Bluetooth monitoring tags have change into extraordinarily ubiquitous. Whereas a few of us have had a Tile tracker for years, many extra individuals will pay attention to Apple’s AirTags due to the iPhone community impact and/or the stalking incidents it has enabled (primarily due to stated iPhone community impact). It’s possible you’ll not have realized that Samsung has its personal line of so-called Galaxy SmartTags that have been introduced proper earlier than the AirTags in 2021. You in all probability will not have realized till now that the corporate is ready to provide a follow-up.
The Galaxy SmartTag 2 has been floating round within the information since early final 12 months. It appears to be like like we’re nearing launch since Samsung lodged a product itemizing within the Bluetooth Particular Curiosity Group’s Launch Studio database on June 30, 2023.
Whereas the tags did not floor throughout July’s Unpacked occasion that includes the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Fold 5, they have been noticed once more in the US. Particularly talking, we’re speaking a couple of submission (with photographs!) to the FCC’s Office of Engineering and Technology (by way of MySmartPrice).
Samsung / FCC
Paperwork verify that the brand new SmartTag 2 will assist Bluetooth 5.3 (up from the SmartTag’s 5.1) and Extremely Wideband (UWB) connectivity for improved precision monitoring. This connectivity was solely out there on the Galaxy SmartTag+, which debuted three months after the Bluetooth-only originals, and for $10 extra. Its inclusion right here might sign a lower cost for this once-premium hi fi.
In any other case, we anticipate this tag, which has a bigger clipping gap that might befit a lanyard slightly than a keychain, to behave equally to an AirTag and, in actuality, far more like its predecessor. Meaning pinging its location to the tag proprietor anytime it is inside attain of a Galaxy model machine.
Android Police has reported on a few of the new options we may see in a SmartTags 2, together with enhanced protections towards stalkers, or no less than, the dastardly individuals sticking SmartTags into the wheel wells of vehicles or the purses of the unwitting. They may additionally function a louder beeper that may make it simpler to search out and combine into the SmartThings platform with the power to manage good residence home equipment.
There’s additionally the notion that Samsung’s work on a second-gen SmartTag product or merchandise is partly motivated by the will to compete towards Google. That company is also said to be working on its own wireless tracker tags, however that path has gone chilly because the I/O convention in Might. Google could also be gearing up for a head-to-head launch window or have deserted the challenge. We do know builders have been working to make Find My Device work with gadgets which have been powered off. It could be particularly helpful since Discover My Machine works throughout the Android ecosystem, not simply inside Samsung’s bubble.
The SmartTag 2 has been rumoured for an announcement this quarter, so we’ll preserve our eyes peeled by way of the top of September for a drop. Hopefully, these tipped options are actual as a result of it seems like a tool that would go head-to-head with the AirTags for monitoring.
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