Samsung’s latest tracker has taken an unusual side in the tracking wars. The new Galaxy SmartTag 3 can be found on iPhone, but it still doesn’t work with Google’s wider Android Find Hub network.
SmartTag 3 continues to live primarily on Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network, which works through the SmartThings Find app on Galaxy smartphones. According to Samsung, more than 900 million Galaxy devices contribute to this network.
But this time there is a slightly strange twist. iPhone users can now use Samsung’s app to locate the SmartTag 3, even though their devices don’t contribute to the Galaxy Find Network. This makes the tracker a bit more useful in households with a mix of Galaxy and iPhone devices.
It doesn’t connect to Android’s Find Hub. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network, Google’s Find Hub is designed to work on Android devices, rather than being limited to Samsung Galaxy phones.
SmartTag 3 is also smaller and lighter than its predecessor, shrinking by 35% and weighing 33% less. Samsung achieved this by removing the built-in attachment loop, with users instead relying on additional cases and accessories to attach the tracker to their belongings.
Internally, it supports Bluetooth 6.0 with channel audio and UWB for more accurate searching. Battery life has been extended to up to 550 days with average use, or up to 790 days with power saving mode enabled.
Samsung has added several tracking features. Location Notification allows users to set up an area and be notified when a tagged item enters or leaves it, while Location History shows where the tag has been. Movement Detection Alert can alert you to unexpected movement, and Left Behind Alert warns you if the phone loses connection with a marked accessory.
There’s also an NFC-based lost mode that can display contact information or a message when someone scans a lost tag with a compatible device. The label button can also trigger pre-set SmartThings routines for compatible connected devices.
The Galaxy SmartTag 3 will go on sale in South Korea on October 7, and in other regions in the coming months.
