At some point, all bicycle owners have experienced the anxiety of potentially losing their bikes. It’s often difficult to track down a missing bicycle, leading to approximately 35,000 bikes¹ per year being abandoned on the streets and eventually ending up in landfills in Korea.

Samsung Electronics is offering a new solution to help alleviate these concerns for bike owners. Recently announced at the Samsung Developer Conference 2023 (SDC23), the Galaxy SmartTag2 — a mobile accessory that tells users where their belongings are located based on Bluetooth and SmartThings Find without the need for GPS — is a new way to help prevent bike loss.

With a much smaller size compared to the previous model, the upgraded tag can be easily attached anywhere. The Galaxy SmartTag2’s search location has become even more accurate, thanks to ultra-wideband (UWB) support. With Lost Mode, your contact information and messages can be shared with anyone who locates your belongings when he or she tags the Galaxy SmartTag2 with an NFC-enabled smartphone.

Read on to learn how the Galaxy SmartTag2 can help you get into gear for your ride and safeguard your bicycle.

STEP 1. Connect the Galaxy SmartTag2 to Your Galaxy Device, Then Attach the Tag to Your Bike

To activate the Galaxy SmartTag2, start by registering the device in your SmartThings app. The process is straightforward: the SmartTag2 will automatically be detected when placed near your Galaxy smartphone or tablet. Simply bring the tag to your phone or tablet during the initial registration, and a pop-up window with installation instructions will seamlessly guide you through setup.

Follow the onscreen instructions to register the SmartTag2 on your SmartThings app. Next, give a name to the object you’re tagging, for example, “Bike.” You can modify this name whenever you like.

Once the setup is complete, it’s time to attach the SmartTag2 to your bicycle. The Galaxy SmartTag2, known for its sleek and compact design, can be safely placed inside your bike’s pouch or discreetly under the seat, keeping it out of plain sight.

If you want to completely conceal the Galaxy SmartTag2, try using the dedicated protective case.² Simply place the tag inside this protective case and attach it behind your bike’s bottle cage to completely hide the tag.

STEP 2. If You Can’t Find Your Bike, Try Checking Its Location and Searching the Route Using SmartThings Find

What if you’ve lost your bicycle? The first step is to open SmartThings Find within SmartThings app on your smartphone and quickly pinpoint your bike’s current location.

Once you’ve identified the location of your lost bike on the map, you can quickly head to that spot using the Navigate feature for directions. SmartThings Find supports popular apps such as Naver Map, Kakao Map and T Map, allowing you to choose your preferred map and making it easier to retrieve your bicycle.

STEP 3. Find the Location of Your Lost Bike More Accurately Using the AR Camera

If you’ve reached a location near the spot where your lost bicycle is shown on the map app but still can’t pinpoint its exact whereabouts, click Search nearby to track it down using the signals transmitted by the Galaxy SmartTag2.

Featuring UWB technology, the Galaxy SmartTag2 offers the Find Using Camera feature, which uses augmented reality (AR) to help you find your things with greater accuracy and ease. After tapping Find Using Camera, you can track down your lost bike by following the arrows on your screen.

STEP 4. Add an Extra Layer of Security With Lost Mode

Lost Mode adds another level of security in protecting your bicycle. With this new feature, you can add your contact information and messages — making them accessible to anyone who finds your bike and scans the Galaxy SmartTag2 using an NFC reader on their smartphone.

Thanks to the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) capabilities, the tag will detect and send notifications to other Galaxy users passing by your bike. Lost Mode also prevents other Galaxy users from connecting to your Galaxy SmartTag2 by locking the pairing process.

The Galaxy SmartTag2 comes with additional security features. The Notify when left behind feature alerts you if your bike moves too far from your smartphone. Additionally, the Location history feature allows you to review your bike’s location history from the past week, providing extra assurance that your valuable bike stays safe and sound.

Thanks to the Galaxy SmartTag2, you can ride your bike with peace of mind — knowing that you can track its location anytime, anywhere. Stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom for more tips and tricks for the Galaxy SmartTag2.

¹ Average number of abandoned bicycles collected from 2019 to 2021 (Source: Statistics Korea Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), as of September 2022)
² Protective case accessories for the Galaxy SmartTag2 are sold separately.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced the Galaxy SmartTag2, launching globally on October 11. Galaxy SmartTag2 brings enhancements to the Galaxy SmartTag line that enable new and better ways to keep track of valuables. Upgrades to the design and usability create even more use cases for the device than ever before.

