Sharing a suitcase shouldn’t mean having to share the same taste in phones. Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag3 adds iPhone support for the first time in the range, so someone borrowing your luggage can check its location from their own phone. It’s a welcome change for households where everyone isn’t using a Galaxy, although it doesn’t extend to every phone.
Samsung announced the SmartTag3 on 30 September, with a smaller design, longer battery life and alerts that can tell you when a tagged item leaves a designated area. It launches in Korea on 7 October, followed by the US, with more markets getting it in 2027.
Which phones will it work with?
Samsung has confirmed support for Galaxy and iOS devices, but hasn’t announced compatibility with other Android phones. If you’re using a Xiaomi, HONOR or OPPO, there’s no confirmed support for your phone yet. The new compatibility also comes with differences in what Galaxy and iPhone users can do.
Supported devices can use SmartThings Find to check and share a tag’s location, as well as use Search Nearby. That gives an iPhone user a way to find a shared bag without having to ask its owner to keep checking for them.
The limits show up when you need more help finding it. Compass View, which provides distance and directional guidance, won’t be available on iOS. Neither will Ring Phone or Left Behind Alert, which warns you when your phone loses its connection to a tagged item.
Being able to check where a suitcase is will be useful when travelling, but an iPhone won’t give you Samsung’s full set of finding features. And Galaxy owners will need to check their phone’s hardware to see which improvements they can use.
Finding things from further away
On compatible Galaxy phones, Compass View can provide distance and directional guidance from up to 60 metres away using Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding. Samsung says that’s roughly three times the previous generation’s range, with UWB providing greater precision as you get closer.
The 60-metre figure was measured with a clear line of sight. Walls and other obstructions can reduce both range and accuracy, so don’t expect the same result through several rooms at home.
Bluetooth Channel Sounding is currently supported on the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8, Galaxy S26 Ultra and S26 Plus. Compass View works more broadly on Galaxy devices running Android 12 or later that support UWB or Bluetooth Channel Sounding, but that doesn’t mean every compatible phone gets the new longer-range finding.
Getting an alert before you start looking
Beyond your phone’s direct connection range, the SmartTag3 relies on the Galaxy Find Network. Samsung says more than 900 million participating Galaxy devices worldwide can help detect a tag and update its location. It also says those updates will arrive faster, though it hasn’t put a number to the improvement.
The new Place Notification feature lets you set an area and receive an alert when a tagged item enters or leaves it. Samsung suggests using it for a bicycle moving from its parking spot or a pet leaving the garden. The feature is currently described as a trial.
There’s also Movement Detection Alert, which works when the tag is disconnected from your phone. It depends on nearby Galaxy devices that have opted into Offline Finding, and Samsung acknowledges that notifications can be delayed or might not arrive.
That’s something I’d be careful about if using it on a pet’s collar. An alert could help, but you can’t assume it’ll reach you the moment your dog gets out. The number of Galaxy devices worldwide tells us very little about how many will be close enough to detect a tag in our neighbourhood.
Smaller, with longer battery life
Samsung says the SmartTag3 is about 35% smaller by volume and 33% lighter than its predecessor. It keeps an IP67 water and dust resistance rating, while new silicone and loop cases will be sold separately.
The included, replaceable CR2032 battery is rated for up to 550 days of normal use, or 790 days in Power Saving Mode. Those figures come from Samsung’s internal testing, so how you use the tag will affect how long it lasts. Power Saving Mode also gives up some functionality, including access to Compass View and certain sound settings, while keeping basic Bluetooth finding.
NFC Lost Mode lets someone who finds the tag scan it with a compatible, internet-connected phone to see contact details you’ve registered. Location History keeps up to seven days of records, and the button can still trigger preset SmartThings routines. If you’re attaching one to a pet’s collar, Samsung advises keeping it securely fastened because the tag and its coin battery pose a swallowing hazard.
We’ll have to wait a bit longer in South Africa. Samsung hasn’t said when the SmartTag3 will arrive here or what it’ll cost, with more markets only getting it in 2027. The iPhone support is welcome, especially if everyone at home isn’t using a Galaxy, though it’s worth checking what’ll work on your phone before buying one.