Samsung Galaxy SmartTag Plus tags with Ultra Wideband launching April 16
Samsung is beating Apple's "AirTags" to market, with the Galaxy SmartTag Plus that includes precise Ultra Wideband tracking and will launch on April 16 for $39.99.
Credit: Samsung
The Galaxy SmartTag Plus is an upgraded version of the company's $29.99 tracking tag that it launched in January. At the time, the company also that teased the updated UWB-equipped version would be coming later in 2021.
To be able to use the UWB capabilities, users will be a compatible Samsung device like a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Fold 2. Users will be able to get much more accurate location information with the UWB support, and Samsung has also included some augmented reality features for easier locating.
Compared to standard Bluetooth-based item tracking, UWB will allow for much more accurate and precise location information -- particularly if used indoors. Beyond UWB support, the SmartTag Plus works pretty much the same way as its cheaper counterpart. Like Apple's Find My network, users will be able to leverage Galaxy devices to help track missing objects.
Samsung's Friday, April 16 release date means that the South Korean smartphone maker will beat Apple to the punch of releasing a UWB tracking tag.
Apple is thought to be working on its own UWB tracking tag under the "AirTags" moniker. That device is expected to support ARKit features and tight integration with the Find My app. Although an exact release date isn't clear, it's likely that Apple will announce the product sometime in the first half of 2021.
Earlier in April, Apple also debuted third-party support for its Find My app, letting users track devices like Chopolo tags and VanMoof electric bikes in the Items tab of the app.
Credit: Samsung
The Galaxy SmartTag Plus is an upgraded version of the company's $29.99 tracking tag that it launched in January. At the time, the company also that teased the updated UWB-equipped version would be coming later in 2021.
To be able to use the UWB capabilities, users will be a compatible Samsung device like a Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, Galaxy S21 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, or Galaxy Z Fold 2. Users will be able to get much more accurate location information with the UWB support, and Samsung has also included some augmented reality features for easier locating.
Compared to standard Bluetooth-based item tracking, UWB will allow for much more accurate and precise location information -- particularly if used indoors. Beyond UWB support, the SmartTag Plus works pretty much the same way as its cheaper counterpart. Like Apple's Find My network, users will be able to leverage Galaxy devices to help track missing objects.
Samsung's Friday, April 16 release date means that the South Korean smartphone maker will beat Apple to the punch of releasing a UWB tracking tag.
Apple is thought to be working on its own UWB tracking tag under the "AirTags" moniker. That device is expected to support ARKit features and tight integration with the Find My app. Although an exact release date isn't clear, it's likely that Apple will announce the product sometime in the first half of 2021.
Earlier in April, Apple also debuted third-party support for its Find My app, letting users track devices like Chopolo tags and VanMoof electric bikes in the Items tab of the app.
Comments
Would be funny if Sammy crapped out a tag over an Apple decoy project!!
Because Samsung doesn't have the #1 smart TV platform right now.
Because Samsung doesn't have the #2 wearables platform right now.
Because Apple hasn't spent the last 6 years copying Samsung's ideas (AMOLED, phablet, stylus, curved screen, smartwatch, AirPods) and won't be taking more in the future (foldables, in-screen fingerprint sensors)
Because Samsung actually hasn't had a better track record in the smart era than Google, and as if Android wouldn't have likely failed had it not been for Samsung's input, and as if other Google products - i.e. Android TV, Android Wear, Chromebooks, Android Things, smart speakers and appliances - wouldn't be a lot better off had Samsung not shunned them in favor of their own products
Apple is #1. Good for them. I participate on this site because I buy their products. But Samsung is a very strong #2 and they are for a reason, holding off or crushing outright formidable competitors like Nokia, Microsoft, Motorola, LG, HTC, Google (who fought a losing battle with Samsung for years that they are still suffering the effects of), Apple (whose legal and PR strategies to drive Samsung from the market failed leaving Apple with "we can't beat them so join them" attitude, which Microsoft later adopted, and note that Microsoft makes Samsung their Android partner, not Google) and Sony for a reason. The only thing that you get out of denying this is frustration.
But you folks are going to believe what you choose to anyway.
Also, scratching and shattering are two different things. The phones are designed to be more shatter resistant from drops. The annual tests over the recent years prove its merits. It’s not Apple’s fault you failed to not scratch your naked phone. Mine gather little scratches too - who cares it’s not a museum piece.
Are you saying Samsung had a tile before Tile? I don’t follow the Asian knockoffs, when was it released?
You are hopelessly confused, son. Case in point: “stylus”. You do realize Apple had a mobile device w/ a stylus back in the early 1990s...right? “Smartwatch”: Apple’s project was rumored for years so Samsung rushed out some POS. Nor did Apple “copy” OLED when release for the iPhone X. Of course it existed in earlier phones, but they don’t sell the massive numbers that iPhone does, so Apple had to wait until there enough supply for it to scale to the most popular handset in the world. And they did it with their own in-house designed display, contracted out to Samsung to manufacture. So, no, it was not a copy or commodity part.
Anyway, too much stupid to cover in detail.
Nobody gives a shit about your iPhone display scratches. Nobody ever said you can't scratch them, just that the glass is stronger than the last gen. In my experience, it certainly seems that way.
Pretty shit first troll post. F-
Good job reading, dummy. Second sentence FTFA: "The Galaxy SmartTag Plus is an upgraded version of the company's $29.99 tracking tag that it launched in January. At the time, the company also that teased the updated UWB-equipped version would be coming later in 2021."
IMO, the <AirTag> hints found inside iOS, are future software features integrated into iPhone, Apple Watch, similar to "Find my iPhone" but for 3rd party devices, maybe car, bicycles and so on.