Bluetooth trackers are an excellent way to keep of commonly misplaced items like keys, wallets and bikes. 

Samsung has recently launched its own Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 3, but how does it compare to Apple’s AirTag? Does choosing between the two simply boil down to whether you have an Android or iPhone, or are there other factors to keep in mind?

To help you choose, we’ve compared the Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 3 to the Apple AirTag and highlighted the key differences – plus any noteworthy similarities – between the two. 

Once you’re finished here, make sure you visit our round-up of the best bluetooth trackers too.

Price and Availability

Available in black and white, the Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 3 is available to buy now in Korea and will eventually launch across the US, with additional markets following in 2027. At the time of writing, Samsung is yet to reveal exact dates for a wider global rollout, nor pricing.

The Apple AirTag is available to buy now and has an RRP of £29. Although it’s only available in one colour option, buying directly from Apple’s website does allow for free engraving to personalise your AirTag.

Galaxy Smart Tag 3 promises longer battery

Samsung promises that the Smart Tag 3 offers “industry-leading” battery life, with a claim of up to 550 days under standard usage and up to a whopping 790 days when in Power Saving Mode.

However, just keep in mind that Power Saving Mode will mean some of the Smart Tag 3’s features like Compass View, volume and ringtone settings may be deactivated. Instead, the Smart tag 3 will offer a basic finding function.

That’s not to say the Apple AirTag doesn’t boast a hefty battery life, it’s just that it falls short of the Galaxy’s own. Although the exact battery will vary depending on your exact use, Apple claims that the AirTag will see “more than a year” of charge.

Galaxy Find Network vs Apple Find My Network

Both smart tags rely on their respective networks to help you recover lost items. The Galaxy Smart Tag 3 uses Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network that uses the data of 900 million participating Galaxy devices across the world to act as “finding nodes” for the Smart Tag 3. With this, the Galaxy devices can help update the Smart Tag 3’s location beyond the reach of its paired phone.

Apple has a similar program with the Find My network. Essentially, the AirTag will send out a Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network. Then, Apple explains, those devices in the network can send the location of your AirTag to iCloud, where it’ll be displayed in your Find My app. 

While details are scarce about the Galaxy Smart Tag 3’s privacy, Apple promises that the whole process is anonymous and encrypted to protect your data too.

Apple AirTag is designed to discourage unwanted tracking

Following on from the above, privacy is a key aspect of the AirTag. To ease any concerns about unwanted tracking, Apple has reassured that the AirTage includes a “suite of industry-first protections”. 

Apple explains that if someone else’s AirTag ends up with you or among your belongings, your paired phone should notice it’s there and send you an alert. As a backup, the AirTag itself will also start playing a sound to let you know it’s there too.

Both have IP67 ratings

Durability is important for a tracker, as you never know the conditions your lost item could find itself in. Fortunately, both the Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 3 and Apple AirTag are equipped with an IP67 rating. That means both are dust resistant and can withstand temporary submersion in water too. 

Both support iOS devices – but neither support Google’s Find Hub

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Apple’s AirTag cannot be paired with an Android phone and, instead, is only supported by iOS devices. Having said that, you can use an Android phone to scan a lost AirTag to find its owner and to determine if you’re the victim of unwanted tracking too. 

In comparison, for the first time in the series, the Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 3 can be paired with both Android and iOS devices. It uses Samsung’s SmartThings Find app that allows users to check and share the Smart Tag’s location – however it’s worth noting that the Smart Tag 3 doesn’t support Google’s Find Hub. 

Previously, choosing between the Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag and Apple AirTag would ultimately boil down to whether you’re using an Android or iPhone. However, now that the Galaxy Smart Tag 3 supports iOS devices, things have gotten a bit more complicated. 

At this early stage it’s fair to say if you’re an Apple purist and want a seamless pairing experience, then the AirTag is the easiest recommendation. On the other hand, Android users or those who dabble between it and iOS, will likely suit the Galaxy Smart Tag 3 instead.