Galaxy SmartTag and SmartTag Plus are Samsung's alternative to Tile trackers

The Galaxy S21 isn’t the only star at Samsung’s January Unpacked event. True to the rumors, Samsung has introduced the Galaxy SmartTag item tracker to offer fresh competition to mainstays like Tile.

As with similar gadgets, you can attach the Bluetooth device to objects you want to track, whether it’s your bag, a keychain, or a pet’s collar. From there, you can use Samsung’s SmartThings Find to locate the Galaxy SmartTag and, hopefully, recover any lost items. It’s not the most useful device in a pandemic when you’re likely staying at home, but it should be helpful whenever it’s safe to mingle with other people.

Related: Read all about the new Samsung Galaxy S21 series right here

Samsung will release the Galaxy SmartTag on January 29 at a price of $29.99. You may not have to pay anything extra to get one, however. The company is offering a free tracker with every Galaxy S21 pre-order, so it’s effectively free if you were already bent on getting one of the new flagship smartphones.

During the Galaxy Unpacked livestream, Samsung also announced the Galaxy SmartTag Plus. This advanced version of the Samsung item tracker will give owners even more accurate location abilities. It adds ultra-wideband (UWB) wireless technology so users can find the tracker precisely with their phones. It can even link to an AR tracker app so that users can find it in a 3D space, rather than just on a map. It will launch later this year for $39.99, or in a two-pack for $69.99.

It’s not certain how well the Galaxy SmartTag stacks up against Tile and similar rivals. This isn’t an unexpected move, however. Rumors of Apple making an AirTag item tracker have swirled for well over a year — whether or not that product reaches the market, Samsung can offer the SmartTag as an answer and keep more people inside its ecosystem.