Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Rivals have been attempting to outdo the AirTag since Apple launched its Bluetooth tracker in 2021. In these three years, Samsung has gone by means of two generations of Galaxy SmartTags, Chipolo and Pebblebee have relaunched their lineups to assist Google’s up to date Discover My Gadget community, and Tile — nicely, Tile retains attempting to do its personal factor now that Life360 owns it.
However, because it seems, there’s at all times room for another entry in a crowded Bluetooth monitoring market. Motorola launched its debut Moto Tag alongside the up to date Razr and Razr Plus, and it simply may be essentially the most succesful AirTag various of the bunch. I bought to take a look at the tiny tracker as a part of the corporate’s June 25 launch occasion, and right here’s what it’s essential know.
Any time, wherever
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Motorola’s late arrival to the Bluetooth monitoring occasion may be its greatest benefit. Its Moto Tag landed after the relaunch of Google’s Discover My Gadget community, basically placing the tracker on second base with a dependable hitter coming to the plate. Why solely second base? Nicely, it’s nonetheless early days for Discover My Gadget, so the Moto Tag is counting on Google’s community enlargement to flesh out its information factors. Nevertheless, the present interface is definitely higher than ranging from scratch.
On high of the rising community of trackers, the Moto Tag comes with an ultra-wideband chip inside — identical to Apple’s AirTag. It’s an essential inclusion, because it means the tracker ought to assist extremely correct directional monitoring, once more, just like the AirTag does, however solely as soon as Google brings assist for UWB to its Discover My Gadget community. Within the meantime, the UWB chip is sort of just like the Moto Tag had an ace reliever warming up within the bullpen — good issues are coming, however we’ll have to attend somewhat longer. It additionally provides the Moto Tag a leg up over Pebblebee’s trackers and Chipolo’s up to date Card Level and One Level, which skip UWB altogether.
Since I’m already evaluating the Moto Tag to its Apple-branded opposition, I’ll say that the Moto Tag feels nearly precisely like an AirTag within the hand. It’s about the identical dimension and form, and I’m fairly positive a few of the equipment that Motorola used to indicate off its tracker have been simply repurposed AirTag sleeves and straps. It’s dangerous information should you have been hoping to slide a keychain by means of your tracker, however excellent news should you like to decorate.
Say cheese
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
Equipment and design inspiration apart, maybe essentially the most thrilling factor that the Moto Tag does is when it’s not performing as a tracker. Positive, you possibly can press the Motorola emblem to ring your telephone should you set it someplace, however the button may act as a distant shutter on your telephone’s digital camera. It’s a pleasant little contact that I may see myself utilizing when attempting to seize a snap of pals at a run membership when there are too many people to suit right into a typical group shot. Even higher, the distant shutter characteristic works with any Android telephone, not only a latest Motorola Razr or Edge.
Lastly, a tracker that does greater than, nicely, monitor.
I’ll admit that I didn’t get to attempt the distant shutter choice, because the Moto Tags on the occasion weren’t paired to any of the corporate’s telephones, however I like the thought. Truly, I just like the Moto Tag quite a bit, from the dimensions to the blue and inexperienced coloration choices to the truth that you possibly can simply swap in a brand new CR2032 battery after the 12 months or so of battery life that the corporate claims. The tracker can be IP67-rated in opposition to water and mud, which is greater than the corporate presents on a few of its premium smartphones.
In fact, there’s nonetheless rather a lot we don’t know concerning the Moto Tag, like when UWB assist is definitely coming, what ringing sounds it’s going to assist, and what first-party equipment Motorola is planning to launch, however it’s a strong first impression and may be an inexpensive house run for the model.
We’ll have to attend longer to get our arms again on the tracker, because the Motorola Moto Tag doesn’t formally launch till August 2. When it does, you possibly can seize one for $29 or a four-pack for $99.
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