Google Pixel Tag Arrives Three Years Late

The Pixel Tag has finally arrived after three years of anticipation, but it's unclear whether Google's caution was justified. The tech world has been waiting for a rival to Apple's AirTag since 2021.

Rumors about the Pixel Tag began in January 2023, when code sleuths discovered evidence of a new locator product called Grogu. However, Google didn't reveal its solution at Google I/O 2023 as expected, instead laying the groundwork with its revamped Find My Device network.

By letting Apple take the lead, Google avoided the initial bad press that came from people abusing AirTags for stalking. Several states passed legislation against AirTag stalking, and Apple was forced to make course corrections through firmware updates and new alerts.