Samsung SmartTag2 - Has anyone tried these?

[Woodcarver]

For an Android user, are these a viable alternative to the Apple Airtag? There's a lot of information and reviews about using the Airtag in luggage, and specifically gun cases, when flying, but very little that I've been able to find for those of us that utilize Android for cell service. Anyone out there that has tried the Samsung SmartTag2?

 

[roklok]

Yes, used them in October of '24 going to Namibi. They worked well inside my plastic SKB gun case and in my checked ammunition bag. Definitely will continue using them.

 

[Woodcarver]

Yes, used them in October of '24 going to Namibi. They worked well inside my plastic SKB gun case and in my checked ammunition bag. Definitely will continue using them.

That's one of my intended uses, so glad to hear they work. Thanks!

 

[roklok]

Upon arrival in Windhoek we had a rather tight connection before leaving for Katima Mulilo in a regional jet. My gun case was MIA according to police at the Windhoek airport. I am not sure if it actually was unable to be found, or if they were fishing for a tip. I was able to show that my gun case was indeed in Windhoek by using the Smarttag. They looked again and then my gun case then was found.

 

[Woodcarver]

Very good to hear. While my upcoming trip is just a domestic flight, that kind of feedback is exactly what I am looking for. With a variety of different trackers available, narrowing it down has been, frustrating. Not enough to switch to an iphone, lol, but frustrating.

 

[Sabre]

Very good to hear. While my upcoming trip is just a domestic flight, that kind of feedback is exactly what I am looking for. With a variety of different trackers available, narrowing it down has been, frustrating. Not enough to switch to an iphone, lol, but frustrating.

I have used the AirTags for my luggage for a while now. However, I have had quite a few times where my phone didn't pick up that the AirTag was anywhere near my location, when it was for a long time. Sometimes I have seen the bag coming around the carousel at the airport, I pick it up and it is still showing as another country. Then a bit later it finally updates.

I am just saying I wouldn't switch to iPhone just for AirTags if you like android.

I am curious how many other people experience that much of a lag on them, because it seems like all you hear is how much it saved people from lost or stolen luggage. My experience has been that it would be a gamble if they would be useful or not on any given day.

 

[Woodcarver]

I have used the AirTags for my luggage for a while now. However, I have had quite a few times where my phone didn't pick up that the AirTag was anywhere near my location, when it was for a long time. Sometimes I have seen the bag coming around the carousel at the airport, I pick it up and it is still showing as another country. Then a bit later it finally updates.

I am just saying I wouldn't switch to iPhone just for AirTags if you like android.

I am curious how many other people experience that much of a lag on them, because it seems like all you hear is how much it saved people from lost or stolen luggage. My experience has been that it would be a gamble if they would be useful or not on any given day.

One of the specs that I found was on how often the location gets updated. There is more delay than I had realized in most of them, which might explain what you saw. From what I've read, they "should" reconnect to the phone they are registered to fairly quickly. The most common cause for problems there is usually blamed on battery strength (actually, almost all the problems get blamed on the battery). I look at this like an illuminated scope; batteries are cheap, change them before each season begins.
The other fairly important part in how all of them work is whether or not the right type of phone wanders within range for it to ping to. So far, I haven't found one that (reliably) works with both types, which would be ideal.
I'm hoping some others share their experience, good or bad, appreciate yours. And no, I have no intention of switching, lol.

 

[Sarg]

I bought some cheap ones just to test on my trip to Guinea Bissau as I had so many planes & such to catch.

Just RSH Smart Tags only cost NZ $24 for 4 off aliexpress .
They were absolutely fantastic & worked amazingly, it was great piece of mind to check & see the bags were loaded on multiple flights, except the last flight from Dallas to NZ, as when I landed in Auckland my bags got farther away & were in New York ???
At least I knew where they were lol.

 

[Sabre]

This is according to PC Magazine. I saw a couple other reviews that had essentially the same list.

I used to use the Tile years ago before AirTag came out. I actually liked it more than AirTag, but after a couple years they changed the settings that it wouldn't allow you to use most the features unless you let them access your location 24/7 as a network to find other people's lost items. I didn't really want a 3rd party app tracking me 24/7, so I mostly quite using them. Unsure if they still require that to use all the features.

 

[Woodcarver]

Amazon has a 4 pack of the Samsung SmartTag2. Think I'll order them this evening. Feedbacks been good. Appreciate it!

 

[Tracey Colson]

I have used SmartTags in my luggage and gun cases on domestic flights. It is a nice piece of mind sitting on the plane to see that your gun case is loaded on there are well.

I have not used them on international flights yet, that will happen in June of this year going to SA though. I read somewhere that while it may not be the case in the US, the Samsung phones are actually more popular than iPhones throughout the world so these will actually update better.