“We are constantly looking at ways to make people’s lives more convenient through Samsung Galaxy’s industry-leading innovations,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Device Platform Center at Samsung Electronics. “With the Galaxy SmartTag2, we set out to make sure Samsung Galaxy users can find their belongings in an easy and intuitive way. With an enhanced finding experience and a longer battery life, Galaxy SmartTag2 will provide users with greater peace of mind for longer and in more situations.”

Intuitive Features Make Finding Lost Items Easier Than Ever[1]

Galaxy SmartTag2’s brand-new Lost Mode[2] allows users to input their contact information via a message. Then, anyone who discovers an item with a Galaxy SmartTag2 attached can use their smartphone to scan the tag and see the owners’ message and contact information. This means a Galaxy SmartTag2 attached to a pet’s collar is now a convenient way to ensure the pet owner’s phone number is always there, in most places where the pet might wander. Lost Mode works with any mobile device with NFC reader and web browser.

Galaxy SmartTag2 now provides an improved Compass View feature, enhancing the user experience by providing arrows to show the direction and distance of the Galaxy SmartTag2 in relation to the user. This mode is available on any UWB-supported Galaxy smartphone, such as the Galaxy S23 Ultra[3].

The SmartThings Find app has also been upgraded, with newly registered Galaxy SmartTags that now installs a shortcut to the app on the user’s smartphone, allowing users to launch SmartThings Find more quickly. Additionally, the app now features a full screen map view and an intuitive interface, making the user experience even more seamless.

Finally, when switching Galaxy smartphones, SmartTag2 now automatically re-syncs you’re your now Galaxy smartphone using your Samsung account.

New Modes Mean Longer-Lasting Battery[4]

Users can now enjoy Galaxy SmartTag2 for longer with the brand-new Power Saving Mode, available alongside an improved Normal mode. For users who rely on SmartTag to continually track items, Power Saving Mode is the perfect option to maintain battery life while ensuring you can keep an eye on your things. With Power Saving Mode, Galaxy SmartTag2’s battery now lasts up to 700 days, more than twice as long as previous Galaxy SmartTag models. Even in Normal Mode, battery life is now extended to 500 days, a 50% increase on previous models. With the flexibility to switch between two modes, users can track their valuables – from car keys to bikes – for longer.

Sleek Design Adapts to Even More Conditions and Brings More Use Cases

Galaxy SmartTag2’s new compact size and ring-shaped design was created with ease of use in mind. The large metal loop enhances product durability by using metal on the inside of the ring for greater resilience that can support accessories such as clips and keyrings. These accessories can also attach to bags and luggage.

Galaxy SmartTag2’s durability has also been upgraded with an IP67[5] rating for water and dust resistance. This enables users to track their items in even more challenging environments, such as when travelling outdoors. For pet owners, there’s no need to worry about everyday wear and tear on the device from pet’s water bowls or running around outside.

Galaxy SmartTag2 also supports a new pet walking mode, making it easy for users to log walks with their furry friends.

Peace of Mind, Repackaged

Galaxy SmartTag2 retains many of the popular features from Galaxy SmartTag and Galaxy SmartTag+. It takes advantage of both Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and UWB capabilities, leveraging Augmented Reality (AR) Find technology to visually guide users toward their item using their Samsung Galaxy smartphone camera. In addition, Galaxy SmartTag2 works within maximum Bluetooth range of 120 meters and can control smart home appliances through the SmartThings app.

Samsung remains committed to securing the privacy of Samsung Galaxy users, with the device’s location only to be made available with the user’s permission. SmartThings Find also encrypts user data and is supported by Samsung Knox for an extra layer of security. Furthermore, disabling Lost Mode immediately hides the owners’ contact information and wipes the message left by the owner from the device.

For Samsung Galaxy users, SmartThings Find can also provide security through its “Unknown tag alerts” feature. This feature alerts users of any unauthorized tracking by sending them a notification if SmartThings Find detects an unknown SmartTag following them. This helps protect users and prevent against the abuse of location tracking services.

Galaxy SmartTag2 also works seamlessly with SmartThings Station, which is integrated with SmartThings Find – serving as an always-at-home device scanner – helping users keep track of valuables that have a SmartTag attached. SmartThings Station will notify users of the location of their tagged item – from personal items like TV remotes, wallets, keys and registered devices like smartphones, tablets, watches and earbuds. Pet owners will also receive an alert when a tagged collar moves too far from the SmartThings Station, helping them keep furry friends close to home.

[1] For Galaxy SmartTag2, Samsung account log-in and registration on SmartThings Find is required. Galaxy SmartTag2 needs to be paired with ultra-wideband(UWB)-enabled Galaxy smartphones with Android 11 or higher to fully function. Accuracy may be reduced if there’s an obstacle between you and the tag, such as when the tag is inside a drawer, behind a wall, or in a car.

