Samsung is changing up its Galaxy SmartTag item tracker… again. The new SmartTag 3 is smaller than the previous version and ditches the built-in ring design for the same $29.99 for one and $99.99 for a four-pack.
It’s not just the more compact size—35% smaller and 33% lighter than the SmartTag 2—that makes the SmartTag 3 better. Samsung says the item tracker is 10% more power efficient and can last up to 550 days in “normal” mode and up to 790 days in “power saving” mode. The SmartTag 3 can also be detected up to three times farther than before and has what Samsung calls “centimeter-level” tracking when using your phone to locate it.
Other upgrades include appearing on the Galaxy Find Network sooner after it’s out of range, a new compass view that works up to 200 feet in the app, place notifications that alert you when the device is no longer within a set geofence, location history that shows you where the tracker has moved, and movement detection alerts.
The biggest addition is support for iOS and non-Samsung Android phones. Previous Galaxy SmartTags only worked with Samsung’s own devices via the SmartThings app. This instantly makes the SmartTag 3 more appealing.
Many of these features make the SmartTag 3 more competitive with item trackers like Apple’s second-gen AirTag and Google’s upcoming Pixel Tag.
While not a breakthrough product by any means, the new item tracker’s smaller size and more advanced tracking do make it more useful. For example, it can attach more easily to items and fit better in wallets. Samsung is even selling accessories for attaching it to a bike, luggage handle, pet collar, or even a kid’s backpack.
The SmartTag 3 uses the same CR2032 coin battery as before. It comes in black or white and will be available in early November.
