5 Bluetooth trackers you should buy instead of the Samsung SmartTag 3

As someone whose household fluctuates between Pixel and Galaxy devices, I was pretty excited when I first learned the Samsung SmartTag 3 would expand support to non-Galaxy devices. Unfortunately, Samsung didn’t take long to walk this promise back.

If you don’t own Samsung hardware or have a mixed-platform household, the SmartTag 3 probably isn’t the best fit. With that in mind, here are five Bluetooth trackers I’d recommend instead.

Tile Pro

Not long ago, Tile was the only Bluetooth tracking name in the game that really mattered. Over the last few years, this has changed for a few reasons. Not only was Tile acquired by Life360, but it has also had a few security concerns over the years. The competition also stepped up its game significantly, providing better tracking networks and other advantages.

Despite all this, the Tile Pro is still an excellent tracker. The Tile app remains a breeze to use, even if not everyone loves the idea of needing a stand-alone app like this. The app also includes several Premium features, including annual battery replacements, unlimited location sharing, 30 days of location history, and premium customer service. This perk is free for the first year, and $29.99 a year after that.

Every Tile also has 2-way tracking, so you can easily find your phone with the tracker. There’s even limited smart speaker support for pinging your Tiles as well. If you don’t mind giving Life360 a chance, you’ll find the Tile Pro ($24.99 on Amazon) is extremely feature-packed.

Chipolo Pop

The Chipolo Pop ($29 on Amazon) is one of the best trackers out there, largely thanks to recent improvements to Google’s Find Hub. It’s now much easier to track Chipolo’s trackers across the country and beyond using the Find Hub. The Find Hub network also makes it easy to report lost or stolen devices and more.

It’s not just that it has decent software support, but it’s also quite affordable at around $30. For those who prefer something with a decent range, you will be hard-pressed to find a better option, as it can easily alert you via Bluetooth at an average distance of up to 550 feet. It’s also plenty loud and does a good job of getting your attention when it rings, which we can’t say about every tracker on the market.

The Chipolo Pop lasts about a year on a standard CR2032 coin battery, though if you really want rechargeable battery life, the Chipolo Loop offers a similar experience but has a five-year battery that can be easily recharged via USB-C.

Pebblebee Clip 5

Pebblebee is known for some truly impressive trackers, and like many of the other options on the list, it’s only around $35. Similar to the Pop, Pebblebee Clip 5 uses Google’s Find Hub technology to track lost devices both at the local level and using the larger finding network.

In many ways, it’s quite similar to the Pop. It’s also one of the loudest trackers on the market, with an impressive 130db beeper. What’s even more helpful is the ultra-bright LED strobe. This is great if you can hear the general direction your tracker is in, but have found that it’s in a spot that’s difficult to see well, like underneath furniture or in a bush.

While the Chipolo Pop and Tile Pro both have user-replaceable batteries, the Clip 5 ($34.99 at Amazon) offers a USB-C compatible rechargeable battery. You won’t need to top it up very often, though, as the battery is rated for about a year.

Moto Tag 2

The Moto Tag 2 ($19.99 on Amazon) is one of the most affordable options on this list. Despite its low price, it actually packs quite a bit under the hood.

The Moto Tag 2 is IP68-rated, which is an improvement from the older Moto Tag. There’s also UWB for precise tracking, and it’s fully integrated into the Google Find Hub experience. Combined with UWB and a loud ringer, it should be fairly easy to find your items with this one.

What really makes the Moto Tag special is the shape. As you likely have gathered from the image above, it’s the exact same general size and shape as the AirTag. Thanks to the near-cloned design, Motorola’s tracker is widely compatible with many AirTag cases and accessories.

Pixel Tag

Last but not least, we have the Google Pixel Tag $29 at Amazon. While it doesn’t actually arrive until November 11, we already know a lot about what to expect from it.

Unlike Samsung’s tracker, you’ll find the Pixel Tag is widely compatible with any Android device. As you probably guessed, it’s powered by the same Google Find Hub technology used by several other options on this list. Google promises an experience that rivals the precision of Apple’s AirTag, thanks to its UWB-powered Precision Finding technology. With this feature, you’ll get directional arrows that can accurately point you to an object with incredible accuracy.

While it’s too early to say that it is a great tracker, everything points in that direction, and it’s certainly a device worth looking out for. Those who want something a bit different will also note that its aesthetics are quite a bit different than most of the other options on this list.