Samsung's new SmartTag 3 tracker is on sale in the US, but its precise finding mode works on only four Galaxy phones, so check yours first.
Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 3 is now on sale in the US, and its headline feature works on very few phones. Compass View, which points you toward a lost item, is limited to four Galaxy models. On any other phone, the tag acts like an ordinary Bluetooth tracker.
Samsung says the SmartTag 3 is smaller and lighter than earlier versions. It claims 550 days of battery life and an IP67 rating, meaning it resists dust and water. It also has a Lost Mode that uses NFC, a short-range tap technology, and Left Behind Alerts. The material does not give a price.
Compass View relies on Bluetooth Channel Sounding, an upgraded way for Bluetooth devices to measure distance more precisely. Samsung has kept it inside its own ecosystem. Only these phones can use it:
Future Galaxy phones with Channel Sounding will also work. A base-model flagship, an older Galaxy phone or an iPhone gets the basic version. The tag does work with iPhones, but Ring Phone, Left Behind Alerts and Compass View are reserved for Galaxy users.
Google's Pixel Tag and Motorola's Moto Tag 2 also use Channel Sounding. Both open it to all compatible Android phones, Galaxy models included. The SmartTag 3 uses only Samsung's Galaxy Find Network. Samsung says nearly 900 million Galaxy devices are on it, and their Bluetooth signals help locate lost tags faster.
Google's Find Hub is the more open option. It works with headphones, earbuds, trackers, phones and watches from several makers. Google is still maturing it, and a "Notify when left behind" alert is coming soon.
Apple said at its developer conference this year that iPhones with its N1 networking chip will support Channel Sounding, along with third-party Bluetooth 6.3 devices. Those devices are not on the market yet and are not expected for a few years. Until then, how well precise tracking works across brands depends on which phone and which tag you pair.
Look at the phone in your pocket before you buy. A Galaxy S26 Ultra owner gets the full SmartTag 3. Most other people get a basic tracker, and for them an open option like the Pixel Tag may offer more.
Before buying a tracker, check whether your phone unlocks its precise finding mode, because the SmartTag 3's best feature works on only four Galaxy phones.
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