When I first bought my SmartTags, I gave one to my son who uses an iPhone. I sent him home with it, he lives appox 5hrs away from me. I was able to track his progress on the way home, then a week later when I went to visit him I set my phone to go to that device. It lead me to his house and then after telling me that it was close it changed to the closer/farther screen and it took me to the device in his house. I didn't see it when I was really close so I had it do the chime and it was right next to me on a dresser. I was pretty impressed. I also had one in a gun case that I sent to a major competition with a friend to have some work done on the gun, again I was able to track the device halfway across the country and back, knowing where it was at all times.

They do seem to be a bit of a battery hog, but batteries are pretty cheap compared to the cost of replacing firearms. I have pondered whether or not a person should put them in the firearm itself, such as inside the buttstock, but have not tried that yet. Anyone done this?

 

[Tim Blackwell]

I used them on my recent European holiday, and they were one of my more disappointing purchases to be honest.

Half of the time they really only updated once my bags were in my possession which is fairly bloody useless!

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I have Android and my daughter uses iPhone. I bought AirTag during COVID for my third safari. Daughter here kept track of my gun case and texted me screenshot images of its location. It worked okay. For upcoming safari I will buy SmartTag and have both in luggage. Can't hurt to have too much technology (I can't believe I just wrote that!).

When in the plane in the air, the devices don't work because everyone's phone is supposed to be turned off. That explains why there can be lag in tracking. However, I never experienced anything significant. The only noticeable lag was when my daughter was sleeping on the other side of the world.

 

[Longfeather1]

Question: do the Smart tags only work with Samsung phones or will they work with any Android phone?

 

[Woodcarver]

Question: do the Smart tags only work with Samsung phones or will they work with any Android phone?

They say you have to use a Samsung Galaxy with the Smart Tag. But these are the 2nd most common after the iphone, and in places like Africa, much more common than the iphone.
I had 1 Smart tag in the guncase, 1 in a carryon that I ended up gate checking, and 1 in my backpack for this trip to Nashville. The tracking was as good with them as the bag tracking system of Southwest. The guncase was giving my phone enough signal from the cargo hold to say it was "nearby", but not enough to "connect" to my phone. The carryon would bounce in and out of "nearby". This was the 1st leg of the trip. From Dallas to Nashville, the guncase was close enough to "connect" while we were taxiing. The carryon registered as "nearby" before taxiing.
So, on 1 trip, with 2 flight legs, I give them a thumbs up. Worth the few bucks to know your bag is at the same airport when you arrive, and made it to the same airplane when you depart. We'll see how the return trip goes next week.

 

[wyosteve]

I’ve used AirTags for several years and found them to work well. I can see if my gun/luggage makes it on the plane. Last spring going to Alaska it really was a benefit. As I left Seattle it showed my rifle on the plane and my gear on another flight. The other flight went to Juneau and not Anchorage. I was concerned. When I got to Anchorage I told the customer service representative and she was able to call her co-hort in Juneau and got my bag sent to Anchorage. Saved me more panic that day!

 

[Longfeather1]

They say you have to use a Samsung Galaxy with the Smart Tag. But these are the 2nd most common after the iphone, and in places like Africa, much more common than the iphone.
I had 1 Smart tag in the guncase, 1 in a carryon that I ended up gate checking, and 1 in my backpack for this trip to Nashville. The tracking was as good with them as the bag tracking system of Southwest. The guncase was giving my phone enough signal from the cargo hold to say it was "nearby", but not enough to "connect" to my phone. The carryon would bounce in and out of "nearby". This was the 1st leg of the trip. From Dallas to Nashville, the guncase was close enough to "connect" while we were taxiing. The carryon registered as "nearby" before taxiing.
So, on 1 trip, with 2 flight legs, I give them a thumbs up. Worth the few bucks to know your bag is at the same airport when you arrive, and made it to the same airplane when you depart. We'll see how the return trip goes next week.

What make/model of Android phone were you using with them?

 

[Woodcarver]

What make/model of Android phone were you using with them?

Mine's a Samsung A35. Most of the Samsung phones are Galaxies and have the requisite software to use the Smart Tags

 

[Woodcarver]

With the round trip complete, I am happy to report the Smart Tags performed as advertised. Very comforting to have the gun case actually connect to my phone before taxiing on both legs of the return flight. I was looking at both the airline's bag tracking and the Smart Tag. The airline indicated my bags were loaded and within a couple minutes the Smart Tags showed nearby, which confirmed they had been loaded on the same plane I was sitting in; very nice to know.
I pulled the batteries out of the two in cases, but left the backpack active. I'd like to get an idea of battery life, so I'll check the app every week until the tag doesn't register. If they last as advertised, it should be next fall or winter before it quits transmitting. We'll see.