Choose based on the phone ecosystem and finding network you want to use. SmartTag3 works through Samsung SmartThings Find, including newly announced support for Galaxy and iOS devices; AirTag is managed through Apple Find My and requires a compatible iPhone or iPad for setup. Their range claims are not directly comparable: Samsung gives a conditional distance for one nearby-finding feature, while Apple describes an improvement over the previous AirTag rather than a matching distance.
At a glance: what differs
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy SmartTag3 | Apple AirTag (2nd generation) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner setup and app | SmartThings Find; Samsung says core features support Galaxy and iOS devices. Feature availability can depend on the phone. | Apple Account and compatible iPhone or iPad; managed through Find My. |
| Nearby precision finding | Compass View uses Bluetooth Channel Sounding for up to 60 m in line of sight; closer-range precision uses UWB. Compatible device support is limited. | Precision Finding range is up to 50% greater than the previous generation; Apple does not give a matching absolute distance in the cited current materials. |
| Finding beyond direct connection | Galaxy Find Network, with more than 900 million participating Galaxy devices cited by Samsung. | Apple Find My network, which Apple says can leverage more than a billion Apple devices. |
| Battery claim | Up to 550 days in standard use, or up to 790 days in Power Saving Mode, under Samsung’s stated assumptions. | More than a year on a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell, according to Apple. |
| U.S. price and timing | Samsung announced $29.99 for one and $99.99 for four, with U.S. availability by early November 2026. | Apple announced $29 for one and $99 for four; available to order as of its January 2026 announcement. |
Features, prices and availability are manufacturer statements current to the sources cited below; they are not results of a head-to-head field test.
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Which tracker works with your phone?
SmartTag3: SmartThings Find, including announced iOS support
Samsung describes SmartTag3 as its first Galaxy SmartTag with cross-OS compatibility. Through SmartThings Find, Galaxy and iOS users can check and share a tag’s location and use supported Search Nearby functions. That does not make SmartTag3 part of Apple Find My: its remote crowd-finding network is Samsung’s Galaxy Find Network. Confirm that the particular SmartThings features you want are supported on your phone.
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- Find your things with ease: The SmartThings Find app uses Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to locate and keep track of your stuff
- Water and Dust Resistant: IP67 rating offers protection against dust and water immersion between 15 cm and 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Compatible with Galaxy Devices Only
AirTag: an Apple Account and a current Apple device
Apple’s product page lists an Apple Account, an iPhone with iOS 26.0 or later, or an iPad with iPadOS 26.0 or later. Apple Support specifies iOS 26.2.1 or later for AirTag (2nd generation), so use that more specific requirement when setting up this model. See Apple’s AirTag and Find My setup guidance for setup and Precision Finding requirements.
An Android phone cannot pair with and manage AirTag as its owner. Apple’s Android support in this context is for unwanted-tracking alerts; a finder can also use NFC to access Lost Mode information without managing the tag.
Nearby range: why the numbers are not a contest
SmartTag3 has two distinct Bluetooth figures
Samsung advertises up to 60 m for SmartTag3’s Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding detection in line-of-sight conditions with no obstacles. Walls, other obstructions and nearby electronic devices can reduce both range and directional or distance accuracy. Compass View becomes more precise at closer range with UWB, subject to compatible-device support.
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- Find your things with ease: The SmartThings Find app uses Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to locate and keep track of your stuff
- Water and Dust Resistant: IP67 rating offers protection against dust and water immersion between 15 cm and 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- Compatible with Galaxy Devices Only.
Samsung Canada separately lists Bluetooth LE connectivity of up to 120 m for signal-strength checks and settings. This is not the same feature as 60 m Compass View, nor a promise that a tag can be reliably located throughout that distance. Both figures are manufacturer specifications, not guaranteed operating radii.
AirTag’s improvement is relative to its predecessor
Apple says the second-generation AirTag’s Precision Finding reaches up to 50% farther than the previous generation and that its updated Bluetooth chip expands the range at which an item can be located. Apple does not publish a directly comparable meter figure in the current materials cited here. Precision Finding is also supported on Apple Watch Series 9 or later and Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later with the specified software.
