Summary
Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag3 combines Bluetooth Channel Sounding and ultra-wideband for longer-range and close-range finding, and adds core finding and sharing support across Galaxy and iOS devices. Samsung says its battery lasts up to 550 days in standard use.
Samsung announced the Galaxy SmartTag3 on September 30, 2026, with a smaller design, longer-range directional finding and support for core finding and sharing features across Galaxy and iOS devices. The tracker is scheduled to go on sale in Korea on October 7, followed by the US; Samsung says additional markets will follow in 2027.
The main change is a more continuous search experience: Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding can guide users from farther away, while ultra-wideband (UWB) provides more precise guidance as they get closer. Samsung also says the tag can last up to 550 days in standard use, or up to 790 days in Power Saving Mode.
Longer-range guidance, followed by close-range precision
Samsung says Compass View can provide distance and directional guidance from up to 60 metres away using Bluetooth Channel Sounding—around three times the previous generation’s range. That figure is measured under line-of-sight conditions, with no obstacles between the tag and the receiving device. Walls and other obstructions, nearby electronics and local conditions can reduce range or measurement accuracy.
As a search gets closer, UWB provides more precise guidance. Compass View is available on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or later that support UWB or Bluetooth Channel Sounding. Samsung lists Bluetooth Channel Sounding support on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Plus at launch. The feature is not available on iOS.
If the tag moves beyond the user’s phone connection range, Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network can help locate it through participating Galaxy devices. Samsung says more than 900 million devices worldwide participate as finding nodes. The timing of location updates depends on nearby participating devices, network conditions, settings and regional conditions.
Smaller design and shared finding features
The SmartTag3 is approximately 35% smaller by volume and 33% lighter than its predecessor, according to Samsung. It has an aluminum-decorated button and an IP67 water- and dust-resistance rating. Samsung specifies protection in up to 1 metre of water for up to 30 minutes, while cautioning that resistance can diminish over time and that the tag is not advised for beach or pool use.
Cross-OS support is new to the SmartTag line. Through SmartThings Find, Galaxy and iOS users can check and share a tag’s location and use supported finding features. Availability varies by platform: Compass View, Ring Phone and Left Behind Alert are not available on iOS.
The tag also adds Place Notification, a trial feature that can alert users when an item moves into or out of a defined area. Location History stores records for up to seven days. Movement Detection Alert can notify users when movement is detected while the tag is disconnected from their device; alerts rely on nearby Galaxy devices that have agreed to offline finding and may be delayed or not arrive depending on conditions.
Samsung’s battery-life figures—up to 550 days in standard use and up to 790 days in Power Saving Mode—come from internal tests using a pre-release device and a CR2032 battery. Actual life varies with use and other conditions. Power Saving Mode limits some functions, including Compass View and volume and ringtone settings. Samsung also warns that the coin-cell battery and tag components can pose a swallowing hazard if the tag detaches from a pet collar or other attachment.