Samsung claimed the smart tracker market in January with the announcement of the SmartTag and SmartTag + – little Bluetooth trackers that you attach to your belongings so you can quickly locate them when they get lost.
What is that
Today we have the Galaxy SmartTag, the Bluetooth Low Energy tracker, which is the only one on sale at the moment. Samsung will launch the most powerful broadband SmartTag + later this year (it will be compatible with the Galaxy S21 Ultra and Note20 Ultra).
The Samsung Galaxy StartTag is a small square object (39.1×39.1×9.9mm) that weighs only 13 grams. It only works with Samsung Galaxy smartphones and Samsung devices and connects via Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 to Samsung’s SmartThings app.
The Galaxy SmartTag has a simple design with a button in the middle and a hole at the top that you can use to attach it to a clip, your keychain, a backpack, or a pet’s collar.
The label is bulbous in the middle, making it impossible to store in a wallet.
Connecting the Galaxy SmartTag to a Samsung Galaxy smartphone is a simple procedure. You open the SmartThings app on the phone (or install it from the Galaxy store if you don’t have it) and add the Galaxy SmartTag from the menu. Let’s take a look at the Galaxy SmartTag app and features.
Smart features, tracking
With the Samsung SmartThings app, you can do several things with the Galaxy SmartTag. You are greeted with its position, in my case I kept it mostly close. You can allow the beacon to find your phone – double pressing the beacon button will ring your Galaxy smartphone.
You can also use the Galaxy SmartTag to communicate with IoT devices in your home. For example, if you have an air conditioner or lights that are supported by Samsung’s SmartThings app, you can use the button on the label to turn them on or off. You can also set the button to notify someone about automation. You have two customizable options – one squeeze and one long squeeze.
If you want to locate the beacon and it is within Bluetooth range, you have three options. You can search for it nearby, which gives you a nifty signal strength indicator, which gets stronger the closer you get to the tag (useful for tracking a dog in a park). You can also access the label on the map, which has an accuracy of around 20 meters and is inconvenient because your phone and the label are in the same place on the map. Finally, you can ring the beacon.
The Galaxy SmartTag sounds very loud – around 100dB when you’re next to it. There are 10 different ringtones to choose from which are loud and reminiscent of the polyphonics of yesteryear.
Using the button, follow the tag
The Galaxy SmartTag is well integrated into One UI. There’s the SmartThings app, the SmartThings widget, and you’ve got a shortcut to the beacon in your phone’s drop-down shortcut menu.
Autonomy and battery
I was able to ring the Galaxy SmartTag up to 30 meters in our office – about as much as you would need to find items in your home, which is the primary purpose of the Galaxy SmartTag. It is meant to be attached to everyday items you keep nearby, not a security tracker for valuables you fear will be stolen.
I don’t envision a case where I misplaced my phone and have the tag in hand, but if that happens, the Galaxy SmartTag could ring my phone with a simple double press of the button and the range was just around the corner. near the same 30 meters. Samsung advertises a maximum range of 118 meters, but I was unable to test it.
The battery inside the Galaxy SmartTag is a standard CR2032, rated at 220mAh that you can find at any store – a pack of 20 costs less than $ 10. It should power the beacon for about 300 days of use without needing a replacement.
To access the battery, all you need to do is use a coin to open the tag by inserting it into an opening at the bottom. It’s a pretty easy thing to do. If you ever need to reset the Galaxy SmartTag, removing the battery and then reinserting it while holding the button down is the way to do it – you’ll only need to do this if you want to pair it with another phone without having it. first at your fingertips.
SmartTag battery
Is it worth it
Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag is a direct rival to Tile’s trackers, but also a major competitor to upcoming Apple AirTags. We have very little information on Apple’s trackers other than rumors that there will be different sizes. Tile’s range is very advanced at this point and caters to a much larger crowd.
For starters, Tile’s offerings support everything with Bluetooth, while Samsung’s are only for the Galaxy. But if you are heavily invested in the world of connected devices and services from Samsung, the Galaxy SmartTag may be for you. And if you bought a Galaxy S21 phone, you probably got one for free anyway.
Right now, depending on the market, you can get a single Galaxy SmartTag for $ 29 / INR 2,249 / € 34.90. European customers also get a set of two for € 59.9 or four for € 84.90. It’s not as good value for money as Tile’s Tile Mate four-pack for around € 59, which also work with Alexa and Google Home.
So, unless you’re deep into Samsung’s IoT device ecosystem, the Galaxy SmartTag isn’t the smartest choice if you want to outfit your immediate possessions with Bluetooth trackers. Tile is a best universal choice.
However, if you are deep into Samsung’s interface, it may be better to wait for Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag + with UWB technology. Or at least a good deal from one of your local retailers.
