Apple launches its Airtags, a new connected accessory so that you never get anything lost again

Oppo would soon competition the Apple Airtag and the Samsung Smarttag

Françoisbedin

Journalist

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The Smarttag tag requires several stages of installation, but is effective thanks to its well -integrated app ... provided you have a Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

While Apple has finally taken out its connected tag (or tracker), called Airtag, we tested that of Samsung, named Smarttag and sold 34.90 euros (29.90 euros in promotion on the manufacturer's website)., this version uses Bluetooth Low Energy (Ble), but no Ultra Wideband (UWB) for very short distance research, like Apple Airtag.To take advantage of it, it will be necessary to turn to the smarttag+, whose availability is not yet known in France. These small boxes (39.1 x 39.1 x 9.9 mm for the smarttag), however: serve to easily find the objects to which you have attached them.

A restriction, a disappointment

Let's start with a very unpleasant surprise: the smarttag only works on Samsung Galaxy smartphones, with Android 8.0 or higher.This is all the more surprising since the tag is used with the SmartThings app, also available on other Android smartphones. But the app is only the top of the iceberg, in this case the user interface, and the functioning of the tracker is based on the Find My Mobile service, from Samsung.In addition, the software installation is not as simple as what we could think.

We have launched the SmartThings app, which requires the creation of a Samsung account.After a possible update of the app, it was enough for us to press the central Smarttag button for it to be detected.

It is then possible to give it a name, but the operation is not over.

Indeed, you have to update the tracker firmware, which fortunately only takes a few minutes.To top it off, the app indicates that it must download an additional module.After all these operations, the smarttag is ready for use and you can assign an icon corresponding to the object, or animal category (cat, dog), to which you attached it.

Now that the installation phase is over, we can start using the tag.To find your lost object, the SmartThings Find function gives the choice between three solutions: locate it on a card, use the proximity search tool, or more simply to ring it. For the search for proximity, a gauge is displayedTo indicate whether the signal is more or less strong.This principle of hot/cold is not very precise, but allows for example to know in which room is the tag.Then, it only remains to ring it (two ringtone intensities are available) to find it ... in the ear. In this area, the smarttag offers the same services as competing trackers such as the Tile Pro.But it is also possible to try to locate the smarttag when it is out of reach, as we will see further in this test.

No electronic leash

It is just a shame that Samsung has not planned an electronic leash function, which triggers an alarm on the smartphone when the Bluetooth connection is interrupted because the smarttag is too far.This function is for example very practical if you leave your home by having forgotten to take an important object with you.As for the scope of the tag, it depends on the obstacles between you and it and the 120 meters announced by Samsung are very optimistic. A distance of 30 meters seems much more realistic.Thus, we managed to get out of a building and we continue to detect the tracker on the first floor, then we lost the connection by browsing the street.

We were able to ring the smarttag with our smartphone, but the reverse is also possible.Just activate the function and then press the central button on the case.

The smarttag acts as a remote control

This button can also be used to automate tasks if you have recorded other connected objects in the SmartThings app.You can also program the button to automatically send messages to other people, which may be useful if, for example, you have a health problem and you should quickly prevent your loved ones.Two actions can be programmed, depending on whether you press the button once, or extended.

In the SmartThings application settings, a section attracted our attention.It allows you to specify if you want to activate offline detection of the smartphone and quantify the offline position of a device.Indeed, if your smartphone or your smarttag are lost, it is possible to find them thanks to the other users of Samsung Galaxy.

A network of users to find your tracker

In the case of Smarttag, you will be alerted when the case will be within reach of another user's phone and you can see their location on the card in the app.The encryption option makes it possible to ensure that you alone can use the location data.The paranoids will appreciate this function. And if you do not want to use your smartphone within the Samsung Galaxy Find network, you can deactivate this search function in Android safety settings.

The Samsung smarttag correctly fills its office and is integrated rather well into the software environment of Galaxy smartphones.There remains the problem of autonomy.Samsung announces up to 300 days of autonomy, but it will depend on its use.The good news is that the tag uses a current button battery (CR2032) that can be replaced.

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Alas, we had a little trouble opening the case with a coin, as advised by the manufacturer, despite the presence of a notch provided for this purpose.Samsung should have taken example on Tile, whose hatch system is better designed.