Samsung presents the SmarTag 2, a new connected key ring designed to be attached to more objects in order to easily find them using the smartphone. We took the opportunity to offer you a quick overview.
AirTag, Tile, Galaxy SmarTag… Trackers in the form of key rings are quite fashionable. And now Samsung is at it again with a new product logically called Galaxy SmartTag 2. We were able to briefly try this accessory designed to prevent the feeling of anxiety from increasing when we can no longer find an important object.
A more practical design for the key ring
The big novelty of the Samsung Galaxy SmarTag 2 lies in its design. The object clearly assumes its function as a key ring with a much larger ring. It therefore becomes more practical to hang it on your keychain thanks to a greatly enlarged ring.
Thanks to this large loop, Samsung promises a Galaxy SmartTag 2 capable of hanging anywhere. The manufacturer adds in passing that the ring is made of metal for good resistance to shocks of all kinds. Added to this is an IP67 certification to remain calm even when the key ring falls into the water.
Looking for my lost keys
There are two ways to find an object to which a Galaxy SmarTag 2 has been attached: via a Bluetooth connection with a range of 120 meters or through the Galaxy Find Network. This is a network exploiting the locations of Samsung smartphones around the world – suffice to say that there are a lot, really a lot of them.
With this second method, you can theoretically see the position of your property on the other side of the world, as long as a Galaxy smartphone user has passed nearby.
In any case, you will have to go through the SmartThings application which benefits, for the occasion, from an update to make the search for objects more intuitive.
Listening only to my courage, I tested the experiment. So I hang the Galaxy SmartTag 2 on my key ring and hide it behind a large vase. I then walk away about ten meters — being in Samsung’s premises, I can’t really afford to go very far.
I then grab the phone paired with the connected key fob and open SmarThings. The interface before my eyes offers several options. The entire upper half of the screen is occupied by a gauge ranging from “weak” to “strong” and which fills as I get closer to the lost object that has been haunting my thoughts for three seconds.
“Point the back of this phone toward the front“. The instructions are clear, I comply and I can then observe good accuracy of the gauge during this first exercise. It’s a shame, however, that this basic interface does not display an arrow to guide me more effectively in my noble quest.
Nothing particularly bad in itself since to be entitled to an arrow pointing in the direction of my keys, I can press the “Search with app” button. photo “. This activates an augmented reality feature. I point the smartphone in front of me and, through the camera, I can see two chevrons guiding my steps.
When I am only a few meters from the object, an animation is triggered on the screen with several small points of light which move and fill my heart with joy: I have found the keys that I did not have. not really lost! Here too, despite some very slight errors while the arrows positioned themselves correctly on the screen, I was able to benefit from good precision in the directions.
There is finally one last method to find the Galaxy SmarTag 2 with the SmartThings application: ring the key ring. Just tap the musical note icon. Easy.
The Galaxy SmartTag 2 button
At the bottom edge of the Galaxy SmarTag 2, there is a button. This is handy if you have lost your phone. A click on the button and the precious cell phone rings.
However, you can configure other uses for this same key. Thus, it is possible to control certain home devices via a double press or a long press. Unfortunately, I was not able to try this function while discovering the product.
Finally, good to know: if someone finds a Galaxy SmartTag 2, they can use NFC to scan the key ring and thus display a contact card on their smartphone, regardless of the operating system used (Android or iOS).
Price and release date
The Samsung Galaxy SmartTag 2 is available in white or black and officially costs 39.99 euros. The pack of four is 129.99 euros. Special cases are sold separately to better protect the device or to attach it to your pet’s collar or your bike.
The Galaxy SmarTag 2 will be available for sale on October 11. An introductory offer valid until the end of November allows you to receive a fifth tracker with the purchase of the pack of four.