[2] Contact information and message shown on Lost Mode must be registered beforehand on the SmartThings app.

[3] Current Galaxy products that support UWB include Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S21+, Galaxy S21 Ultra, Galaxy S22+, Galaxy S22 Ultra, Galaxy S23+, Galaxy S23 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold2, Z Fold3, Z Fold4, Z Fold5

[4] Battery life is based on results from internal lab tests for typical usage pattern scenarios conducted by Samsung. Tested with results from a pre-release version of the device using inbox CR2032 battery. Actual battery life may vary depending on different usage patterns, device model, or the battery manufacturer.

[5] Galaxy SmartTag2 is rated as IP67. Based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes. Not advised for beach, pool use or soapy water. Water and dust resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time.

This milestone demonstrates a swift and steady expansion for SmartThings Find, which has registered 100 million more nodes since July 2022, achieving 1.5 times growth in just 10 months. It also means a boost in the efficacy of the device location service, as each opted-in device has the ability to help locate another. The higher the number of devices, the more powerful SmartThings Find becomes for users.

“We’re thrilled to witness this fast growth in SmartThings Find. Our connected device ecosystem enables many new possibilities and meaningful benefits, such as alleviating the stress of misplacing a device and ensuring the safety of belongings,¹” said Jaeyeon Jung, Corporate Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings at Samsung Electronics. “With the benefits SmartThings Find provides, we also are deeply committed to the safe and secure use of these technologies. SmartThings Find incorporates enhanced security and privacy features to protect user data and also guard against misuse, and we also are working with the wider industry to support specifications and standards that further enhance security.”

SmartThings Find can quickly locate multiple types of Samsung Galaxy devices, including smartphones, tablets, watches and earbuds. It can also locate Galaxy SmartTag or SmartTag+² devices, which attach to items such as keys or luggage.

Peace of Mind Through Convenience and Security

As SmartThings Find continues to benefit an increasing number of users, security and privacy remain top priorities for Samsung. To ensure sensitive information is safeguarded, SmartThings Find encrypts user data and implements further protection through Samsung Knox, the defense-grade security platform on Samsung Galaxy devices. A device’s location data is only shared with other people with the user’s permission, and the ID of each user’s device changes every 15 minutes and is stored anonymously.

With the “Search for unknown tags near you” feature, Android and iOS users can easily determine if unknown tags are near them manually. This feature can provide a gauge showing the signal strength of the tag, allowing users to know how close the unknown tag is to their current location. If needed, users can designate certain tags as “safe” if they are identified.

For Galaxy users, SmartThings Find can also provide security through its “Unknown tag alerts” feature. This feature alerts users of any unauthorized tracking by sending them a notification if SmartThings Find detects an unknown SmartTag following them. This helps protect users and prevent against the abuse of location tracking services.

To activate the feature, users should locate the Find service within the SmartThings app’s “Life” tab. Within the settings menu, users can toggle “Unknown tag alerts” feature on and off or search for unknown tags near them manually.

¹ Must be within Bluetooth range of eligible Samsung Galaxy devices.
² SmartTag and SmartTag+ are available for all Samsung Galaxy smartphones, tablets and other devices running Android 8 or later. AR finding feature in SmartTag+ is available on UWB-equipped devices including Galaxy S23+ and Ultra, Galaxy S22+ and Ultra, S21+ and Ultra, Note20 Ultra, Z Fold2, Z Fold3 and Z Fold4.

The morning rush to finish important household chores, reach the office in time, avoid the traffic jams can often result in us forgetting something important at home. Be it our mobile phones, our house keys, our headphones or anything that’s always a must in our bags. But worry not, finding small things like your keys, pair of Galaxy buds, etc. is super easy with the Galaxy Smart Tag.

With the help of your Galaxy SmartTag and the SmartThings app, you can locate these small items very easily.

Let’s have a look at the steps on how you can locate these items using Galaxy SmartTag and the SmartThings app:

• Step 1: Open the SmartThings app
• Step 2: Select the Tag that you have attached to the item which you want to locate and tap the SmartThings Find card
• Step 3: Tap on ‘Search nearby’ to locate your lost item.

Now your phone will search for the nearby Tag’s Bluetooth signal within 120 m range. Once it is detected, the signal will get stronger as you get closer to the Tag. Once you get closer, you can play sound from the Tag so that you can find it easily.

