Keychain organizers are one of the best ways to get rid of that messy keyring, but how do you pick out the best option in a crowded market of nigh-on-identical products? In this KeySmart review, we determine what makes this high-tech solution to key disorganization tick and decide if we think it’s worth it.
KeySmart ProQuick Overview
The KeySmart Pro Key Organizer is an elegant solution to disorganized keys bouncing around in your pocket. It combines simplicity of design, durable materials, and high-tech innovation to offer an enticing upgrade on the classic key ring, so long as you’re ready for a hefty upgrade price to go with it.
Functionality
8.5/10
Style
9.6/10
Dependability
9.7/10
Value
8.0/10
What We Like
Stylish design + a range of color choices
Rugged construction, yet elegant
Store multiple keys/tools without all of the jingling around
Locate your keys/phone with a button
Adding/removing keys is easy
What We Don’t Like
Can’t hold irregular keys or plastic heads
Sometimes loosened in our pocket
Premium price for a keychain organizer
What is the KeySmart Key Organizer Pro?
Like many EDC products we review, KeySmart got its start in a successful Kickstarter campaign. The OG KeySmart organized your keys well, but it didn’t offer much extra functionality.
Several generations of improvements later, the KeySmart Pro packs a much bigger punch. It’s one of the most popular products we’ve organized. It can organize your keys as key holder, work as a customizable multitool, and even includes a built-in Tile tracker. You can add several additional accessories if you like. (Optional accessories are sold separately.)
Product specifications
- Length: 3.74 in / 95 mm
- Width: 0.98 in / 25 mm
- Thickness: 0.59 in / 15 mm
- Weight: 1.6 oz (without keys)
- Key capacity: Up to 10 Keys
- Battery life (Tile): Up to 45 days
- Materials: Hard plastic body/stainless steel
Key features
- Organize up to 10 keys or mini tools in a single sleek and simplified tool.
- Includes a built-in LED light, bottle opener and a loop piece to attach your car key fob. Fits up to 10 keys.
- Integrated Tile tracker makes it much easier to find your keys or your phone.
- LED light means you’ll always have a backup flashlight at hand.
- Multiple additional accessories are available.
KeySmart Key Organizer Design and Style
In this first part of our KeySmart review, we’d like to talk about aesthetics. The KeySmart Pro is a seriously handsome innovative product. Like most key organizers, it relies on two panels held together by a pair of posts and screws, but it does it in a sleeker and more stylish way than most.
The panels are available in a range of color choices and have a sloping, contoured design. It has the dual benefit of easier key access and panache.
Way too many key organizers we review go one of two paths. Either they’re stamped metal sheets with zero elegance and questionable durability, or they’re almost brutal in their approach of maximum tactical appeal. The KeySmart threads the needle of staying sleek and elegantly designed without sacrificing reliability.
It’s comfortable in your hand and especially in your pocket while remaining as fundamentally functional as the most “doubles as a grenade” heavy-duty keychain organizers.
KeySmart Pro Ease of Use
Any keychain organizer has to meet some critical criteria to be a valuable addition to your EDC. The KeySmart Pro adds a few extra usability extras with a Tile locator, an LED flashlight, and the option to customize it with tools.
The KeySmart Pro is a compact key organizer that lets you track your missing keys on a map, all from the free Tile app on your phone! Includes a built-in LED light, bottle opener and a loop piece to attach your car key fob. Ffits up to 10 keys. Create a reliable utility organizer/keyholder with a wide range of mini tools to choose from, such as the; SafeBlade, Pocket Clip, MultiTool, NanoPliers, and many more.
Adding and removing keys
The KeySmart Pro uses a pair of screws to maintain tension on stored keys. It’s a common design for keychain organizers but KeySmart made the brilliant choice to design their screws to be coin turnable.
Many key organizers we’ve used in the past required a screwdriver to open or adjust. This led to occasional headaches if the screw came loose or you needed to pass off a key.
In our KeySmart review, we could tighten the screws in seconds and adjust our key carry on the fly. They include fiber spacers to improve key glide and help fill out extra space.
We found it very easy to slide keys onto the posts, add spacers, and tighten it closed when done.
Opening doors
No matter how gorgeously designed a key organizer is, it won’t hack it unless it opens doors as well as a standard keyring. The Pro definitely meets that bar.
You can fan out your keys in an instant with one hand and line up just the one you want. We honestly found it easier to use one handed than a traditional keyring. It’s excellent if you often need to unlock doors while carrying things.
Finding lost keys
If you’re like some of us here at Gearscape, finding lost keys takes up an embarrassing amount of time. The KeySmart Pro is a compact key organizer with Tile smart location that lets you track your missing keys on a map, all from the free Tile app on your phone. You can instantly locate lost keys and save a lot of time. This is a nice feature that sets the KeySmart Pro apart from traditional keychains.
Pressing the button on the KeySmart likewise triggers a signal on your phone. So long as you have one or the other, you’ll always be able to find both. You can also use the Tile app to make your KeySmart Pro play a tune so you can find your keys faster.
The elephant in the room with any tracking tech is always privacy. Thankfully Tile has an excellent record in that department. Because the tracker only utilizes Bluetooth, there’s no risk of someone tracking you remotely, particularly through the built-in tracker of your key organizer.
Inserts and upgrades
KeySmart hit it out of the park with customization and adaptability. The KeySmart Pro is closer to a fully customizable swiss army knife than just a key organizer.
You can choose from a range of optional accessories such as a key knife, NanoScissors, NanoPliers, NanoStylus, NanoPen, pocket clip, a USB 3.0 flash drive, and many more. Even if you’ve only got a few keys to carry, we see a lot of value in the ability to pick out just the right tools for your EDC.
