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Apple and Google "Find My" technologies and supported modules

droberson

Hello,

We are in the feasibility stage of a product that requires integration of both the Apple "Find My" and Google "Find My Device" technologies.

Based on my research, it looks like the only Nordic BLE modules that support both of these technologies are:

  • nRF52832
  • nRF52840
  • nRF54L15

Some BLE modules support one or the other, but not both. Such as:

  • nRF5340 (Google Find My Device)
  • nRF52833 (Apple Find My Network)

Source for Google "Find My Device": https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Technologies/Find-my-Device

Source for Apple "Find My": https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Technologies/Apple-Find-My-network

I have a few questions:

1. What is the limiting factor that allows the nRF5340 to support Google's "Find My Device" but not Apple's "Find My" technologies?

2. As long as the module has BLE support, the only limiting factor should be flash and RAM, correct? If not, what are the other limiting factors?

3. What is the minimum flash and RAM required to implement a simple tracker that supports both Google "Find My Device" and Apple "Find My" technologies? Ie, what is the minimum memory footprint (flash and RAM) of enabling support for these technologies in the nRF Connect SDK?

4. Is there anything stopping someone from implementing both of these technologies on a nRF52820 for example (Something not on the supported products list)? If so, what?

Thanks,

Derek

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  • 0

    Hi,

    nRF5340's maximum tx power is 3dbm and this can't meet Apple Find my's spec.

    I think nRF52820 does not have enough flash size to implement dual bank OTA. 

  • 0 in reply to billtsai

    Hello billtsai,

    Thanks for the reply! Ah, I see. I wasn't able to find the specifications for the Apply Find My technology without signing up for a MFi account until yesterday. I still haven't signed up, but I found an outdated PDF version online. It's interesting that Apple doesn't make the high-level requirements publicly available without jumping through hoops, unless I missed it somewhere. Especially for people who just want to evaluate the technology.

    It looks like Apple requires +8 dBm output power from what I have inferred. Google doesn't have a definitive requirements on this from what I have read other than "Provider devices should advertise at a low transmit power (TxPower) to limit exposure of the advertised device. However, the power shall be high enough such that the advertisement is visible by any phone at least 1 meter away"

    So that makes sense. The nRF5340 is +3 dBm and requires a front-end module to boost the output if you want to use that for Apple. Otherwise, the nRF52832, nRF52840, and nRF54L15 all have +8 dBm output power and should work for both Apple and Google.

    Edit: To your point, Apple also requires support for DFU (Firmware OTA). Google doesn't seem to require it, but suggests it "should" support it. I didn't know this at the time.

    Thanks!

    Derek

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  • 0 in reply to billtsai

    Hello billtsai,

    Thanks for the reply! Ah, I see. I wasn't able to find the specifications for the Apply Find My technology without signing up for a MFi account until yesterday. I still haven't signed up, but I found an outdated PDF version online. It's interesting that Apple doesn't make the high-level requirements publicly available without jumping through hoops, unless I missed it somewhere. Especially for people who just want to evaluate the technology.

    It looks like Apple requires +8 dBm output power from what I have inferred. Google doesn't have a definitive requirements on this from what I have read other than "Provider devices should advertise at a low transmit power (TxPower) to limit exposure of the advertised device. However, the power shall be high enough such that the advertisement is visible by any phone at least 1 meter away"

    So that makes sense. The nRF5340 is +3 dBm and requires a front-end module to boost the output if you want to use that for Apple. Otherwise, the nRF52832, nRF52840, and nRF54L15 all have +8 dBm output power and should work for both Apple and Google.

    Edit: To your point, Apple also requires support for DFU (Firmware OTA). Google doesn't seem to require it, but suggests it "should" support it. I didn't know this at the time.

    Thanks!

    Derek

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