Samsung Galaxy SmartTag comes with a price tag of $29.99 (roughly Rs. 2,200), while the Galaxy SmartTag+ will be available at $39.99 (roughly Rs. 2,900).
Samsung SmartTag lets you find lost items using Bluetooth connectivity
Photo Credit: Samsung
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag has debuted at the Galaxy Unpacked 2021 virtual event alongside the anticipated Galaxy S21 smartphone series and the Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds. The Bluetooth tracker is designed to help you find easy-to-lose items, such as keys, bags, or even your pet. You can also access Samsung's SmartThings Find service to use the Galaxy SmartTag to locate things that are not in range of the built-in Bluetooth technology. All this will sound familiar to you if you've already used a Tile Bluetooth tracker. However, Samsung seems to make the competition tougher for Tile and give its Galaxy smartphone users a native option. The company also has announced the Galaxy SmartTag+ that will arrive later this year with Ultra Wideband (UWB) support for precise tracking of lost items.
Samsung Galaxy SmartTag price has been set at $29.99 (roughly Rs. 2,200). You can also get it in a pair of two devices at $49.99 (roughly Rs. 3,700) or a pack of four at $84.99 (roughly Rs. 6,200). The Galaxy SmartTag is currently available for pre-orders in a few markets including the UK and US, with availability set for January 29. In contrast, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ will be available later this year at $39.99 (roughly Rs. 2,900) for a single unit or $64.99 (roughly Rs. 4,700) for a two-unit pack. Details about the India pricing and availability of the Galaxy SmartTag and the Galaxy SmartTag+ are yet to be revealed.
To give some perspective, the Tile Mate tracker is currently available at $24.99 (roughly Rs. 1,800), while its Pro version that comes with a 400-feet Bluetooth range is priced at $34.99 (roughly Rs. 2,600).
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag is based on Bluetooth Low Energy v5.0 (BLE) technology that lets you find things within a range of 120 metres. There is a built-in speaker that produces a sound when you tap the button from your phone to easily track a tagged item in your home or office. You can, however, use the Galaxy SmartTag to go beyond finding lost items and can leverage it to even find your pet using the Galaxy Find Network through the SmartThings Find service.
Samsung has also provided a button on the Galaxy SmartTag that lets you control Internet of Things (IoT) devices connected with the SmartThings app. This means that you can switch on a connected light through the Galaxy SmartTag — without bringing out your phone or pressing any switch in your room.
Samsung SmartTag provides location tracking of lost items through the SmartThings app
Photo Credit: Samsung
Just like any other Bluetooth device, the Galaxy SmartTag needs to be paired with your smartphone. The pairing takes place through the SmartThings app. However, it is important to highlight that the tracker is currently designed to work only with Samsung Galaxy devices and is compatible with Galaxy devices running on Android 8.0 Oreo or later with a minimum 2GB RAM. This is unlike Tile trackers that work with a range of Android and iOS devices.
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag includes a CR2032 battery that is replaceable and is claimed to last for months. The device measures 39.11x39.11x9.9mm of size and weighs 50.80 grams.
Samsung's move of bringing the Galaxy SmartTag exclusively for Galaxy smartphones comes amid rumours suggesting the development of AirTag trackers by Apple. Those are also likely to be compatible only with select iPhone models.
Unlike the regular Galaxy SmartTag, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ will be available with Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology to provide precise location tracking of lost items. This will bring spatial accuracy and directional capabilities. Samsung will also introduce augmented reality (AR) capabilities on the Galaxy SmartTag+ to let you locate your belongings along with on-screen guidance.
Detailed specifications of the Galaxy SmartTag+ are yet to be announced.
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