With so many smart collars on the market, knowing which is best for your dog can be challenging. Today, our experts walk you through an in-depth Fi vs. Halo Collar review.
Living in the current century affords humans many luxuries. Technology has been one of the best things to happen to us, affecting every aspect of our lives – even our pets! Keeping our furry friends safe and healthy is one of the best things we can do for them.
Fortunately, modern technology has revolutionized how we keep track of our pets. With smart collars, losing Fido is a thing of the past. The two hottest smart collars on the market are the Fi collar and the Halo Collar. Let’s take a deep dive into each one and figure out which one is best!
Before you scroll down “Fi vs. Halo Collar,” you can check out these other posts from our team at We Love Doodles: How to Use an E-Collar to Train Your Dog! and How to Find A Break In An Invisible Fence!
Halo Collar vs Fi Collar
When choosing between these two smart collars, you must focus on how you want to use a smart collar. For example, are you more interested in tracking where your dog goes and its physical activity? Or are you establishing a new form of boundary training with your dog?
Let’s compare Fi vs. Halo Collar to learn which is better for you, focusing on every aspect.
Batteries
The task of locating an outlet and charging a smart collar will no doubt be an important factor to consider as you make your decision. Nobody wants to deal with repetitive charging demands.
The Fi is a clear champion in this area, with smart technology that works with home WiFi to save battery power, which is essential for accuracy and extended functionality.
The Halo boasts a long 20-hour battery life. However, the Fi knocks this figure out of the park, offering about 29 days of use between charges. With the Fi collar, you would barely have to think about charging and recharging.
Boundary Protection
One of Halo’s best features is, no doubt, its ability to keep dogs within their permitted limits. The collar works with proprietary features that prompt your dog to avoid fences. It will continue delivering feedback to your pet until it is far enough away from the fence.
Halo’s boundary control feature is much more ethical and safe than the archaic electric shock collars of the past. In addition, it is a great way to train your dog and establish the boundaries within which you wish him to wander.
The collar also has a feature called the “Return Whistle.” This helpful feature signals your pet to return to you, which is a wonderful addition for pet owners who live on large acres of land. It also adds a sense of security that standard collars cannot provide, which is great for any pet owner.
Cesar Milan, renowned worldwide for his skill in training dogs, is one of the key contributors to the Halo collar. Your dog will undoubtedly be in good hands when you purchase from the Dog Whisperer himself. Cesar Milan has created a truly fantastic application and training style with the Halo collar.
With the Halo collar, you can also create fences and boundaries right from your smartphone, making the training process even more hassle-free. The Halo utilizes various sounds, static, and vibrations in different patterns so your dog can learn its boundaries.
The Fi collar allows you to set “safe areas,” but its purpose isn’t to train your dog to stay within its boundaries. Instead, it aims to provide accurate GPS tracking for your dog. So, if your primary concern is keeping Fido within your property’s confines, Halo will probably be your better option.
Waterproof Performance
Both collars are designed to withstand extreme wear and tear from all elements. The Halo collar has a commendable IP67 waterproof testing rating. It has been thoroughly tested in fresh and saltwater conditions, proving that it can last in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes with no resulting problems.
On the other hand, the Fi is just a little more impressive, boasting an IP68 waterproof testing rating, meaning that it withstood 30 minutes in water at 1.5 meters deep.
GPS Tracking
Fi implemented the first-ever use of LTE-M network technology for GPS tracking. This revolutionary technology uses very little battery power but can reach farther than competitors. The assurance of such a fast and powerful network will certainly keep any dog lover satisfied and assured.
The Fi collar provides a feature known as Escape Prevention, which safeguards your pet from flying the coop without your awareness. Engineers at Fi have developed programs to detect when your dog leaves the premises. Owners will be notified immediately through the app when a pet escapes.
Still, both collars have incredibly accurate tracking, so this one is a tie.
The Apps
Fi and Halo each offer their own smartphone app, and both perform well across several areas.
Halo App
People with the Halo app primarily use it to create fences and beacons around their homes. This feature is very intuitive and easy to use. Users will have no problem setting up all the fences and beacons they desire once they download the app.
But that’s not all! The Halo app offers many features desirable to the attentive pet owner. For example, activity and progress charts detail vital information such as a dog’s active time and sleeping patterns.
This information is great for informing veterinarians about a pet’s health status. It’s also useful for people who prefer to track their dog’s health independently.
