Over the past year, Apple has been rumored to be close to releasing a new Tile-like accessory for tracking personal items and belongings called the AirTags. Its closest competitor, Samsung has beaten Apple to the punch with launch of the Galaxy SmartTag alongside the new Galaxy S21 5G phones, which were launched without a charger in-the-box and the Galaxy Buds Pro earbuds.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Like any Bluetooth-enabled tracker, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag can be attached to non-digital items like bags, keys, and pet collar. It will arrive in two variants: the Bluetooth-enabled SmartTag (uses Bluetooth 5.0 LE) and the more advanced SmartTag+ with ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, the same feature touted for the Apple AirTags. Both models have a 120m range and depends on Samsung’s SmartThings app to locate devices within the said range.
The inclusion of UWB to the Galaxy SmartTag+, means the tracker can offer precise positioning as well as AR-based item tracking. The AirTags is expected to offer the same feature as the SmartTag+, a move credited to the inclusion of the Apple U1 chip in the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 models. Another company in the mix to expected to launch a UWB-enabled tracker in 2021 is Tile.
Samsung has made the Galaxy SmartTag exclusive for Galaxy devices and only three Galaxy devices – the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy S21+ and Galaxy S21 Ultra, are currently compatible with the Galaxy SmartTag+. There are high chances that the AirTags will be exclusive to only Apple devices. The Galaxy SmartTag is available in the US for a price tag starting at US$ 29.99 (~ AU$ 39) while the Galaxy SmartTag will arrive later in the year for US$ 39.99 (AU$ 52).
Source: Samsung
Via: MacRumors