Samsung’s SmartThings Find adds another Ultra-Wideband application to phones

By Deepak Singh • Updated On 30 Oct 2020

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Samsung added Ultra-Wideband technology to its Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra soon after Apple did so for its iPhone 11 Pro series and Watch. The technology is currently only being used to improve file sharing (via Nearby Share and Airdrop, respectively), but Samsung had revealed that it’s working on two more applications of UlraWide Band (UWB) technology – SmartThings Find and Smart Key.

Continuing on its roadmap, Samsung has now released SmartThings Find a feature integrated within SmartThings app that can help you navigate to precisely where your Galaxy device is located, even when the device is offline.

Also Check: What is Ultra-Wideband Technology on Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra?

How SmartThings Find works?

Since UWB is still limited to very few phones (only the Galaxy Note20 Ultra and Galaxy Z Fold 2) on Android side of things), SmartThings Find also makes use of Bluetooth LE and can be used to locate Galaxy Phones running Android 8+, Galaxy Watch models running Tizen 5.5+, Galaxy Buds+ and Galaxy Buds live.

“Once a device has been offline for 30 minutes, it produces a BLE signal that can be received by other devices. If you report your device as lost via SmartThings Find, any nearby Galaxy smartphone or tablet that has opted into helping find misplaced devices can alert the Samsung server about its location, which will in turn notify you, ” details Samsung in its press note.

What about precise indoor navigations?

The video showcased by Samsung doesn’t show indoor navigation, but if you have a UWB supported devices, you can make use of its 1-meter precise tracking accuracy and opt to locate your device using the AR-based ‘search nearby’ function that works like indoor navigation.

But yes, UWB devices are still extremely rare.

Support for UWB tracking Tags coming early next year

Samsung will add support for tracking tags by next year and these should be UWB tags that users could attach to their keys, car papers, or anything else they are likely to lose indoors.

Going by its UWB development roadmap revealed earlier, Samsung could next unleash SmartKey feature that will enable its UWB technology-enabled phones like Galaxy Note 20 Ultra to act as keys to car doors and UWB locks.

Deepak Singh

Deepak Singh is a technology journalist and editor with over 13 years of experience covering consumer electronics. A computer engineering graduate, he has developed deep expertise in chipsets, displays, and hardware performance.

Over the past decade, Deepak has reviewed more than 700 products, including smartphones, laptops, TVs, and audio gear. He currently leads the editorial team at Smartprix, focusing on accurate, useful, and hands-on tech reporting.

When he’s not testing new devices, Deepak enjoys reading and spending time with his family.

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