Google Enters Device-Tracking Market with Pixel Tag
Google has finally entered the device-tracking market with its own product, the Pixel Tag. This tracker combines ultra wideband (UWB) and Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding for precise location tracking. The Pixel Tag will be available for purchase on November 11th, priced at $29 for a single unit or $99 for a four-pack, matching Apple's AirTag 2 pricing.
The tracker is a slim, oblong device weighing about 12g and measuring 0.4oz. It has an IP67 rating, making it dust- and water-resistant. The Pixel Tag uses CR2032 coin batteries, which should last over a year according to Google.
Like the AirTag, the Pixel Tag has no built-in hooks or clips for attaching to objects. Instead, users can track its location using the Find Hub network, which leverages Bluetooth capabilities of Android devices worldwide. When close enough to the tracker, UWB allows the Find Hub app to display distance and direction, while Channel Sounding displays exact distance but not direction.
Google device owners need a Pixel 10 or later for Channel Sounding support, and any Pro model since the 6 for UWB. The Pixel Watch is also compatible with the Pixel Tag, with models since the 4 supporting Channel Sounding and the 2 or later including UWB.