Google is expanding its hardware range with the Pixel Tag, a compact tracker that gives Android users a new way to locate bags, keys and other easily misplaced belongings.

Announced alongside the Pixel 11, Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, the Pixel Tag uses a combination of Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband technology. It also supports Google’s Precision Finding system on compatible devices, allowing users to get more detailed guidance when searching for a missing item.

The tracker has a compact, pill-shaped body that bears some resemblance to Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag 2. It measures around 4.6cm tall, 2.8cm wide and 0.5cm thick, and is compatible with Android phones running Android 9 or newer.

Not every Pixel Tag feature will work with every Android handset. Bluetooth Channel Sounding can provide more accurate distance measurements between compatible devices, but using the technology requires Android 16 or later as well as Bluetooth 6.0 support.

Ultra Wideband offers another level of accuracy. On supported phones, Google’s Precision Finding feature can provide both the approximate distance to a Pixel Tag and the direction users should travel to reach it. This could prove particularly useful when an item is hidden somewhere nearby rather than completely lost.

Google Pixel Tag keeps track of your everyday items

Precision Finding requires an Android phone equipped with Ultra Wideband hardware. Supported devices include Google’s Pixel Pro handsets and selected Samsung Galaxy S and Z Fold models. As a result, Pixel Tag owners may get a different tracking experience depending on the phone they use.

Google has also designed the tracker to withstand common accidents. An IP67 rating provides protection against dust and water, while the Pixel Tag can handle immersion in up to one metre of water for as long as 30 minutes.

A replaceable CR2032 coin-cell battery provides power, with Google estimating that a single battery should last for about a year. When it eventually runs out, owners can simply install another battery rather than recharge the tracker itself.

The Pixel Tag is set to launch on 11 November, priced at the equivalent of around A$45 for one or A$152 for a four-pack based on Google’s US pricing. Google has yet to confirm Australian pricing or availability, so it remains unclear whether the tracker will officially go on sale locally at launch.