Because Samsung’s 60 m figure describes a particular line-of-sight technology and Apple’s 50% figure compares two AirTag generations, neither number establishes which current tracker has greater real-world range. No independent controlled comparison of these current models is cited here.
Rank #3
- REDESIGNED TO DO MORE: The redesigned Galaxy SmartTag2 is made so you can keep calm and keep track¹; Its design makes it easy for you to tag and carry your belongings
- EASY TO USE: It's IP67-rated water- and dust-resistant², activates your compatible IoT devices³ and stays powered for up to 500 days⁴ or even up to 40% more on Power Saving Mode⁵
- RELAX, YOU'VE GOT IT TAGGED: Simply register a new Galaxy SmartTag2 and get started right away with SmartThings Find; With its intuitive tracking experience, you now have a way to keep track of things you love right in the palm of your hand¹
- SEARCH NEAR WHEN IT'S NOT FAR: Lose something? Switch on Search Nearby⁶ and get instructions to your item's location via Compass View⁷; If you still don't see it, just ring your Galaxy SmartTag2 to have it send out an audible signal
- TAGGED & TRENDY: Cover your Galaxy SmartTag2 with a colorful Silicone Case for protection and a smooth touch – or a Rugged Case with a non-slip pattern on the side and additional bumper on the bottom⁸; Both have a carabiner ring attachment
Finding an item after it is out of range
When a tag cannot connect directly to its owner’s device, it can be detected by nearby participating devices in its own ecosystem. Samsung says more than 900 million participating Galaxy devices can serve as SmartTag3 finding nodes; Apple says Find My can leverage more than a billion Apple devices. These are network-size claims from the manufacturers, not a guarantee that a lost item will be located.
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Alerts, recovery and privacy
Samsung SmartTag3
- NFC Lost Mode: A finder can tap the tag with an NFC-capable phone to view contact information you registered.
- Location and movement tools: Samsung describes location history retained for up to seven days, Movement Detection Alert, Left Behind Alert and Place Notification. Place Notification is described as a trial feature in Samsung’s global announcement.
- Practical limits: Movement detection relies on nearby Galaxy devices participating in Offline finding and may not trigger in some surroundings. A Place Notification’s displayed location may differ from the tag’s actual position. A Left Behind Alert depends on a direct connection and can be affected by environmental interference.
- Data protection: Samsung describes location data as encrypted; these product descriptions do not establish an independent security audit.
Apple AirTag
- Lost Mode: A finder can use NFC to access contact information you choose to provide. Apple also supports temporary item-location sharing with trusted parties, including participating airlines; sharing ends when the item is recovered or after seven days.
- Unwanted-tracking alerts: Apple says iPhone and Android devices can alert someone when an AirTag separated from its owner is traveling with them. The AirTag can also emit a sound.
- Network privacy: Apple says location communication is encrypted and devices relaying a tag’s location are anonymous. These are Apple’s descriptions of its system, not an independent security assessment.
Apple says AirTag is designed for tracking objects, not people or pets. A tracker should not be used to monitor someone without their consent.
Rank #4
- REDESIGNED TO DO MORE: The redesigned Galaxy SmartTag2 is made so you can keep calm and keep track¹; Its design makes it easy for you to tag and carry your belongings
- EASY TO USE: It's IP67-rated water- and dust-resistant², activates your compatible IoT devices³ and stays powered for up to 500 days⁴ or even up to 40% more on Power Saving Mode⁵
- RELAX, YOU'VE GOT IT TAGGED: Simply register a new Galaxy SmartTag2 and get started right away with SmartThings Find; With its intuitive tracking experience, you now have a way to keep track of things you love right in the palm of your hand¹
- SEARCH NEAR WHEN IT'S NOT FAR: Lose something? Switch on Search Nearby⁶ and get instructions to your item's location via Compass View⁷; If you still don't see it, just ring your Galaxy SmartTag2 to have it send out an audible signal
- TAGGED & TRENDY: Cover your Galaxy SmartTag2 with a colorful Silicone Case for protection and a smooth touch – or a Rugged Case with a non-slip pattern on the side and additional bumper on the bottom⁸; Both have a carabiner ring attachment
Battery, water resistance and attachment
Battery life is an estimate, not a matched test
Samsung says SmartTag3 lasts up to 550 days under standard use, or up to 790 days in Power Saving Mode. Samsung bases these figures on internal laboratory testing and modeled typical-use consumption with a pre-release unit and the included CR2032 battery; actual life varies. Some functions, including Compass View and volume or ringtone settings, may be unavailable in Power Saving Mode.
