Google releases Pixel Tag to take on Apple AirTag with precision tracking for Android

Google has launched the Pixel Tag, its first native smart tracker designed to compete directly with Apple's AirTag. Pricing ranges around $29 or $30 for a single tag and $99 or $100 for a four-pack, with CNET noting availability starting Wednesday. The device ties into Google's Find Hub network and pairs Ultra Wideband technology with Bluetooth Channel Sounding to give Android users visual, directional proximity finding. [1][2]

The Pixel Tag measures 5.4mm thick with an elongated lozenge shape, weighs 0.4 ounces, and carries an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance. It runs on a user-replaceable CR2032 coin-cell battery expected to last up to a year. Unlike the AirTag, the device includes a built-in front button that allows users to silence ringing or double-press to trigger a misplaced phone to ring at full volume. Notable trade-offs include the lack of a native keyring hole, a limited initial accessory selection, and an internal chime that CNET measured at 80 decibels, seven decibels lower than the second-generation AirTag. [1][2]

The release fills a notable gap in Google's ecosystem by offering native pinpoint proximity finding, a feature previously scarce on Android outside alternatives like Motorola's Moto Tag and Samsung's SmartTag3. In hands-on testing by Tom's Guide, the Pixel Tag maintained its Ultra Wideband directional connection up to roughly 82 feet, outlasting the 74-foot reach of Apple's AirTag 2. [1][2]