Almost a decade ago, trackers like Pixie and Tile were invented to help us find lost keys and wallets. This was great, and all, but these trackers have their limitations: they aren’t efficient if the lost item is beyond its Bluetooth range. Now, Samsung has developed “Galaxy SmartTag+” – the first tracker to use the more precise, ultra-wideband (UWB) technology.
Similar to previous trackers, the Galaxy SmartTag+ is attached to the item you don’t want to lose – such as your keys, purse, wallet, notebook, bike, backpack, and even your child or pet. When the item (or creature) vanishes, you can use your phone to find it.
Past trackers worked by connecting to a phone via Bluetooth. When searching for lost items, the phone would first check if it’s within Bluetooth range. If it is, users could press a button in the app to make it ring or play a ‘colder/hotter’ game to pinpoint its location, based on changes in the connection strength.
The Galaxy SmartTag+ works much in the same way, but it backs up the Bluetooth with UWB, which functions at higher frequencies – meaning the phone can more precisely find the tags’ location. The device also features an augmented reality (AR) mode, where arrows pop up on the camera feed’s screen to guide you in the right direction. When you’ve finally located the tag, little green sparkles appear on the screen.
If your lost item is out of Bluetooth or UWB range, Samsung’s SmartThings Find network builds a search party out of Galaxy devices from users in your area to help you find it. If any of them ping off your lost SmartTag+, a map location will be sent directly to your phone. However, nobody will know that they’ve detected someone else’s valuables because all the data is anonymized.
While Tile has used this kind of search party system for years now, tapping into UWB should make the Galaxy SmartTag+ far more accurate. Galaxy SmartTag+ is the first tracking device to use the tech, but it won’t be the last – there are rumors that Tile is working on something with UWB, and Apple is planning to launch UWB-enabled AirTags soon.
The Galaxy SmartTag+ is expected to launch on April 16, 2021. It will cost US$39.99 each, or $64.99 for a two-pack. To use the UWB technology, you will need a Galaxy Z Fold2, Note20 Ultra, S21 Ultra, or a Galaxy S21+.
