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Confused about Samsung's SmartTags and UWB? Here's what's up!

Best answer: No. Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag does not support UltraWide Band (UWB). However, the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ is now available, which features UWB technology. The regular version of the SmartTag only supports Bluetooth LE.

Samsung SmartTags is Samsung's answer to Tile

At Samsung Unpacked, Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy SmartTags, which are small, battery-powered trackable tags similar to many other Bluetooth trackers out there. You attach them to clothes, personal items, or pet collars. You can use the Samsung SmartThings Find app to locate them.

Samsung offers two different versions of the Galaxy SmartTags. Regular SmartTags are available starting now and cost $30. Plus, In addition to bundling the Galaxy SmartTag with every Galaxy S21 pre-order, you can purchase the tracker separately from several different retailers. After waiting a few months, Samsung finally released the Galaxy SmartTag+, which sports the UltraWide Band (UWB) technology. This is also available from the likes of Samsung and other retailers if you have been holding out on getting the upgraded version.

What are the differences?

Aside from price and availability, the key difference is in the technology used to locate them. SmartTags will use Bluetooth LE; it's the same protocol that allows you to stream music to headphones. The Galaxy SmartTag Plus uses Ultrawide Band (UWB) for location. UWB uses a series of tiny pulses that can communicate with your compatible phone to determine its location within half an inch.

Over long ranges, both SmartTags will communicate with other Samsung Galaxy phones to anonymously broadcast their location. This will be done securely and automatically without a user's intervention. Once you get within range of Bluetooth LE (for SmartTag) or UWB (for SmartTag Plus, assuming you have a compatible phone), the app will help you get closer and narrow things down. In fact, SmartTag Plus can use an AR interface to pinpoint the exact location of the tag.

Not all Samsung phones will work with UWB. Only the Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra have the hardware to make UWB work. We can only assume that more hardware will come out in the future, but for now, if you want a Samsung Galaxy SmartTag Plus, you'll need a Galaxy S21.

Find your stuff

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag

$30 at Amazon $30 at Best Buy $30 at Samsung

Samsung's Tile competitor

Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag is just like several other Bluetooth trackers out there, except that it can use Samsung Galaxy phones already out there to send its location back to the owner securely. The signal is encrypted and done behind the scenes, so a Galaxy Phone owner won't even know the data is being sent.

Better accuracy

Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+

$40 at Amazon $40 at B&H Photo $40 at Samsung

Make use of the fancy technology

The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag+ is an upgraded version of the standard SmartTag thanks to the inclusion of the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip. When using this and a Galaxy S21, you'll be able to pinpoint the location of the tag, even if it's nowhere near your current location.

Samsung's latest and greatest

Samsung Galaxy S21

From $700 at Amazon From $800 at Best Buy From $800 at Samsung

Samsung's best value

This is the very best that Samsung has to offer right now. The Snapdragon 888 processor, amazing camera setup, and UWB compatibility work with the Samsung SmartTag Plus.



Source: androidcentral
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