“We’re incredibly proud of how quickly the SmartThings Find service has grown in less than a year, helping people all over the world locate hundreds of thousands of misplaced devices every day,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “SmartThings Find is yet another example of how Samsung is continuing to create meaningful new experiences that help make life more convenient and less stressful.”

The fast-growing SmartThings Find service enables users to pinpoint registered Galaxy smartphones, smartwatches, earbuds and even S Pen Pro, as well as personal belongings—like keys or wallets—that have a Galaxy SmartTag or SmartTag+ device attached. SmartThings Find, a standout feature of the SmartThings ecosystem, uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to locate misplaced devices. Even if the device is offline, other Galaxy users can opt-in to enable their Galaxy smartphone or tablet to help others find nearby lost devices.

SmartThings Find is continuing to evolve with the addition of the newly launched SmartThings Find Members service, which now enables users to invite friends and family to become members of their SmartThings account, so they too can find and manage their devices. Users can now invite up to 19 other people to become members and locate up to 200 devices at once. Once someone has accepted your invitation to SmartThings Find Members, you can opt for them to be able to view your selected devices and locations for specific devices, all upon your consent.

SmartThings Find Members is particularly useful for families, as they try to keep up with pets or keep track of their car keys—even if they don’t have their phone with them.

For more information about the SmartThings app and SmartThings Find service, visit: www.smartthings.com/partners/smartthings-find.

About SmartThings
SmartThings is the premier technology enabling connected living and driving the future of IoT. Its open platform already supports thousands of devices across hundreds of brands and offers endless possibilities to innovators and developers seeking seamless connectivity in a vast IoT ecosystem. The company is committed to bringing smart functionality and capabilities everywhere consumers want to be, while enhancing the user experience. There are currently millions of people in more than 200 countries accessing SmartThings technology daily to create automations and control facets of their smart homes via the SmartThings App and through a range of Samsung products such as phones, TVs, and digital appliances. SmartThings offers the most flexible amount of protocols, including the new IoT standard, Matter. Launched in 2012, SmartThings is headquartered in Mountain View, CA and is a founding board member of Connectivity Standards Alliance, an organization of hundreds of companies creating, maintaining, and delivering open, global standards for the IoT. For more information, please visit www.smartthings.com.

It was this revelation that inspired Samsung Electronics to launch Galaxy SmartTag in January 2021 as a part of the SmartThings Find service.² This compact device can be attached to your belongings such as bags, keys and more. Once a user connects and pairs their Galaxy SmartTag with their smartphone, the tag allows them to conveniently track and manage the location of that item right on their smartphones, preventing them from losing their prized possessions. And most recently, Samsung launched a new version of the tag, Galaxy SmartTag+, which uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to pinpoint locations even more precisely.

Samsung Newsroom met with the developers of Galaxy SmartTag to find out about the research and development that went into this innovative product, as well as how consumers can best make use of it.

▲ HanJun Ryu, Jimo Park, Jinhong Jeong, So-Ra Hyun, and Bruce Jang from the SmartThings Strategy Group at Samsung Electronics’ Mobile Communications Business pose to showcase the unique benefits offered by Galaxy SmartTag.

A Wide Variety of Potential Uses

When you accidentally drop your pet’s leash while walking them, or if your pet runs out when the door is open, tracking them down again can prove a real headache. However, when you attach Galaxy SmartTag to your pet’s collar, you can instantly view their location to quickly find them and bring them home.

HanJun Ryu introduced some other possible scenarios in which the Galaxy SmartTag comes in handy. “In hospitals, there is a range of movable pieces of equipment that have to be put back in the exact same place after use. If they are not returned to the right location, they can have dire consequences in an emergency. But it’s not only hospitals, attaching a Galaxy SmartTag to items like these – and other objects that must be returned to specific locations, like bicycles and shopping carts – can prevent them from getting lost and save a lot of time,” Ryu explained.

More Precise Tracking, Even Over Long Distances

Samsung utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology so that users can use their mobile device to easily locate items with Galaxy SmartTags attached.³ As the user gets closer to the item, the BLE signal gets stronger and the green circle displayed on their phone grows larger. “When users are close to their devices, they can tap the ‘Ring’ icon to make their Galaxy SmartTag emit a sound that allows them to easily locate their lost item, even if it’s not immediately visible, like under a sofa or a seat,” explained Jimo Park.

