Google has launched the Pixel Tag, a new item tracker designed to give Android users an AirTag-style way to keep tabs on their belongings.
Launched alongside the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pro Fold, the compact tracker combines Bluetooth, Ultra Wideband and Precision Finding to help users locate lost items.
The Pixel Tag has a pill-shaped design similar to Samsung’s SmartTag 2 and measures 1.8 inches tall, 1.1 inches wide and 0.2 inches thick. It’ll work with Android phones running Android 9 or later.
There are some limitations to the Pixel Tag’s more advanced tracking features, however. Bluetooth Channel Sounding allows compatible devices to make more precise distance measurements. However, this feature requires a phone running Android 16 or later. It also needs Bluetooth 6.0.
For the most precise tracking, the Pixel Tag also uses Ultra Wideband. Google’s Precision Finding feature can show how far away the tracker is. In addition, it indicates which direction to move in. This makes it easier to pinpoint something that’s gone missing.
You’ll need an Android phone with Ultra Wideband support to use Precision Finding. Compatible devices include Google’s Pixel Pro models and Samsung’s Galaxy S and Z Fold phones. Therefore, the experience won’t be identical across every Android handset.
The Pixel Tag is also built to cope with everyday mishaps. It has an IP67 rating for dust and splash resistance. Furthermore, it can survive being submerged in up to 3.28 feet of water for 30 minutes.
Power comes from a replaceable CR2032 coin-cell battery. Google claims around a year of use before it needs to be swapped. That should make the tracker relatively easy to maintain compared with devices that require charging.
Google is taking pre-orders for the Pixel Tag at $29/£29, with shipments scheduled to begin on August 20 in the US and November in the UK. For anyone planning to track multiple belongings, Google is also offering a four-pack for $99/£99.
That gives Android users a dedicated alternative to Apple’s AirTag. However, the Pixel Tag’s biggest advantage will likely be its integration with compatible Android hardware and Google’s Precision Finding features.
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