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Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 2
samsung competitors
$22 $30 Save $8
Samsung’s latest Bluetooth tracker aims to compete with established options from Apple and Tile, featuring rugged construction, long battery life, and range. A useful augmented reality feature has also been added to help you find particularly hard-to-find objects.
Strong Points- Durable and waterproof
- Long-lasting replaceable battery
- Advanced local AR tracking
Cons- Works only with Samsung phones
- Less robust network due to compatibility
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Tile Pro (2022)
long time winner
Tile Pro doesn’t have any flashy features, but its simple nature and long-term and extensive global user network make it a very effective option, and it works with any Android or iOS phone.
Strong Points- Can track large number of connected phones
- Works with most brands of smartphones (and tablets)
- Easy pairing with QR code
Cons- No UWB-based AR tracking
- Network also requires opt-in
Apple AirTags are getting a lot of attention, but the first Samsung SmartTag came out a few months before that, and the original Tile came out a few years before that. All of these super useful Bluetooth trackers basically do the same thing, combining Bluetooth technology to notify you where you’ve misplaced items nearby, and using a worldwide network of connected users to track items far away. items can be found. Samsung’s latest Bluetooth tracker includes some nifty features that some users will like, but the Tile takes advantage of a broader network, albeit a bit less advanced. to appeal to users.
Price, availability and specs
Tile Pro has been available since June 2022 and is readily available from Tile and third-party retailers for approximately $30. The SmartTag 2, released in October 2023, is also available from Samsung and various online stores, and is typically a few dollars cheaper than the Tile. In any case, neither is very expensive.
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Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 2 Tile Pro (2022) Connectivity Bluetooth LE, Ultra Wideband, NFC Bluetooth LE battery Up to 500 days (normal mode), up to 700 days (power saving mode) up to 1 year range Maximum 120m Maximum 120m water resistance IP67 IP67
Design, build, and battery life
Source: Samsung
These devices are not only small, but also very robust. They both have an IP67 rating, so you don’t have to worry that using them outdoors poses any danger. The form factor is also quite similar, although the Samsung is probably a little more sophisticated. These trackers are compact enough that you can attach them to your keychain or pet’s collar, or hide them in your handbag, backpack, or laptop bag, and they don’t take up much space. You can also purchase it in black or white.
The trackers take different approaches to charting battery life, and Samsung claims the new trackers will last for 500 or 700 hours, depending on whether you choose normal or power-saving mode. I am. Tile says its entries will last up to a year with normal use. It’s dust and water resistant, which takes a bit of effort, but both have replaceable batteries so you don’t have to worry about your investment going to waste if your time runs out.
Features
Source: Tile
Trackers work similarly, leveraging your phone’s Bluetooth connection and the connections of nearby devices to track your belongings over a distance (more on this later).
Samsung goes a few steps further and leverages the UWB connectivity found in its high-end smartphones for ultra-high precision tracking at close range. SmartTag 2 also has an NFC chip that allows you to pair it with your Galaxy phone in one step.
The downside is that SmartTag 2 only works if you own a Samsung phone. To function, the Samsung SmartThings app must be installed on your Samsung device. So if you own another Android smartphone (or an iPhone), you don’t have much of a choice between the two.
SmartTag’s UWB support unlocks at least some interesting features. This allows your UWB-enabled phone to use augmented reality to help you find nearby items that are hidden under the couch, in a trash can, or otherwise hidden. Simply open the app, enable AR tracking, and use the display to pinpoint the exact location of your tag. Due to the inherent communication range of UWB, this feature only works up to a distance of approximately 10 meters, and the presence of obstacles will reduce that number.
Tile Pro is pretty simple. It only uses Bluetooth LE, but the QR code on the back makes the pairing process very fast. No NFC, no UWB for him. So, while there’s no fancy short-range AR tracking, at least the tracker works with just about any smartphone or tablet.
Network: The big difference
AirTags has received so much press in part because of its popularity and the popularity of the iPhone. iPhones within range of your Apple AirTag are added to your device range. Samsung and Tile work similarly, but if Apple’s network is enabled by default, both Samsung and Tile will be opted in. Galaxy SmartTags connect to your Galaxy smartphone only if you enable the feature. Tile Tracker requires users to download and sign on to the Tile app to extend the network.
But here’s the crux of the matter. Only relatively recent Galaxy devices can be added to that network. Indeed, Samsung devices are very popular, but due to the relatively limited nature of compatibility and opt-in, the network is not as robust as its competitors.
Tile, by comparison, has users all over the world, with a significant number of users even in medium-sized cities in the United States. This is a much older, better known, and more widespread product, so it has a much better chance of being able to track your tile-tagged device.
How do I know if there’s a Bluetooth tracker nearby?
The growing popularity of Bluetooth trackers is not without its own risks. Bluetooth trackers can make it relatively easy for malicious parties to monitor someone without their knowledge. Thankfully, Apple and Google are actively working together to develop standards for detecting unwanted Bluetooth trackers. It’s still in development, but will be released soon. In the meantime, there is a way to check nearby smart tags away from their owners.
Which one is right for you?
Samsung wants to imitate Apple, but its opt-in system and relatively limited compatibility make it less useful. Tile Pro and its popularity have made it even more reliable. The only advanced feature that makes the SmartTag 2 worth purchasing is local AR tracking. This is great, but also niche. Considering the rest of the features are almost the same, most users should choose his Tile Pro.
Tile Pro (2022)
Best overall
Vast global tracking network
Tile Pro’s durable design, affordable price, and extensive tracking network make it the best choice for most users, regardless of the type of smartphone they use.
The exception is if you have a high-end Galaxy smartphone and often need to visually track lost or buried items, or if you’re worried that the item will disappear when you get close to it. For example, if an item is hidden under a pile of clothes, accidentally thrown in the trash, or lost in the woods while hiking, SmartTag 2 will let you know its approximate location (within about 10 meters). Easy to track. On his mobile phone he has a UWB connection. While this is certainly nice and useful, it’s not the most common use case for Bluetooth trackers.
Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 2
premium option
Equipped with innovative AR tracking
$22 $30 Save $8
Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2 has a long battery life and the ability to accurately locate items whose general location you know but can’t quite see. The only drawback is that the tracking network is not very comprehensive.
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