For when your item is further away, Galaxy SmartTag includes an “Offline finding” feature. It draws help from other nearby Galaxy devices, such as smartphones and tablets, to enable users to easily locate their items. What’s more, Offline finding even works when the assisting devices are not connected to Bluetooth. If a Galaxy user with Offline finding mode passes close by the Galaxy SmartTag, then the BLE signal is automatically detected and the location information is sent to the SmartThings server, which then sends the information to the SmartTag user’s smartphone. Essentially, the assisting device picks up the “SOS message” from the Galaxy SmartTag and securely passes it along to the user.

Galaxy SmartTag also has strong security features with its proprietary technology, “Private ID”. The encrypted Private ID function is designed to protect the user’s device by randomly changing the device’s ID every 15 minutes to prevent the BLE signal from being misused.

On top of that, Galaxy SmartTag+⁴ uses UWB technology to provide even more accurate locating capabilities. Users can locate their missing items in real-time with augmented reality (AR) overlay and even receive location information that is precise down to the centimeter.

“I hope Galaxy SmartTag and SmartTag+ help users find lost items and give them peace of mind that their most valuable possessions have an added layer of protection,” said Ryu. “Going forward, we are excited to continue to make our users’ finding experience better – we expect it to become a must-have device that users can’t be without.”

¹ ‘The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve’ by Hermann Ebbinghaus, includes the findings of a study on memory and retention

² Available in the SmartThings application

³ Bluetooth range is up to 120m without obstruction. Requires initial setup on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or higher & RAM of 2.0GB or above and opt-in for location tracking through the SmartThings Find service of the SmartThings app

⁴ Availability may vary by market.

Samsung Electronics today announced the official launch of Galaxy SmartTag+, available starting on April 16.¹ Galaxy SmartTag+ is equipped with both Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology so that it can pinpoint the location with greater accuracy.² It also uses augmented reality (AR) technology to visually guide you towards where your missing item is located using your smartphone’s camera.³

Easily find your misplaced items

Galaxy SmartTag+, the newest iteration of Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag, can be attached to everyday items, like a backpack or keychain, so they can be precisely and easily located through the SmartThings Find service on your Galaxy device.⁴

Locate your belongings visually with new AR Finder technology

Because Galaxy SmartTag+ is both BLE- and UWB-enabled, you can now use AR technology to find your missing item.⁵ The AR Finder guides you with an easy-to-follow interface on your UWB-equipped smartphone, such as Galaxy S21+ or S21 Ultra, which shows you how far away you are from your Galaxy SmartTag+ and points you in its direction. And once you’re closer to the tag’s location, you can choose to have it produce a loud ring so that even if it’s slipped under the sofa, you’ll have no trouble finding it.

“UWB is a true game changer, making it possible to lock onto the position of an object with much greater precision,” said KJ Kim, EVP and Head of Mobile R&D Office, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “That’s why we’re continuing to expand UWB throughout the Galaxy ecosystem, finding new ways to leverage this technology to help make people’s everyday lives easier and more convenient.” 

Pinpoint your tag’s location, even when it’s far away

Galaxy SmartTag+ can also leverage SmartThings Find’s powerful detection capabilities, allowing you to locate tagged items on a map, even if it’s misplaced somewhere very far from where you are. That’s because the tags use BLE connectivity and the power of the Galaxy device network. SmartThings Find users can choose to opt in via the SmartThings app and enable their Galaxy smartphone or tablet to help others find their own lost tags or devices. Once you report your tag as missing in SmartThings Find, any nearby Galaxy device that has opted in will alert the SmartThings server about its location and you will receive a notification. All data in SmartThings Find is encrypted and protected, so the tag’s location isn’t revealed to anyone but you.

Remotely control your smart devices with the click of a button

On top of that, Galaxy SmartTag+ and SmartTag are helpful for more than just locating lost possessions. Forgot to turn off your bedside lamp but you’ve already left the house? Rather than running back home, you can use your SmartTag+ or SmartTag to turn off the light remotely.⁶ Through the SmartThings app, you can choose different functions you would like your tag to complete when you press or hold down the tag button.

Galaxy SmartTag+ is progressively available from April 16.¹ Galaxy SmartTag+ operates using the SmartThings Find service, provided in the SmartThings app. To find out more, visit www.samsung.com/smartthings.

¹ Availability and timing may vary by market.

² Versus Galaxy SmartTag with only BLE technology.

³ Within AR Finder feature of the SmartThings Find service, provided in the SmartThings app.

⁴ Bluetooth range is up to 120m without obstruction. Requires initial setup on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or higher & RAM of 2.0GB or above and opt-in for location tracking through the SmartThings Find service of the SmartThings app.

⁵ Available on Galaxy devices with UWB technology, including the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S21+, Galaxy S21 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold2.

⁶ Must be within Bluetooth range of Galaxy phone.