Samsung's Galaxy SmartTag 3 works with way more Android phones than anyone realized

Samsung's older smart trackers have been limited to its own Galaxy smartphones and tablets. The company changed that with the Galaxy SmartTag 3 last week, extending compatibility to iOS devices. While the company's announcement mentioned both Android and iOS as compatible, it didn't say whether this includes non-Galaxy Android phones. We're getting more clarity on this now, and there's good news.

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We reached out to Samsung to confirm whether the Galaxy SmartTag 3 is limited to Samsung and Apple devices or if it also supports other Android phones. The response we received was nothing short of surprising.

"Yes, SmartTag3 is compatible with other Android devices that have access to the Google Play Store to download the SmartThings and Samsung Find app," the company told Android Police.

It's astonishing that Samsung's latest smart tracker supports more Android devices than its predecessors, and the company didn't mention it at launch or in any of the marketing materials. In fact, even the announcement post doesn't say that more Android devices now work with the Galaxy SmartTag 3.

This one's a real head-scratcher

We can't tell whether this was a genuine oversight on the manufacturer's part or something it assumed people would automatically understand. If we give Samsung the benefit of the doubt, the company may have been waiting until the smart tracker is officially available to announce it. Still, it would be an odd choice to leave such a significant detail out of the tracker's launch materials.

Apps like uTag by Kieron Quinn have previously enabled Galaxy SmartTag 2 support for several non-Samsung Android phones. While many would have expected a similar solution after the Galaxy SmartTag 3's announcement, that should no longer be the case.

The Galaxy SmartTag 3 will land in South Korea first on October 7, while US customers will have to wait until early November to get their hands on the Apple AirTag competitor. Available in white and black, a one-pack of the new smart tracker will cost $29.99, while the four-pack will cost $99.99.

In addition to extending support for more Android devices, the SmartTag 3 also adopts a new squircle shape and an upgraded 550 days of battery life with regular use and up to 790 days with Power Saving Mode. With a loop no longer included in the new tracker, the company will sell cases offering a loop or keyring, though it's unclear how much these accessories will cost.