Google Makes Its Own AirTags and I Couldn’t Be More Stoked

Google announced the Pixel Tag, a $30 Bluetooth tracker that works with any Android phone via the Find Hub network, which has over 1 billion devices. The tracker, available in November, supports ultrawideband for precise location finding, matching Apple's AirTag 2 and Motorola's Moto Tag 2, and is IP67-rated with a one-year battery life.

Fellow Android phone owners, our time has come Google made a Bluetooth tracker that lets us locate our luggage, bike or whatever item we can attach it to. Ahead of its Made by Google event https://www.cnet.com/news-live/made-by-google-liveblog-pixel-phones-foldables-pixel-watch/ , the search and AI giant released its Pixel 11 series https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/i-tested-the-pixel-11-pros-camera-in-beautiful-paris/ , Pixel Watch 5 https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/google-pixel-watch-5-hands-on/ and the Pixel Tag https://store.google.com/product/pixel tag . And it’s that last one that might be one of the most useful new devices that Google has released in years. Android’s Find Hub https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/find-hub-is-androids-new-location-station/ , formerly the Find My Device network, has been around in one form or another for a long time and according to Google, it has over 1 billion Android devices on it worldwide. A few years ago, Google added support for Bluetooth trackers with ultrawideband, which allows Android phones https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-android-phone/ to pinpoint locations within a few feet. The problem is that not every Android phone or Bluetooth tracker supports ultrawideband, which means most folks can’t take advantage of it. The iPhone https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-iphone/ and Apple’s AirTags https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-airtags-a-step-by-step-guide-on-how-they-work-and-why/ have used ultrawideband for years to enable Precision Finding, complete with a clever green arrow indicator that counts down the number of feet from the tracker on your iPhone. Apple recently released the AirTag 2 https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/airtag-2-review/ , which has a second-generation ultrawideband chip that, in my testing, doubles the range of Precision Finding. The Pixel Tag isn’t the first Bluetooth tracker for Android that supports ultrawideband on Android’s Find Hub network. Motorola’s Moto Tag 2 https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/new-moto-things-include-a-stylus-for-the-razr-revamped-location-tracker/ , announced at CES in January, also supports precise location tracking and is available to buy right now. Both the Pixel Tag and Moto Tag 2 cost $30, with a pack of four going for $100, a dollar more than Apple’s AirTag. At the time of writing, you can snag a Moto Tag 2 for $20 https://cc.cnet.com/v1/otc/04Yxjj1rHOmYAxbnVDhvKNn?merchant=03xbigYWzMLDHyhp0VCyLxs&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.motorola.com%2Fus%2Fen%2Fp%2Fmotoaccessories%2Fmoto-tag-2%2Fpg38c08034%3Fpn%3DPG38C08032 $10 off . The Pixel Tag is available in one color, fog, compared to the Moto Tag 2, which comes in Pantone arabesque and Pantone laurel oak – there’s even a Tag 2 with a saucy half-and-half two-tone split between the two hues. Motorola’s tracker also has a key fob slot and a built-in button to locate your phone. The Pixel Tag, like most Bluetooth trackers, runs on a CR2032 coin battery and should last a year before it needs replacing. It has an IP67 rating for water and dust resistance, so you shouldn’t worry if it gets caught in the rain or on the wrong end of a split cup of cold brew. Though you may not want to let it sit in water for long – it’s rated for 30 minutes of submersion under a meter about 3 feet of water. The biggest obstacle facing Google’s tracker will be getting one. The Pixel Tag will be available in November and you can’t preorder it https://www.cnet.com/news-live/pixel-11-preorder-liveblog/ like you can the new Pixel phones and watch. There is a “Get notified” button on the Google Store’s product page https://store.google.com/product/pixel tag . Here’s how it stacks up against the AirTag, Moto Tag 2 and Galaxy Smart Tag 2 from Samsung. Yes, Samsung has a Bluetooth tracker, but it only works on Galaxy phones https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-samsung-galaxy-phone/ . I think it’s smart that the Pixel Tag will work on any Android Phone, including Galaxy phones. Google Pixel Tag vs. Apple AirTag, Motorola Moto Tag 2, Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 2 | Price | Ultrawideband | Bluetooth | Weight/IP rating | OS support | | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | Apple AirTag | $29/$99 for 4 | Yes | Bluetooth LE | 11.8 grams; IP67 | iOS 14.5 or later Gen 1 ; iOS 26 Gen 2 | | Google Pixel Tag | $30/100 for 4 | Yes | Bluetooth 6.0+ | 11.8 grams; IP67 | Android 9 or newer | | Motorola Moto Tag 2 | $30/100 for 4 | Yes | Bluetooth LE | 8.5 grams; IP68 | Android 9 or newer | | Samsung Galaxy Smart Tag 2 | $30/100 for 4 | Yes | Bluetooth 5.3 | 13.75 grams; IP67 | Samsung phones on Android 9 or newer |