Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag3 went on sale in the US on Friday, November 6, at $29.99 for one tag or $99.99 for a four-pack. That is 99 cents more than Apple charges for an AirTag at either size, and for the first time a SmartTag also works with an iPhone.
The catch sits in the fine print. The feature Samsung leads with, guiding you to a lost bag from up to 60 meters away, needs one of just four 2026 Galaxy phones. So the real question is not whether the tag is good, but which phone you plan to find it with.
The tracker itself is a clear step up from the Galaxy SmartTag2. Samsung says it is about 35% smaller by volume and 33% lighter, with battery life of up to 550 days in normal use.
What the Galaxy SmartTag3 costs and where you can buy it
The SmartTag3 comes in White and Black. As of November 8, both single-tag colors were in stock at $29.99 on Samsung's US store, while the $99.99 four-pack showed as out of stock. The four-pack pictured on the listing mixes two white tags with two black ones.
The US is only the second country to get it. According to Samsung's global announcement, the tag launched first in Korea on October 7, and additional markets will follow in 2027. The same US release also put the clip-on Galaxy Buds On earbuds on sale at $229.99.
Why the 60-meter Compass View range depends on your Galaxy phone
Compass View is the on-screen arrow and distance readout that walks you toward a missing item. On the SmartTag3, it reaches up to 60 meters using Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding, which Samsung says is around three times farther than the previous generation. As you close in, ultra-wideband takes over for finer precision.
Channel Sounding, however, is available only on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Plus. Other Galaxy phones running Android 12 or later that have ultra-wideband still get Compass View, just without that long-range figure. Samsung says more devices may be supported in the future, without naming any.
The 60-meter number was also measured in line of sight with nothing in the way. Walls, other obstructions and nearby electronics can shorten it, so think of a lost dog in an open park rather than keys somewhere in an apartment block.
Does the Galaxy SmartTag3 work with an iPhone?
Yes, with limits. An iPhone running iOS 17 or later can use the tag through the SmartThings app and a Samsung account. From there, you can check and share the tag's location and use Search Nearby, which suits a family where one person borrows a Galaxy owner's suitcase.
Three features stay Galaxy-only, according to the US announcement: Compass View, Ring Phone and Left Behind Alert. That means no arrow guiding you in, no ringing your phone from the tag, and no warning when you walk away from your bag.
Once a tag is out of Bluetooth range, it leans on the Galaxy Find Network. About two minutes after it loses its paired phone, the tag starts broadcasting so that nearby Galaxy devices can update its location. Samsung counts more than 900 million participating Galaxy devices worldwide, and how quickly a lost tag reports in depends on how many of them are nearby.
SmartTag3 battery life, alerts and everyday features explained
The 550-day battery figure stretches to 790 days in Power Saving Mode, though that mode switches off Compass View and keeps only basic Bluetooth LE finding. The tag runs on a CR2032 coin cell included in the box.
New alerts make the tag more proactive. Place Notification, still labeled a trial feature, tells you when a tagged item enters or leaves an area you define, such as a garden or a bike rack. Location History keeps up to seven days of movement, and Movement Detection Alert can flag a tag that moves while it is away from you.
The familiar basics remain. The tag is rated IP67 for water and dust (up to 1 meter for 30 minutes), though Samsung advises against beach or pool use. An NFC Lost Mode shows your contact details to whoever scans it, and its button can trigger SmartThings routines. A Silicone Case with a keyring and a Loop Case are sold separately.
Who should buy the SmartTag3 instead of an AirTag
If you own a Galaxy S26 Ultra, S26 Plus or one of the Fold8 models, the SmartTag3 is the tag built for your phone, and it costs about the same as Apple's. Older Galaxy owners still get the smaller body, long battery life and the new alerts, which makes it an easy upgrade from a SmartTag2.
For an iPhone-only household, the math is less kind. The tag saves nothing over an AirTag or an AirTag four-pack, and three of its finding features do not work on iOS. Prices on Samsung's store can change, and the four-pack needs to come back in stock before it is a real option.
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