Motorola Launches an AirTag Rival

 Motorola unveils Moto tag 

Motorola has announced its latest innovation, the  Moto Tag, alongside the new Razr Plus (2024) and Razr (2024) flip phones. The Moto Tag is Motorola’s answer to Apple’s AirTag, promising a superior user experience. The  Moto Tag is a Bluetooth tracker designed to help users keep track of their valuables worldwide. Motorola is already a famous company, but its presence in the automotive space received a major boost two years ago when it launched the MA1. This device converts a wired Android Auto connection to wireless, using an approach pioneered by AAWireless. It connects to a mobile phone using Bluetooth and to the vehicle with a direct connection to the USB port. The device receives the wireless signal from the phone and transmits it to the car, allowing Android Auto to run without a wired connection between the phone and the vehicle.

Motorola has recently launched another device that is likely to catch the attention of drivers whose phones run Android. The Moto Tag is a Bluetooth tracker with UWB support, meaning it's an AirTag alternative that supports precision tracking. The Moto Tag is a Bluetooth tracker designed to help users keep track of their valuables worldwide. It features a sleek, compact design with enhanced security, making it intuitive and easy to use. Notably, the Moto Tag is compatible with most Android  smartphones, not just Motorola devices. It's an Apple competitor on multiple fronts, as it uses a CR2032 battery (like Apple's device), a pill-shaped form factor (like Apple's device), and is based on a similar concept with its location displayed on Android phones via the Find My Device network (like Apple's device, which uses the company's Find My network).  It incorporates ultra-wideband (UWB) technology and integrates seamlessly into  Motorola’s device ecosystem. “The  Moto Tag has a simple silhouette design that will work with many third-party accessories already on the market,” said a  Motorola spokesperson. The device boasts an IP67 rating, ensuring durability against dust and dirt and immersion in fresh water up to one metre for 30 minutes. It uses a CR2032 battery, with a lifespan of about one year.

Users can attach the Moto Tag to keys, wallets, luggage, backpacks and more. Once activated, it can pinpoint an item’s exact location using the Find My Device app on Android, leveraging Google’s Find My Device network. Beyond item tracking, the Moto Tag features a multifunctional button that can act as a remote shutter for taking photos without holding the phone or using a timer. This functionality is compatible with any Android phone. For Android phones with UWB support, like the  Motorola Edge 50 Ultra, the  Moto Tag offers improved precision tracking. A button on the  Moto Tag allows users to locate a misplaced paired phone by ringing it.

AirTags have become a must-have device for car owners. They can be planted virtually anywhere thanks to their small form factor, and they can communicate with the owner via a nearby iPhone. AirTags don't have a built-in Internet connection, so they use iPhones in proximity to share their locations with their owners. The location appears in the Find My app on the owner's iPhone. Apple is also working on a second-generation AirTag, with the launch expected to take place in 2025. Improved precision and possibly a subtly refined design are among the headlights of the new model. Motorola is an identical device, but everything runs in the Android ecosystem. The Moto Tag displays its location on devices connected to Google's Find My Device app, and thanks to the CR2032 battery support, it doesn't need to be recharged. Theoretically, these trackers are supposed to help us never lose our keys and wallets, but you can plant the Moto Tag in your cabin and forget it's there for about six months until you need to replace its battery.

Setting up the  Moto Tag is straightforward, thanks to Google Fast Pair. When powered on near a compatible  smartphone, it will appear automatically for pairing. The companion  Moto Tag app allows users to customise their experience, including tag names, alert volumes and battery life checks. Privacy is a significant concern addressed by the Moto Tag. All user location data is end-to-end encrypted, ensuring only the tag owner or authorised users can view the tag’s location.  Motorola collaborates with Google to provide privacy and security alerts for unknown trackers across both Android and iOS. Users can also perform manual scans to check for unwanted tags.

Motorola's new tracker is even priced similarly to the Apple AirTag, as a single device costs $29, but customers can also get the four-unit pack at $99. Motorola says the tracker will hit the shelves in early August in the US and Canada, and it's unclear if and when the tracker could become available in Europe. Meanwhile, the AirTag is already available everywhere, albeit it only works with an iPhone. Android users have multiple other alternatives to choose from, including Tile, a device which offers cross-platform support and comes with even more advanced capabilities, including solid anti-stalking protection.