Samsung’s latest tracker has picked an unusual side in the tracking wars. The new Galaxy SmartTag 3 can be found using an iPhone, but it still won’t work with Google’s wider Android Find Hub network.
The SmartTag 3 still primarily lives within Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network, which works through the SmartThings Find app on Galaxy smartphones. Samsung says more than 900 million Galaxy devices contribute to that network.
But there’s a slightly odd twist this time. iPhone users can now use Samsung’s app to locate a SmartTag 3, although their devices won’t contribute to the Galaxy Find Network. That makes the tracker a little more useful for households that mix Galaxy and iPhone devices.
What it doesn’t do is connect to Android’s Find Hub. Unlike Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network, Google’s Find Hub is designed to work across Android devices rather than being limited to Samsung’s Galaxy phones.
The SmartTag 3 is also smaller and lighter than its predecessor, shrinking by 35% and weighing 33% less. Samsung achieved that by removing the built-in mounting loop, with users instead relying on add-on cases and accessories to attach the tracker to their belongings.
Inside, there’s support for Bluetooth 6.0 with channel sounding and UWB for more precise finding. Battery life has also been stretched to up to 550 days under typical use, or as much as 790 days with Power Saving Mode enabled.
Samsung has also added several tracking features. Place Notification lets users set an area and receive an alert when a tagged item enters or leaves it, while Location History shows where the tag has been. Movement Detection Alert can flag unexpected movement, and Left Behind Alert warns when a phone loses connection with a tagged belonging.
There’s also an NFC-powered Lost Mode that can display contact details or a message when someone scans a lost tag with a compatible device. The tag button can additionally trigger preset SmartThings routines for compatible connected devices.
The Galaxy SmartTag 3 will go on sale on 7 October in South Korea, with other regions to follow in the coming months.