Tough competition for the Apple AirTag: Google unveils Find Hub with UWB, satellite connection and airline integration

Together with the new design of Android 16 and Wear OS 6, Google has also just announced the future of the "Find My Device" network. Google is changing the name of the app to "Find Hub" and plans to offer significantly more features in future, starting with ultra-wideband chip support (UWB). This feature, which is also supported by the Apple AirTag, allows you to display the exact direction and distance to a nearby tracker.

For this to work, both the tracker and the respective smartphone must have a UWB chip. Hence, this feature will first be available on the Motorola Moto Tag, in conjunction with a Google Pixel 6 Pro (or newer), a Xiaomi 15S, a Motorola Edge 50, a NIO Phone 2, a Galaxy Z Fold2 (or newer), or even a Galaxy S21+ or Galaxy S21 Ultra (or newer). Just like Apple, Google also plans to work with selected airlines in future so that users can share the location of a tracker with the airline in order to track luggage more quickly.

Suitcase manufacturers such as July and Mokobara plan to integrate permanent trackers, which should eliminate the need for an additional tracker, while Peak plans to launch a pair of skis with an integrated tracker. Pixbee, meanwhile, is expected to launch trackers with a Disney design. Later this year, Google Find Hub will also integrate the satellite features of select smartphones so that the location can be shared or messages sent and received directly via the app.