Apple says AirTag runs for more than a year on a user-replaceable CR2032 coin cell. The usage assumptions are not presented as a directly matched test against Samsung’s figures, so the claims do not establish which tag lasts longer in identical use. Check the manufacturer’s battery guidance before replacing a cell.
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Both are rated IP67, not waterproof indefinitely
Samsung and Apple list IP67 water and dust resistance. Apple specifies testing under IEC 60529, including up to 1 m of water for 30 minutes in controlled conditions. Both manufacturers warn that resistance can diminish over time. Treat the rating as limited protection, not permission to submerge or expose a tag without regard to its care instructions.
Best Value
- REDESIGNED TO DO MORE: The redesigned Galaxy SmartTag2 is made so you can keep calm and keep track; Its design makes it easy for you to tag and carry your belongings
- EASY TO USE: It's IP67-rated water- and dust-resistant, activates your compatible IoT devices and stays powered for up to 500 days or even up to 40% more on Non-Power Saving Mode
- RELAX, YOU'VE GOT IT TAGGED: Simply register a new Galaxy SmartTag2 and get started right away with SmartThings Find; With its intuitive tracking experience, you now have a way to keep track of things you love right in the palm of your hand
- SEARCH NEAR WHEN IT'S NOT FAR: Lose something. Switch on Search Nearby and get guided instructions to your item's location via Compass View; If you still don't see it, just ring your Galaxy SmartTag2 to have it send out an audible signal
- Type of battery needed: replaceable CR2032 1 ea Lithium battery (not included)
Plan for how the tag attaches
Samsung lists separate silicone and keyring or loop cases; Apple sells AirTag accessories such as key rings. Check whether a bag, key set or other item already has a holder before choosing an accessory. A replacement CR2032 is a later consumable for either model; verify compatibility with the specific tag and battery listing.
Availability and U.S. pricing
As of October 4, 2026, Samsung had announced SmartTag3 U.S. availability by early November 2026 at $29.99 for one or $99.99 for four. Samsung’s global announcement said the rollout begins in Korea on October 7, followed by the U.S., with more markets planned for 2027. Those are announced rollout dates, not confirmation that the product is already on sale in every region.
Apple announced U.S. AirTag (2nd generation) pricing of $29 for one or $99 for four on January 26, 2026, and said it was available to order. Prices and stock vary by market and can change; check local availability before buying.
Quick Recap
Which one should you choose?
- Choose SmartTag3 if you want SmartThings Find and Galaxy’s crowd-finding network, or if its announced iOS support suits a mixed-phone household. Check feature compatibility on the actual phones, especially for Compass View.
- Choose AirTag if you use an iPhone or iPad and want Apple Find My integration, Apple’s stated unwanted-tracking alerts, and the option to use supported Apple Watch models for Precision Finding.
- For either tracker, consider where you expect to lose items, which network is present there, nearby-finding support on your device, and how the tag will attach. Advertised network sizes and range claims do not substitute for local coverage or a matched performance test.
Sources
- Samsung Newsroom U.S., SmartTag3 announcement, September 30, 2026
- Samsung Canada, Galaxy SmartTag3 product details
- Apple, AirTag product page and specifications
- Apple Newsroom, AirTag announcement, January 26, 2026
- Apple Support, Use AirTag and Find My to keep track of your personal items, September 16, 2026
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
