Google brings AirTag-like location tracking to the Pixel Watch 3
Google’s Pixel Watch 3 can now locate nearby devices with greater precision, thanks to a new feature called “Channel Sounding.” It uses the watch’s existing Bluetooth hardware and can pinpoint devices with “centimeter-level accuracy.”
It is important to note that for this feature to work, the entire chain of devices must support the latest Bluetooth 6.0 standard. The Pixel Watch 3 is currently one of the few devices to support this feature, which is why it is inactive for now. You may not be able to use it since the number of devices in the ecosystem is simply too low at this point.
Bluetooth precision tracking isn’t as accurate as Apple’s “Find My,” which has directional arrows to guide you to the exact location. It requires both devices to have Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio and antenna, which puts the cost too high. In contrast, Bluetooth is supported on nearly every smartphone, headphone, or smartwatch, and may lead to a better overall tracking network.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) introduced “Channel Sounding” in Bluetooth 6.0 late last year, which, instead of the traditional method of measuring signal strength between devices, relies on the time it takes for the signal to travel between two devices. This makes it much more precise in terms of spatial awareness between any two devices.
This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
