
This product has caused immense distress for both my self and my family. I was away for the weekend while my father was keeping my dog for me. She has been using the Fi collar now for about two months and for the first two months it was absolutely amazing. I would get alerts when she had left home and where she was. However this past weekend while I was away I got an alert that she was over a mile from my home without an owner. When I spoke with mother moments later he was confused as he didn’t know she was outside but immediately left to go look for her. With no luck of finding her thirty minutes later her location was updated to a location 18 minutes away! We assumed she had been stolen at this time as she is a hunting dog and the address provided by FI that she was located at was another home. As soon as we got the updated address my father immediately headed that way however before he could get there her address update again! This time it gave an addresses about three miles from our home. At this time of course my father turned around and headed back in that direction. He arrived back at our house to gather some supplies to help look quickly and all of a sudden she came walking out of the bedroom. She had been home the entire time!! Fi had given alerts that she had left and extremely wrong locations with exact addresses!! Later that same day that night it gave new alerts that she had left the home once again on 10 different occasions!! All of these were incorrect as she was with my father the entire time asleep. I can no longer trust this collar or service and neither should you.
When I contacted Fi costumer service to let them know what was going on they were extremely unhelpful! I reported my concerns to their agent and they were unconcerned and told me to try reconnecting the base to my wifi at home. After telling them I had lost trust in the service and only wanted a refund for my subscription they refused. So now I have a subscription I cant you and and collar I cant trust.
Do NOT buy from Fi!!!!
Great review, however the referral link isn’t working
I live off grid where there is no cellular network and we recreate in many areas with no cellular signal. I am looking for a GPS tracking collar that works without cellular data. I understand that cellular network connection helps to refine the animals location data and that is an excellent combination when you have it. However, when there is no cellular data in remote areas, like where I live or many places we recreate, does FI still work?