PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

Keep Tabs on Your Keys, Pets With Samsung SmartThings Tracker

The small, LTE-M-connected GPS tracking device can be attached to things like keys, pet collars, and backpacks, letting you keep tabs on commonly misplaced belongings via Samsung's SmartThings app. It goes on sale Sept. 14 but will initially be an AT&T exclusive.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS

Constantly losing your keys? Have a dog who tends to run off? Samsung's new SmartThings Tracker may be able to help.

Unveiled Monday, the small, LTE-M-connected GPS tracking device can be attached to things like keys, pet collars, and backpacks, letting you keep tabs on commonly misplaced belongings via Samsung's SmartThings app for iOS and Android. Samsung says it works better—especially indoors and below street level—than Bluetooth-connected trackers.

"With SmartThings Tracker, it's easier to locate a gym bag or backpack lost at school, a laptop case left in the airport lounge, or a pet that might have wandered too far from home," the company wrote in a news release.

The device also makes it easy for family members to share their whereabouts. Pushing the power button twice sends your real-time location to the SmartThings app, so family members get a notification saying where you are.

You can also set up a geo-fenced area in the SmartThings app to receive an alert when a tracker enters or exits that area. That way you'll automatically be notified when, for instance, your kid gets home from school or your dog runs off your property.

The SmartThings Tracker goes on sale Sept. 14. Initially, it will only be available via AT&T, but Samsung said Verizon will start offering it "later this year."

"Using our nationwide LTE-M network gives you the ability to track and locate your devices just about anywhere," AT&T IoT President Chris Penrose said in a statement. "We're proud to be the first carrier to offer the SmartThings Tracker in the US."

Besides the aforementioned features, the SmartThings Tracker works as a "proximity sensor to trigger smart home automations, like lights turning on when someone gets close to home or the thermostat turning down when the car pulls out of the driveway," Samsung said. It works with hundreds of SmartThings-compatible devices, including smart lights, door locks, thermostats, security cameras, doorbells, and more.

It boasts an IP68 water-resistance rating, meaning it won't break if you get caught in the rain. Samsung says its battery can last up to a week on a charge.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

Read full bio