One thing we loved was that the KeySmart Pro includes a bottle opener attachment that doubles as a key ring for attaching fobs right out of the box.
Rechargeable battery
The KeySmart Pro includes a micro-USB charging cable. The rechargeable battery charges in under two hours. A full charge lasts 45 days.
Durability and Reliability
Anything you add to your EDC has to be able to withstand the rigors of everyday use. A big part of our KeySmart review was looking for potential points of failure and seeing how KeySmart handled them.
We can say with confidence that the KeySmart Pro has what it takes to go the distance.
It’s made from rugged and scratch-resistant aircraft-grade aluminum panels with a pair of screws on either end. It’s a simple design that’s hard to mess up.
We dropped it and skidded it across multiple surfaces. Other than a few superficial scratches, it worked fine. The keys were uninterrupted in their movement and we had no issue opening it up to adjust the keys.
We were concerned about the Tile, specifically the charging port, but we’re confident it will last under regular use after playing around with it. The port cover fits snuggly and doesn’t pop open even when dropped.
It’s also water-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about sudden showers or splashes. The KeySmart Pro is proudly made in the U.S.A. and ships from their Chicago-based distribution facility.
KeySmart Pro Warranty
KeySmart is serious about the longevity of their product. They offer a two-year warranty that covers damage from normal wear and tear. Even better, they don’t require you to register it or send off any pesky paperwork to qualify. Here is the warranty text:
All new KeySmarts purchased at www.GetKeySmart.com come with a 2-year warranty. If your KeySmart breaks under normal wear and tear within 2 years of purchase, we will replace it for you. To claim your warranty please email Orders@MyKeySmart.com with:
- Your Order Number (If you can’t find it that is OK… we should be able to locate it in our system)
- Pictures of Your Broken KeySmart
- A Brief Description of How Your KeySmart Broke (This information helps us to keep improving the design of the KeySmart)
Who is this KeySmart Review for?
Let’s face it, many people (some of our reviewers included) don’t carry keys. Our cars push to start, our phones open the front door, and gym locks open with combinations.
Even for those of us with keys, the KeySmart doesn’t always make sense.
One significant downside to the design is the inability to put irregular or oversized keys in the Pro. It won’t hold car keys or any other keys with plastic heads. That’s not a criticism of KeySmart as almost no key organizer can effectively hold large and irregular keys. KeySmart includes a key ring to attach your key fob or car key to, but it’s not quite the same feel.
The KeySmart Pro is designed for people who carry a significant number of keys every day or those who often misplace their keys. If you’ve got a keyring with a dozen flat keys, you’ll find a ton of value from KeySmart. That’s especially true if you’re worried about losing your keys.
Is the KeySmart Pro Worth It?
The KeySmart Pro is expensive. As far as key organizers go, it’s at the top of the market, and we would be lax not to mention it in our KeySmart review.
Whether it’s worth it or not depends on who you are, what kind of needs you have, and your EDC’s style. The KeySmart Pro is designed to be a highly durable yet stylish solution to jingling keys and lost keyrings.
It does all of that. It makes keys easier to carry, easier to use, and more compact. It also makes it a lot harder to misplace your keys. Keep in mind that a Tile tracker on its own will run you almost half the price of the Pro.
If you just want to simplify your daily key carry, the original KeySmart is a more affordable option. For those who value the complete package of functionality that the KeySmart Pro offers, it’s hard to beat it.
KeySmart Pro vs. KeyBar Key Holder
It wouldn’t be a comprehensive KeySmart review without bringing up the KeyBar. It’s one of the most popular and rugged key organizers on the market, with a massive following of EDC enthusiasts.
When you put the two of them next to each other you see two completely different approaches to solving the same issue. KeyBar organizers look tough, with materials like stone-washed titanium and patterning that evoke more of a tactical feel.
The KeySmart Pro is sleeker, slenderer, and gives off a vibe we can only describe as techie debonair.
Looks can be deceiving, as the KeySmart was just as durable and easy to use in our testing as was the KeyBar and offers Tile tracking to boot. Given their near-identical price points choosing between them comes down to your style and needs.
Both key organizers allow customization with valuable add-ons. The KeySmart add-ons trend towards traditional multitool inserts plus productivity tools, while the KeyBar’s are old-school EDC favorites like screwdrivers, box cutters, and even a titanium mini-pick.
If you’re going for a more traditional “rough and ready” EDC, KeyBar is probably the way to go.
For those looking for a solution sleek enough to use with a tailored suit yet still highly functional, or especially those who often misplace their keys, the KeySmart is the better choice.
KeySmart Review Final Thoughts
The KeySmart Pro Key Organizer is an elegant solution to the problem of disorganized keys bouncing around in your pocket. It combines simplicity of design, durable materials, and high-tech innovation to offer an enticing upgrade on the classic keyring, so long as you’re ready for a hefty upgrade price to go with it.
If you value style in your EDC as much as you do function, the KeySmart Pro is a quality organizational tool and one of the best smart tools on the market. We hope this KeySmart review helped you choose the right organizer for your needs!
Alternate KeySmart Products
- KeySmart Amazon store
- KeySmart Key Organizer Original
- KeySmart Max
- KeySmart Rugged
- KeySmart Mini
- KeySmart Flex
The KeySmart Pro is a compact key organizer that lets you track your missing keys on a map, all from the free Tile app on your phone! Includes a built-in LED light, bottle opener and a loop piece to attach your car key fob. Ffits up to 10 keys. Create a reliable utility organizer/keyholder with a wide range of mini tools to choose from, such as the; SafeBlade, Pocket Clip, MultiTool, NanoPliers, and many more.
