The main focus of Galaxy Unpacked events is always the announcement of a new smartphone, this time the Samsung Galaxy S21 But that was not all that Samsung had in store for us today As rumored, the Galaxy SmartTag was announced

This is not Samsung's first foray into the world of tracking gadgets, and that honor goes to the LTE-based SmartThings tracker However, with the arrival of Apple's AirTags and the promise of an advanced UWB-powered Tile, all eyes were on what Samsung had in store

Here's everything you need to know about Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag and Galaxy SmartTag Plus

If you have used Tile, you are already familiar with the basics of SmartTag Briefly, a standard SmartTag attaches with a keychain and connects to Samsung's SmartThings app using Bluetooth Low Energy In the unlikely event that something (such as a key) is lost, the SmartThings app can display the last location on a map

If you are out of Bluetooth range, the SmartTag can send out a Bluetooth signal and be automatically detected by other SmartThings users

Once in range, the SmartThings app will display the distance to the lost tag so you know if you are looking in the right place If you think you might be lost, you can activate the SmartTag ringer from the app and check it by ear

Unfortunately, SmartTag only works with Galaxy devices, so those using other android devices are out of luck; they'd be better off buying Tile

Of course, Bluetooth key finders are nothing new, and Samsung has introduced a more advanced tracker in the form of the Galaxy SmartTag Plus

The SmartTag Plus relies on ultra-wideband connectivity like Apple's upcoming AirTags, rather than the more restrictive Bluetooth The advantage here is that UWB has greater range than Bluetooth and can transmit spatial information that greatly improves location accuracy

In other words, UWB can deliver accurate signals in a few inches (tens of centimeters), as opposed to a few feet (about 15 meters) with Bluetooth This makes it more accurate and easier to locate lost items

If this is not enough, SmartTag Plus is compatible with an AR finder This AR finder uses the spatial data of the UWB to guide you to the location of your lost SmartTag with the help of your smartphone's AR interface

However, it goes without saying that a UWB-compatible Galaxy phone is required Therefore, it should be noted that these will not work on a regular Galaxy S21

Like the Galaxy S21 series, the Galaxy SmartTags will appear on January 29 and will sell for $2999 each They can be purchased individually or in bundles of two ($50) or four ($85)

SmartTags will also be available in several colors, including black, "oatmeal," mint green, and pink

Buy one of three Galaxy S21 phones and get SmartTag for free; pre-order by January 28 and get SmartTag and Galaxy Buds; S21 and S21 Plus buyers get Galaxy Buds Live for S21 and S21 Plus buyers, and a shiny Galaxy Buds Pro for S21 Ultra buyers

The SmartTag Plus is "coming soon," $3999 for one, $65 for two It comes in two colors: blue-gray and oatmeal