Samsung has announced Galaxy SmartTag 2, marking the first time its AirTag alternatives will be available in Australia. The new SmartTag 2 is a notable upgrade from the first iteration, but there is still room for growth when it comes to safety.
This model comes with improved battery life, better durability, and new Compass View and Lost Mode. Battery life is up from 165 days to 500 days in normal mode, or up to 700 days in Power Saving Mode. While the IP rating has jumped from IP53 to IP67.
The new Tags also include Compass View, which shows the direction and distance the user is from their Galaxy SmartTag 2. However, this functionality is only available when paired with an ultra-wideband-enabled Galaxy smartphone with Android 11 or higher. Currently, only 11 devices in the Galaxy smartphone range will be able to use Compass View.
These are the Samsung smartphones fully compatible with SmartTag 2:
- Galaxy Note 20 (Ultra only)
- Galaxy S21 (Plus and Ultra models)
- Galaxy S22 (Plus and Ultra models)
- Galaxy S23 (Plus and Ultra models)
- Galaxy Z Fold 2
- Galaxy Z Fold 3
- Galaxy Z Fold 4
- Galaxy Z Fold 5
Lost Mode on Galaxy is reminiscent of AirTags Lost Mode. Users can set up a contact card that becomes available when the Tag is switched to Lost Mode, and scanned by another Samsung device. Any Samsung mobile device with NFC, and a web browser can scan the SmartTag 2.
Samsung devotees can also use the built-in smart control in SmartTags 2 to connect with select SmartThings-enabled home appliances. The clicker on the tag can be configured through the SmartThings app to complete functions like turning TV and lamps on, and off. Only Samsung devices with Android 9 or newer are compatible with the smart control, and they must work with and be connected to the SmartThings app.
As it stands, SmartTags and SmartTags2 exist wholly within the Samsung ecosystem, even where safety is concerned. Samsung users will be alerted if an unknown SmartTag is travelling with them, and have the ability to manually search for Tags closeby, but users of other phone brands won’t be able to see if a Tag is tracking them. For comparison, Apple released a tracking app for Android for users to be able to be notified if an unknown AirTag is with them.
The Galaxy SmartTag 2 will be available from select retailers from October 12, and will retail for $55 per Tag, or $169 for four. Check it out on Amazon here.
Alternatively, you can get a bonus four-pack if you order a Galaxy S23 FE on a plan before November 1. Here's a look at the cheapest Galaxy S23 FE plans:
Samsung Galaxy S23 FE 5G 128GB Plans
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Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$101.75/mth
Min. cost $1,073
Link not supplied
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This story first appeared on our sister site Reviews.org/au
Anula Wiwatowska
Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram
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