How Samsung SmartTag Bluetooth trackers work (and how to buy them)

This story is part of CES, where our editors will present the latest news and the hottest gadgets from CES 2021 entirely virtual.

Samsung held its first Unpacked event of the year on Thursday, where in addition to a trio of new Galaxy S21 phones, the company also launched SmartTag and SmartTag Plus. The products are direct competitors of Tile, the small Bluetooth trackers that help you locate lost items like keys, your phone, pets and anything you routinely misplace or would like to attach the tag to. Samsung is adding a free SmartTag with Galaxy S21 pre-orders.

There are several things you should know about the new product. To begin, SmartTags connects to SmartThings Find, a service that is already integrated directly into Samsung Galaxy phones – SmartThings is Samsung’s hub for smart home devices. There are also two different types of SmartTags, which makes things confusing from the start (don’t worry, we’ll explain below).

Here’s everything we know about Samsung’s SmartTag so far (and what we don’t know), from the price and how it works to how to find out which SmartTag to buy.

Samsung SmartTag: What does it do?

The Samsung SmartTag is a small battery-powered device that you can attach to things like a wallet, backpack or even your pet. It is not clear what type of battery the SmartTag uses, how long the battery is or how to replace it. We asked Samsung for more details.

Once configured and linked to your Samsung account, the tag can be found using the SmartThings Find application on your phone.

How do you use a SmartTag to find a lost item?

After realizing that you have lost an item, open the SmartThings Find application on your smartphone. Then you’ll touch the Meet card, choose the device you want to find and wait for it to load.

If you are close to the lost item, use the meter on the screen to show how far the item is. The fuller the meter gets, the closer you are. To help you find the tag, you can make it play a sound.

If the tag isn’t near you, don’t worry, it can still be found. Other Samsung devices next to the tag will find it anonymously for you and then let you know where it is, all without the device owner doing anything. This is done in the background and is encrypted to ensure privacy.

Why are there two different types of SmartTags?

In a classic Samsung move, there are two different types of SmartTags. The first, which is available along with the Galaxy S21 line, uses Bluetooth Low Energy as the connection standard. The other version, called SmartTag Plus, will use ultra-wideband connectivity (UWB).

There are two versions of SmartTags, because not all Samsung Galaxy phones support UWB, but all support BLE. Only Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus and S21 Ultra support UWB.

What is the difference between the two SmartTags?

Using the SmartThings Find app to locate tags equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy, you will not be able to see the exact location of a tag, but rather an estimate of how far or close it is. It is the same type of technology used to transmit music from your phone to your wireless headphones or allow your phone to act as a key with a smart lock.

With the ultra-wide band, your phone and the tag can communicate and estimate a more accurate location, within a few centimeters. Using a series of short pulses, a UWB device can communicate by measuring how long it takes for one pulse to be received and answered by another UWB device. In short, UWB is much more accurate than BLE.

We are looking for more information about the expected gap difference between the two. we have one much more detailed explanation here about what exactly UWB is, how it works and other ways to use it.

Will the Bluetooth and UWB SmartTag models be available at the same time?

No. Samsung is launching the standard SmartTag first, with the UWB SmartTag Plus version being launched later. The company did not say when, only that it will happen. Since a SmartTag is being shipped with orders for the Galaxy S21, we assume that the BLE version is included.

How much do SmartTags cost?

The SmartTag available for the Galaxy S21 launch costs $ 30 for one, $ 50 for two and $ 85 for a four-pack. The UWB version will launch for $ 40 for one and $ 65 for a pack of two.

What is this offer pack with a Galaxy S21?

If you pre-order a Galaxy S21, you will receive a SmartTag for free, along with a credit ranging from $ 100 to $ 200, depending on the S21 model you request.

Will both tags work with all Galaxy phones?

No. Currently, last year’s Galaxy S21 Plus, S21 Ultra and Note 20 Ultra support UWB SmartTag technology. All other Galaxy phones support only the BLE version of SmartTag.

What else should I know?

The extra features of UWB mean that you can use a dedicated augmented reality mode in the SmartThings Find app that will help you identify the location of a tag in the real world, instead of using a meter that fills in as you approach it.

Using AR, you’ll be able to hold your phone and see exactly where the tag is, using a combination of your phone’s camera and a graphic in the app to see the world around you.

The battery life should last for months, but it is not clear whether the battery can be replaced. We asked Samsung for more details and will update when we know more.

As soon as we get our hands on SmartTags and S21, we will update this post with more information. Until then, be sure to check our initial impressions of the S21 Ultra. If you want to order an S21, here’s everything you need to know. We also take a deep dive and look at the S21 Ultra S Pen Features.