Samsung is growing its ecosystem of connected-device tracking accessories with the Galaxy SmartTag3, the next iteration of its location-tracking solution to help find misplaced items more seamlessly. The latest version of the SmartTag gives a smaller size, improved location guidance, extended battery life and broader sharing functionality.
The Galaxy SmartTag3 is designed for those who frequently lose things or simply want to keep an eye on their luggage, backpacks, and other valuables. It can also be used with pet tracking apps, though you shouldn’t use a Bluetooth tracker in place of pet ID or supervision.
The tracker will also be coming to the US, with a launch set for early November. A single tracker will cost $29.99, and a pack of four will run for $99.99. Samsung is also releasing the tracker in black and white, starting first in South Korea and then coming to other countries.
The redesigned body is one of the biggest differences. Based on Samsung, Galaxy SmartTag3 is around 35% smaller in volume and weighs about 33% less than the Galaxy SmartTag2.
The rounded shape makes it more comfortable to carry in a pocket or to hook on to smaller belongings. An aluminium decorated button boosts the premium look and feel, while accessories available separately allow you to attach the tracker to your keys, bag, and other possessions.
Though, this new model doesn’t have an attachment point like a normal key fob, so it needs special cases to do some of the carry options. If you wish to be able to clip your device straight onto a keyring, you’ll need to weigh up the cost of a suitable case.
Although a bit smaller, Samsung has concentrated on both power saving and robustness that can stand everyday wear and tear.
Great battery life battery performance is also a major upgrade. Samsung states that the Galaxy SmartTag3 will have a battery life of up to 550 days of normal use. Enabling Power Saving Mode increases the published battery life to a maximum of 790 days.
Note that these figures are based on the manufacturer’s testing environment, so real-world endurance might differ, given use, environment, and, which features are activated. Still, the longer operating period will also lessen the inconvenience of battery replacements.
The tracker is powered by a replaceable coin-cell battery (CR2032), so owners can replace the battery when it needs to be replaced instead of throwing away the whole tracker accessory.
Longer battery life can make it easier to keep a multi-tracker system for your luggage, keys, and household items.
When users get closer to a missing item, ultra-wideband technology offers additional accurate short-range guidance on Galaxy devices. These features are intended to help users refine the location of an item, not necessarily fully locate an item based on overall map location.
Once the tracker is outside of its reach of the Bluetooth connection, the Galaxy Find Network can help locate it through other Galaxy devices. Samsung says the network has over 900 million participating devices around the world that can assist in updating a tag’s location once detected by a network participant.