Galaxy Unpacked 2021 | Samsung offers the future of recovering missing treasures with new Galaxy SmartTags

Apple is said to launch its long-awaited AirTags soon; however, Samsung has pre-empted this with its new Galaxy SmartTag product. This, as the name suggests, is the OEM's proprietary new Tile-like system for potentially increased security for a variety of personal possessions, such as one's new S21-series smartphone, perhaps.

This SmartTag is a small square gadget that is easily transportable thanks to its keyring-ready design. Samsung asserts that it can support tracking for a variety of use-cases, pet-protection included. The device can alert the user to an AWOL status in a number of ways.

They include its in-built buzzer, which can be activated via a connected device; alternatively, Samsung has equipped it with UWB. This may help its advanced smart features, which include an augmented reality (AR) -enhanced searching process for a given SmartTag. Each one also has a button to help find a connected device, and also for rudimentary control over Samsung SmartThings products.

In the event a SmartTagged item (or pet) goes seriously missing, there is also the option to search for it using a network of Samsung Galaxy-brand devices in the general vicinity. The OEM notes that this is done on an end-to-end encrypted basis, so that none of the other users of the devices involved in a search will be able to see a tag-hunter's more personal data.

The Samsung Galaxy SmartTags come in black, oatmeal, pink or mint colors, and will be available from January 29, 2021 for US$29.99 each. Alternatively, they can come in multi-packs that go up to $84.99 for 4 of them. There is also to be a Plus variant for this new device, priced at $39.99 for one or $64.99 for a 2-pack, to be released later this year.