Galaxy Smart Tag 2 in a short test: Samsung’s bottle opener finds what you want

Samsung has long been offering a counterpart to the Apple AirTag with the Smart Tag and Smart Tag+. However, this one is far less common among Samsung fans than its Cupertino counterpart among Apple fans.

1. Compatibility and setup

2. What is the Galaxy Smart Tag 2 suitable for?

3. Range

4. Netzwelt means

This may be due to the timing of publication. The smart tag appeared in the middle of the pandemic. Due to the numerous travel and going out restrictions, the need for a Bluetooth tracker to find lost items was manageable.

With the Smart Tag 2, Samsung is now starting a new attempt. The tracker, which looks like a bottle opener, is now available for 39.99 euros. Until November 6th you will receive a second SmartTag for just 29 euros when you purchase it. Samsung also wants to offer several packs later.

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Netzwelt was able to try out the new tracker at Samsung’s German headquarters in Schwalbach at the invitation of Samsung. Below you will find out what the tracker can be used for and how it is set up.

Compatibility and setup

The most important thing in advance: The Smart Tag 2, like Apple’s AirTag, can only be used with the manufacturer’s devices. Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, for example, it is not possible to pair the tag with an Android phone from another manufacturer. Galaxy smartphones and tablets must be running Android 9.0 or higher to connect to Smart Tag 2.

In addition, use requires you to create a free Samsung account. This is the only way you have access to the manufacturer’s Smart Things Find network. This is a collaboration of Galaxy devices worldwide, making it possible to locate items even beyond Bluetooth range. According to Samsung, around 300 million users worldwide (as of May 2023) are part of the network. It is not known how many users in Germany participate in Smart Things Find.

If all the requirements are met, the tag can be set up within a few minutes using the Smart Things app. All you have to do is bring the tracker close to your smartphone and you should be able to start setting it up via a pop-up. Here you essentially just have to agree to the terms of use of the Smart Things Find network and give the tag a meaningful name. Everything else happens automatically.

What is the Galaxy Smart Tag 2 suitable for?

Due to their shorter range compared to GPS trackers, Bluetooth trackers are generally suitable for finding lost items nearby – such as keys or wallets. Samsung specifies the tracker’s Bluetooth range as up to 120 meters. On newer Galaxy devices with a UWB chip, Smart Things Find even allows you to track down misplaced items in the room using an AR view with a compass.

However, due to the lack of a UWB-capable cell phone, we were unable to try out the feature in Schwalbach. In the short test, however, the location was recorded relatively accurately via Bluetooth. The Smart Tag 2 can also emit an easily audible signal via a small loudspeaker to draw attention to itself.

Range

At home, you can also use the Smart Tag to make your cell phone ring or to start routines set up for your Smart Home using Smart Things. Because the Smart Tag 2 offers an invisible button under the Samsung logo that can be pressed and triggers an action that you have previously defined.

Thanks to the Smart Thing Find network, the Smart Tag 2 can also take on the functions of a GPS tracker and locate moving objects or animals. Samsung offers accessories for securely attaching the Smart Tag 2 to a dog collar, suitcase, backpack or bicycle. Practical: You can store contact details in the Smart Tag 2, which the person who finds your item can read via NFC.

However, how reliably the location works here depends on the number of Smart Things Find users in the area. 300 million users worldwide may sound like a lot at first, but compared to the total number of Samsung users, which is estimated to be 1.8 billion people, the number is rather small. For comparison: Apple’s Where is network, which operates in a similar way, is said to have 1 billion users.

However, reports on the first Smart Tag online show that, at least in larger cities, your Smart Tag can be found relatively quickly (around 20 minutes) by other Galaxy cell phones. In rural areas, however, it may take longer or the location may fail due to a lack of devices.

Nice: Samsung has fixed some weaknesses compared to the AirTag with the second SmartTag generation. The tracker is now also dust and waterproof according to IP68, which makes it more robust. In addition, the battery life has been almost doubled compared to the SmartTag at 500 days. The tag draws power from a button battery. If this needs to be changed, you will need a needle, like to open the SIM slot on your cell phone. There is now also stalking protection, so you can check your surroundings for unknown trackers, similar to Apple.

Netzwelt means

With the Smart Tag 2, Samsung offers a powerful Bluetooth tracker at a market price. In order to satisfactorily fulfill some purposes in rural regions, the Smart Things Find network would still have to grow. It’s a shame that Samsung only limits it to its own devices.

A notice: The costs for travel and an overnight stay were covered by Samsung. This has no influence on reporting. You can find out more about this in our transparency guidelines.