Together with the brand new Pixel 11 household and Pixel Watch 5, in the present day Google is introducing the primary version of its very personal smart tracker, the Pixel Tag, at its Made By Google event. It is oblong-shaped to match the remainder of the Pixel accent ecosystem, and it boasts superior monitoring options like Ultra Wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Channel Sounding, a uncommon characteristic among the many extra in style Android-compatible sensible trackers.
Meet the Pixel Tag
(Credit score: Google)
In contrast to different Bluetooth trackers in the marketplace proper now, the Pixel Tag solely is available in one colour: white, or Fog, because it’s formally known as. The tracker is made from plastic and metallic. It weighs lower than half an oz, is IP67-rated for water- and dust-resistance, and Google says the replaceable CR2032 coin cell battery inside will final you over a yr.
The Pixel Tag makes use of an accelerometer as its foremost sensor. However its actual connectivity prowess lies in its help for UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding.
UWB is utilized in Apple’s just lately refreshed AirTags and is rather more exact than Bluetooth or Wi-Fi as a result of it makes use of Time-of-Flight radio bursts to estimate distance. Bluetooth Channel Sounding is a more moderen know-how that allows the tracker to attain true centimeter-level distance consciousness. Solely the Motorola Moto Tag 2 helps these two protocols. Different manufacturers that work on Google’s Discover My System community, like Chipolo and Pebblebee, have not adopted Bluetooth Channel Sounding but. Samsung’s personal Galaxy SmartTag2 makes use of UWB, however solely between units in its ecosystem.
(Credit score: Google)
This provides Google a uncommon likelihood to set the stage for its tracker ecosystem fairly than depend on its third-party companions to hold the flame. Up to now, Motorola’s Moto Tag has had a quiet cult following amongst Android customers for its precision. The primary-generation tracker was so in style with lovers that it constantly bought out.
The Pixel Tag does keep it up one annoying follow from Samsung’s playbook: Its greatest options include utilization caveats. Bluetooth Channel Sounding requires a tool operating Android 16 and up and Bluetooth 6.0, a specification that is simply hitting the latest flagships launching now—solely Samsung’s Galaxy S26 sequence and Z Fold 8 Extremely include Bluetooth 6.0, whereas the remainder of the foldable lineup is caught with Bluetooth 5.3. Your telephone additionally must help UWB.
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Granted, in case you purchase the brand new Pixel 11 units, you’ll have full performance with the Pixel Tag. The Pixel 10 may even be suitable. The Pixel 9 sequence and earlier than, nonetheless, might be restricted to primary Bluetooth monitoring.
The Pixel Tag will price $29 for one and $99 for a four-pack when the product hits cabinets on Nov. 11.
About Our Knowledgeable
Florence Ion
Senior Author, Cellular
Expertise
I’m PCMag’s Senior Author for Cellular. I write about Android, iOS, and the myriad intricacies in between. I have been protecting these worlds for greater than 15 years. Earlier than becoming a member of PCMag, I used to be a employees reporter for Gizmodo, PCWorld, and Ars Technica.
