How Samsung’s SmartTag Bluetooth Trackers Work (and How to Buy It)

This story is part of CES, where our editors will bring you the latest news and the most popular articles from the all-virtual CES 2021.

Samsung held its first Unpacked meeting of the year on Thursday, where in addition to a trio new Galaxy S21 phones, the company also introduced the SmartTag and SmartTag Plus. The products are a direct competitor to Tile, the little Bluetooth trackers that find lost items such as keys, your phone, pets and anything else to which you regularly place or want to attach the label. Samsung bundles a free SmartTag with Galaxy S21 pre-ordered.

There are several things you need to know about the new product. To get started, connect SmartTags to SmartThings Find, a service already built right into Samsung Galaxy phones – SmartThings is Samsung’s hub for smart devices. There are also two different types of SmartTags, which make things confusing (do not worry, we will explain below).

Here’s everything we know so far about Samsung’s SmartTag (and what we do not do), from the price and how it works, to how you can determine which SmartTag to buy.

Samsung SmartTag: what does it do?

Samsung’s 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 SmartTag is used, what the battery life is or how it should be replaced. We asked Samsung for more details.

Once set up and linked to your Samsung account, the label can be found using the SmartThings Find app 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 app on your smartphone. Then tap on the Find select the device you want to detect and wait for it to load.

If you are near the lost item, use the meter on the screen to indicate how far the item is. The fuller the meter, the closer you are. To help you find the label, you can make it sound.

If the label is not near you, do not worry, it can still be found. Other Samsung devices near the label will detect it for you anonymously and then let you know where it is, all without the owner of the device 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, available with the Galaxy S21 series, uses Bluetooth Low Energy as its connectivity standard. The other version, called SmartTag Plus, will be used ultrawideband connectivity (UWB).

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

What is the difference between the two SmartTags?

Using the SmartThings Find app to locate labels equipped with Bluetooth Low Energy, you will not be able to see the exact location of a label, but an estimate of how far or close it is. It’s the same kind of technology used to stream music from your phone to your wireless earbuds or to make your phone work like a key with a smart lock.

With ultrawideband, your phone and label can talk to each other and estimate a more precise location within a few inches. Using a series of short pulses, a UWB device can communicate to measure how long it takes before one of the pulses is received and answered by another UWB device. In short, UWB is much more accurate than BLE.

We are looking for more information on the expected difference between the two. We have a much more detailed explanation here of what UWB is exactly, how it works and other ways it can be used.

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

No. Samsung first introduced the standard SmartTag, with the UWB version SmartTag Plus launching later. The company did not say when it was going to come. Since a SmartTag comes with Galaxy S21 pre-orders, we assume that the BLE version is included.

How much do SmartTags cost?

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

What is this bundle deal with a Galaxy S21?

If you pre-order a Galaxy S21, you get one SmartTag for free, along with a credit that ranges from $ 100 to $ 200, depending on which S21 model you order.

Will both labels work with every Galaxy phone?

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

What else do I need to know?

The extra features of UWB mean you can use a dedicated augmented reality mode in the SmartThings Find app that will help you determine the location of a label in the real world, instead of using a measure that fills in when you get closer to it.

With AR, you can stop your phone and see exactly where the label is, with a combination of your phone’s camera and an in-app image to see the world around you.

Battery life is expected to last months, but it is unclear if the battery is replaceable. We asked Samsung for more details and will update when we learn more.

As soon as we get our hands on SmartTags and the S21, we will update this post with more information. Until then, make sure you visit us first impressions of the S21 Ultra. If you want to pre-order an S21, here is everything you need to know. We also take a deep dive and look at the S Pen capabilities of the S21 Ultra.