What you need to know
- The Pixel Tag debuts alongside the Pixel 11 series as Google’s first in-house Bluetooth tracker.
- The thin, oval-shaped Pixel Tag weighs just 11.8g and carries an IP67 rating, but it lacks a built-in keyring hole.
- Google taps its network of more than 1 billion Android devices to help locate lost items beyond Bluetooth range.
- UWB and Bluetooth Channel Sounding provide distance and directional guidance, with UWB working up to 50 meters from the paired phone.
Google is finally stepping into the Bluetooth tracker race. The search giant has unveiled the Pixel Tag along with its Pixel 11 series at today’s Made by Google event.
The Pixel Tag combines the Find Hub network with Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth Channel Sounding. It’s a departure from the circular disk design of its competitors and takes a thin oval pebble-like shape in a color simply called “Fog.” It weighs roughly 0.4 ounces and has an IP67 water and dust resistance rating.
However, there’s one very major design choice that could split opinions: there’s no dedicated keyring hole. Like the AirTag, you’ll need to purchase a separate case to attach it to your keys.
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Software-wise, the Pixel Tag is tightly integrated with Google’s Find Hub network. It’s basically a more advanced Find My Device system that leverages a network of over a billion Android devices to create a crowdsourcing location network. It employs Fast Pair for quick setup.
The basics are familiar if you’ve been using a Bluetooth tracker. Attach the Pixel Tag to your keys, wallet, or luggage, then use the Find Hub app to find it on a map or trigger the built-in speaker to sound.
Google also lets you share a tag with up to 10 people, which could come in handy for shared keys, bags, or other household items. Setup is handled through Android’s Fast Pair and works with phones running Android 9 or newer.
Compatible Android phones can use Ultra Wideband and Bluetooth Channel Sounding for precision finding, providing distance and directional cues instead of making you wander around while listening for a beep. Channel Sounding requires Android 16 and Bluetooth 6.0, while UWB precision finding requires a compatible UWB-enabled Android device and works up to 50 meters away from the paired phone.
But what really makes the Pixel Tag stand out is the built-in button that lets you ring your phone in reverse. You don’t get that on the AirTag.
The Pixel Tag measures 28 x 46.1 x 5.4mm, weighs 11.8g with its battery, carries an IP67 rating, and uses a replaceable CR2032 cell rated for more than a year.
Google will sell the Pixel Tag for $29, or four for $99, starting November 11. It works with Pixel Watch and Pixel Buds, so Google’s greater device ecosystem can help you locate your stuff.