OPPO patents its answer to the Samsung Galaxy SmartTag or Apple AirTag

Rumors of the Apple AirTag have prevailed all through 2020, although Samsung ultimately got there first with its own inaugural Galaxy SmartTag. This, as it sounds on the tin, is the OEM's version of Tile technology, and might thus help prevent the loss of the possessions (or pets) that has one attached and, thus, connected to a user's phone at all times. Now, it seems OPPO has decided to get into this same market soon.

It has filed a new patent with the IP office of its native China (CNIPA) that distinctly depicts a SmartTag clone, albeit one with the OPPO logo. Nevertheless, it has the same general squircle shape and small hole in one corner so as to act as a keyring accessory.

Its real-world footprint has been estimated at 4x4cm, which would make it slightly larger than a Galaxy SmartTag; then again, the OPPO tag's diagrams somehow give the impression of being sleeker and slimmer compared to its established Samsung competitor.

Otherwise, the patent gives little away about its actual specs, besides its status as a Bluetooth device. The SmartTag, on the other hand, supports its company's ultrawide-band (UWB) system, which may allow a given tag to contact its paired phone with the help of many other compatible Samsung devices in the vicinity, thus reducing the risk that it will get out of range completely.

Therefore, few hints as to how this new wireless tag will fit into the OPPO ecosystem exist at present. In addition, with its May 2020 filing date, it is hard to say when this patent might be realized as a market-ready device at this point.

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