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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Aside from all the new Pixel phones, Google announced a new finder tag called Pixel Tag.
- It uses Bluetooth Channel Sounding and Ultra Wideband for precision tracking.
- Channel Sounding promises more stable, accurate, and secure device tracking.
Google’s Made by Google event features a hardware newcomer this year: the Pixel Tag. Google’s Android-exclusive Pixel Tag Bluetooth tracker debuts with a user-replaceable coin battery, an IP67 dust and water-resistance rating, and compatibility with any Android phone running Android 9 or later.
However, the most interesting aspect of the Pixel Tag is its inclusion of Bluetooth Channel Sounding device-tracking technology. Google isn’t the first to incorporate Channel Sounding into an Android-only tracker; Motorola’s Moto Tag 2 has the same technology.
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But is Google’s tracker any better? Based on the specs alone, not necessarily. But Google needs to keep adding peripheral devices to its catalog to keep up with Apple and Samsung. Based on the specs, if we pit Google’s Pixel Tag to Apple’s AirTag and Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag2, there’s one technology that sets it apart: Bluetooth Channel Sounding.
Why Channel Sounding is a big deal
The Pixel Tag’s tracking technologies rely on Bluetooth Channel Sounding and an ultra-wideband (UWB) chip. UWB is generally more accurate than Channel Sounding for ultra-precise tracking and is more resistant to interference. However, Channel Sounding is more accurate and power-efficient than Bluetooth Low Energy alone, which is the Bluetooth tech Apple AirTags use for proximity sensing and detection.
The difference between Channel Sounding and traditional Bluetooth tracking technology is how each technology reads signals. Bluetooth Low Energy, which is used in AirTags, uses Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), an older signal indicator.
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Channel Sounding uses Phased-Based Ranging (PBR), which is more accurate in determining the distance between two devices, such as your Google Pixel 11 and your Pixel Tag. RSSI signals are easily obstructed by objects, walls, and environmental interference from other devices on the Bluetooth network.
For general device location, Apple relies on its vast Find My network of Apple devices to securely and privately ping your device and use device chimes to make a sound when you’re close enough to it.
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Google’s Pixel Tag will work the same way with Google’s expanding Find My Device network of Android devices. But Channel Sounding promises you won’t need to rely as heavily on the network to locate your tracker, which would be ideal if you’re not near other Android devices.
Channel Sounding also promises not to engage the even more accurate but power-intensive UWB technology until absolutely necessary, which should extend the Pixel Tag’s battery life.
Which devices are compatible?
Google’s Pixel Tag is only compatible with Android devices, so iPhone users will have to stick to AirTags or other iOS-friendly Bluetooth trackers. Google’s Pixel Tag uses Bluetooth Channel Sounding and UWB for device tracking and positioning. However, unlike iPhones, not all Android phones are equipped with UWB chips. Google Pixel Pro series and Pixel Fold phones, Samsung Galaxy S Plus, S Ultra series, and Z Fold phones have UWB.
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My guess is that devices without UWB will be able to default to Bluetooth Channel Sounding for device tracking. The caveat is that your Android smartphone must support Bluetooth Channel Sounding, which is in the Bluetooth 6.0 standard. Not all phones with Bluetooth 6.0 support Channel Sounding, so for now, full support is limited to premium Pixel phones.
My second guess is that Android phones without UWB and Channel Sounding support will default to Bluetooth Low Energy for device tracking, making their tracking capabilities comparable to a Tile tracker.