In addition to the Halo app’s fence-creating capabilities, a 21-Day training program is also a helpful feature included in the app. With this program, you can train your dog within three weeks with minimal hassle.
Developed by the one and only Cesar Milan, the 21-Day training program is packed with informative courses that will teach you to train your dog based on Cesar’s philosophy. The Halo App is available on both Google Play and the Apple Store.
Fi App
Meanwhile, the Fi app offers several cool features as well. The sleep-tracking feature of the app has proven to be a fan favorite. It’s an easy way for dog owners to make sure their prized pooches are getting the rest they need every day.
Fi’s activity tracker is very easy to read and understand. It also offers an element of competition. With the Fi app, you can challenge other users and prove that you and your pup are the top walkers in town!
The Fi app also allows you to add as many dogs or owners to your account as you want. With a few easy taps, you can share how your dog is doing with family and friends, no matter where they are. You can also coordinate who walks your dog and look at your dog’s walking history right on the app.
The Fi collar keeps dog owners social and in the know. Using the Fi app, owners can easily keep tabs on their favorite animal while traveling or out of town. You can also connect with local dog owners who use the app by using the Fi pack feature.
There’s also the fun addition in the Fi app of a little newsfeed that gives information about dog-related news from all over the world. A whimsical little touch like this makes the Fi app a winner in our book.
Price
Price will be a significant factor when choosing between Halo vs. Fi dog collar. It can be the determining factor for even the biggest dog lover. Both collars are extremely technologically-advanced, so costs will be much higher than your average nylon Petco collar.
The Fi collar is the cheaper option between the two collars, costing $149 for just the collar. However, to utilize all of the collar’s capabilities, a monthly subscription fee costs $8.25 per month.
The Halo collar is the pricier option. It’s currently available online for as low as $649. Halo also requires a monthly subscription fee to access its services. You can choose from three different package options ranging from $4.49 to $29.99 a month.
The gold and silver packages offer advanced training courses and instant feedback, allowing users to communicate manually with their dogs.
Common Customer Complaints
One of the best ways to gauge a product’s quality is to read the negative reviews from past customers. It’s an excellent way to understand what you’re paying for and to avoid disappointments.
When looking at online reviews for the Fi collar, many expressed annoyance with the collar’s tracking capabilities, saying the tracking was inaccurate at best.
On the other hand, most of the negative reviews about Halo were concerned with its high price and ongoing monthly costs.
Ultimately, customers were very unhappy about the subscription fees required for the Halo collar to work. A few reviews expressed frustration that since they had already paid a high price for the collar, all its features should be immediately available.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re able to afford its high price tag, the Halo collar may be worth it. It offers extensive features, including the ability to set multiple boundaries and a 21-day course written by dog expert Cesar Milan.
The Fi collar is not a shock collar and provides no shock or vibration to your dog. Instead, it provides highly accurate GPS tracking that lets you know where your dog is at all times.
The Fi collar will track data metrics while your dog sleeps and give you insights into their health and sleeping patterns.
Fi vs. Halo Collar: Which One is Best?
So, between Fi vs. Halo Collar, which one should you buy? While the Halo is surely a feat of modern technology, its high price point makes it inaccessible to most people looking to keep tabs on their pup’s whereabouts. The monthly subscription fee may hold some back.
On the other hand, the Fi is an excellent choice for people who want a reliable collar capable of GPS tracking and synching with a phone app for data accumulation.
Regardless, both collars are capable of astonishing performances and will undoubtedly prove extremely useful to any pet owner wishing to engage with modern technology that improves their dog’s safety.
If you find this guide, “Fi vs. Halo Collar,” helpful, check out these other articles from our team at We Love Doodles:
- Spot On Virtual Fence Review!
- E-Collar vs. Shock Collar: What’s the Difference?
- The 8 Best Dog Fitness Trackers!
You can learn more about the Fi dog collar by watching “Fi Dog Collar Review | Why I Chose A GPS Dog Collar” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
Why Trust We Love Doodles?
At We Love Doodles, we’re a team of writers, veterinarians, and puppy trainers that love dogs. Our team of qualified experts researches and provides reliable information on a wide range of dog topics. Our reviews are based on customer feedback, hands-on testing, and in-depth analysis. We are fully transparent and honest to our community of dog owners and future owners.