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Deep Dive into Apple AirTags vs. Samsung SmartTag 2: New Insights and Comparison

Welcome back to our ongoing discussion comparing Apple AirTags and Samsung SmartTag 2. Our previous post provided an initial comparison, but today, we delve deeper with new findings that highlight crucial differences and why they matter.

1. Satellite View on Apple “Find My”

  • Importance: The satellite view feature in Apple’s Find My app offers a more detailed and realistic geographical context. This can be crucial in urban areas with complex layouts, helping users pinpoint their device’s location more accurately.

2. Samsung “SmartThings” Tracks Location History

  • Importance: Samsung’s SmartThings’ ability to show location history adds a layer of tracking detail that can be invaluable in retracing steps or understanding the movement pattern of a lost item.

3. Limitation of Notification in Samsung “SmartThings”

  • Importance: Samsung’s SmartThings, which allows only two devices to send notifications for left-behind items, is a significant limitation, especially for users with multiple valuable assets to keep track of.

4. Active Connection Indicator in Samsung “SmartThings”

  • Importance: Showing when a device is actively connected, rather than just sharing GPS coordinates like Apple’s Find My, provides a more dynamic and immediate understanding of your item’s status, offering potentially faster recovery actions.

5. Notification Issue with Apple “Find My”

  • Importance: Apple’s Find My notifying users of an old location, even if the device hasn’t been recently found, can lead to confusion and wasted effort, diminishing the reliability of the tracking system.

6. Benefits of Using Both Systems

  • Importance: Employing both Apple AirTags and Samsung SmartTag 2 can enhance asset tracking capabilities. The increased spectrum of compatible devices means broader coverage and better chances of locating lost items, especially in diverse geographic areas like London, Cyprus, Dubai, and Kuala Lumpur.

7. Real-Life Performance: Samsung SmartTag 2 Outperforms

  • Importance: Our real-life tests suggest that Samsung SmartTag 2 performs superior to Apple AirTags in varied locations. This could be critical for users who frequently travel or live in areas with different technological ecosystems.

In conclusion, understanding these nuanced differences is essential for making an informed choice between these leading tracking technologies. While both have their strengths, your specific needs and usage scenarios will ultimately determine the best fit for your asset-tracking requirements.


Apple AirTags vs. Samsung SmartTag 2 1

Losing your belongings can be a real headache, but thanks to modern technology, you can keep track of your keys, wallet, or other essential items with Bluetooth trackers. Two major players in this arena are Apple AirTags and Samsung SmartTag 2. In this blog post, we will compare these two popular Bluetooth trackers in design, compatibility, tracking range, and additional features to help you decide which suits your needs best.

Design and Build Quality:

Apple AirTags: Apple is known for its sleek and minimalist design, and the AirTags follow suit. They are small, circular, and sport a white or stainless steel finish. The AirTags are designed to be discreet and can easily blend in with your belongings. They are also water and dust-resistant, making them durable for everyday use.

Samsung SmartTag 2: The Samsung SmartTag 2 takes a different approach with a more traditional, rectangular design. It’s slightly larger and thicker than the AirTags. The SmartTag 2 is water-resistant, handling daily wear and tear.

Compatibility:

Apple AirTags: One of the biggest drawbacks of AirTags is their exclusive compatibility with Apple devices. To use them effectively, you need an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch running the latest iOS version. The AirTag integrates seamlessly with the Find My app on Apple devices. If you own an Android device and want to know if there are AirTags around you, there are applications in the market, like SmartThings, that can detect unknown tags.

Samsung SmartTag 2: Samsung’s SmartTag 2 is more versatile in terms of compatibility. It can be used with Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets, but it’s also compatible with any Android device running version 8.0 or later, thanks to the SmartThings app.

Tracking Range:

Apple AirTags: AirTags have a maximum tracking range of up to 100 meters (328 feet) in open spaces. They use Bluetooth technology and the U1 chip for precise location tracking, making them great for finding lost items within a reasonable range.

