How Long Do Dog GPS Tracker Batteries Last?

Good quality dog GPS trackers last up to around 3 months. Lower quality dog GPS last around a day to several weeks.

The AirBolt, for example, lasts roughly around 3 months, but depending on the settings used and the regularity of your dog's movements, the tracker can last many months longer than that.

Battery life is one of the biggest concerns pet owners have with dog GPS trackers. This makes sense because, what’s the point of having a GPS tracker if the battery is dead at the moment you need to locate your dog?

This blog takes a closer look at what affects the battery life of a pet GPS tracker, how different types of trackers compare, and how to get the most battery life out of your AirBolt.

Factors That Affect Dog GPS Tracker Battery Life

When it comes to GPS tracker battery life, there are a lot more variables at play than most people tend to think. Here are some of the main ones:

Tracking Frequency – The more often your tracker updates its location, the more battery it uses. For example, setting your GPS tracker to update once every minute is going to drain the battery many times faster than if it were to update once a day.
GPS vs Bluetooth – GPS provides far greater range and accuracy than Bluetooth, but it also uses more power. Bluetooth trackers can last longer but only work if you’re nearby, which isn’t much help if your dog is already on the move.
Activity Level – If your dog is always on the go, your dog’s GPS tracker will be working harder to keep up. The AirBolt can be set to update when it senses motion. If you’re dog is always in motion, that’s a lot more updates.
Power Settings – Many trackers, including the AirBolt, allow you to customise power modes. Lower update frequency and motion-based alerts help extend battery life significantly, especially for dogs that spend long periods resting or indoors.

Average Battery Life of Dog GPS Trackers

The truth is, not all dog GPS trackers are built equally, and the differences in their battery life reflect that.

Many GPS trackers in the low to mid range can last anywhere from a few days to a week on a single charge, especially when set to frequent location updates. This can be fine for light use, but the frequent recharging tends to get old pretty quickly.

Higher-end trackers, like the AirBolt, can last much, much longer. If you were to optimise your AirBolt to use the best settings to use for tracking your pet, you’ll likely get around 3 months of battery life before needing to recharge. If you optimise your settings for battery life instead of responsiveness, you can get up to 12 months out of your AirBolt.

The only other thing to consider here is Bluetooth trackers. Although Bluetooth trackers lack in range and tracking capability, they do perform rather well in the battery life department—often lasting up to about 8 months.

Final Thoughts

Battery life is one of the most important elements to consider when choosing a GPS tracker for your dog.

If you want a device that offers both long-lasting battery life and reliable tracking (you really should!), check out the AirBolt GPS tracker for pets.