If you’re a pet owner currently carrying one tracker for your dog’s location and a separate wearable for activity data, Samsung’s latest device is worth your attention. The Galaxy S25 ecosystem continues to expand, and the Galaxy SmartTag3, announced September 30, 2026, consolidates both functions into a single $29.99 tag, with U.S. availability expected in early November.
What the Pet Monitoring Feature Actually Does
The SmartTag3 tracks basic pet behavior through the SmartThings app, but it is not a substitute for a veterinary or dedicated fitness device.
The SmartThings app records three basic metrics for a pet wearing the tag: movement, active time, and sleep duration. These appear in a dedicated pet section of the app, alongside location history showing where the animal traveled throughout the day.
Samsung’s Place Notification feature functions as a geofence-style alert, notifying you when the tag enters or exits a defined area such as a yard. This is not continuous professional-grade GPS supervision. The SmartTag3 captures no heart rate, blood oxygen, or VO2 data.
How Far and How Precisely It Finds Your Pet
Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding gives the SmartTag3 its extended directional range, though real-world results depend on your environment and your phone.
Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding powers the Compass View feature, delivering distance and directional guidance up to 60 meters (roughly 196 feet) under line-of-sight conditions. According to Samsung’s official announcement, that manufacturer-rated figure is approximately three times farther than the previous generation. Ultra-wideband (UWB) takes over at closer range to sharpen precision.
Walls and physical obstructions reduce both range and directional accuracy in real-world use. Full Channel Sounding support initially applies to four Samsung phones: the Galaxy S26 Plus, Galaxy S26 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra. Samsung indicated additional devices may be supported later.
iPhone Users Are Now Welcome
For the first time in the SmartTag product line, the SmartThings app supports both iPhone and Android, opening the tracker to mixed-platform households.
Mixed-platform households can now share tracking access without everyone needing a Samsung phone, according to Engadget. Core finding and sharing features are available across both platforms.
The caveat is worth noting. Advanced Channel Sounding features remain tied to compatible Samsung hardware, and some additional functions may also be Galaxy-exclusive, according to PhoneArena. iPhone users gain meaningful location tracking, but the full directional-finding experience requires a supported Galaxy device.
Size, Battery, and Price
The SmartTag3 is meaningfully smaller and lighter than its predecessor, with battery life that should last well beyond a typical product upgrade cycle.
Compared with the SmartTag2, the SmartTag3 is approximately 35% more compact and 33% lighter, according to Engadget. It carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.
Battery life reaches up to 550 days in normal mode, up from 500 days on the previous model. Power Saving mode extends that to 790 days, up from 700. The single-unit price is $29.99; a four-pack runs $99.99, according to PhoneArena. Readers who value property and pet monitoring may also want to explore Home Security options that complement geofence-style alerts.
The Bottom Line
The SmartTag3 makes a practical case for pet owners who want location alerts and basic activity data from one affordable device.
For pet owners who want geofence alerts and basic activity data without paying for a dedicated GPS collar or fitness tracker, the SmartTag3 offers a practical consolidation. Its pet-monitoring capabilities are lightweight by design: useful context, not clinical data. At $29.99, it arrives in U.S. stores in early November 2026 and targets households already using the SmartThings ecosystem. For those looking beyond trackers, a roundup of Smart Gadgets worth grabbing offers broader product discovery to complement your setup.