Samsung SmartTag 2: Samsung SmartTag 2 offers a similar range of up to 120 meters (394 feet) and uses Bluetooth technology. While the difference in range is marginal, every meter counts when locating a lost item.

Additional Features:

Apple AirTags: AirTags benefit from the vast Apple ecosystem. They have a unique feature called Precision Finding that takes advantage of the U1 chip for ultra-precise tracking. If you’re close to your lost item, your iPhone will provide on-screen and haptic guidance to lead you directly to it. AirTags also offer privacy features like randomizing tracking identifiers to protect user data.

Samsung SmartTag 2: The SmartTag 2 offers features like Bluetooth LE support for low energy consumption and a built-in button that you can use to ring your smartphone. It’s worth noting that the SmartTag 2 lacks the ultra-precise tracking that the U1 chip provides with AirTags. The SmartThings software provides location history, which is a great asset.

Conclusion:

When comparing Apple AirTags and Samsung SmartTag 2, your choice largely depends on your existing device ecosystem and personal preferences. If you are deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem and use iOS devices exclusively, AirTags are the obvious choice with their seamless integration and advanced Precision Finding feature. On the other hand, if you’re an Android user or have a mix of devices, the Samsung SmartTag 2 is a more versatile option.

Both Bluetooth trackers are reliable and offer similar tracking ranges, but the decision ultimately boils down to compatibility and extra features. Whichever you choose, these trackers can help ensure you never lose your valuables again.


Gaming with PlayStation Controllers of Android

Recently we decided to try and game on Android (specifically on a OnePlus 6T) using the controllers of Sony Playstation (Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller and Sony Dualsense wireless controller).

Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller

To use the Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller (https://www.playstation.com/en-us/accessories/dualshock-4-wireless-controller/), we paired the device using Bluetooth technology. To do so, we pressed the PlayStation logo button and the Share button to set the controller into pairing mode. Then, from our Android device, we paired the new device that appeared to have the name Wireless Controller.

We tried to play the game of Doom which worked like a charm! We had all functionality and the button mapping seemed very convenient.

Sony Dualsense wireless controller

To use the Sony Dualsense wireless controller (https://www.playstation.com/en-us/accessories/dualsense-wireless-controller/), we paired the device using Bluetooth technology again. To do so, we pressed the PlayStation logo button and the Create button to set the controller into pairing mode. Then, from our Android device, we paired the new device that appeared to have the name Wireless Controller.

To our disappointment, when we loaded the game of Doom we realized that the button mapping was very weird and not functional. The Slayer would spin all the time (you could prevent it by spinning in the other direction) and there was no button mapped to firing.

Conclusion

Sony DualShock 4 wireless controller worked like a charm on Android while Sony Dualsense wireless controller had some weird button mapping configuration making it unusable to play.

More results

After some additional investigation, we post the following:
We could not get the Dualsense controller to work as expected on any version of Android.
On the other hand, the Dualshock controller worked correctly on the following configurations:

  • OnePlus 6T + Android version 11
  • Samsung Galaxy S9 + Android version 9
  • Samsung Galaxy S9 + Android version 10

The Sony Dualshock controller failed as well on the following setup

  • Samsung Galaxy S9 + Android version 8

From these results, we can assume something was created or fixed in Android 9 and higher that allows Sony Dualshock wireless controller to work properly on Android devices.


Samsung Galaxy: Move device contacts to Google (GMail) account

The following guide is a step by step tutorial on how to make move your phone device contacts to your Google (GMail) account.

Step 0: Start the ‘Contacts’ Application

Start the 'Contacts' Application

Start the ‘Contacts’ Application

Step 1: Press the Menu button on your phone and press on ‘Move Device Contacts to’

Press the Menu button on your phone and press on 'Move Device Contacts to'

Press the Menu button on your phone and press on ‘Move Device Contacts to’

Step 2: Select ‘Google’

Select 'Google'

Select ‘Google’

Step 3: Press ‘OK’

Press 'OK'

Press ‘OK’

Step 4: Select the account where you want to move your device contacts to

Select the account where you want to move your device contacts to

Select the account where you want to move your device contacts to