Google Pixel Tag: First Images Show Google’s AirTag Alternative

Philipp Briel
Philipp Briel · 4 min. read

Google appears to be on the verge of releasing its first in-house Bluetooth tracker: The Google Pixel Tag has appeared in initial images and retailer listings and is expected to be unveiled on August 12, 2026, alongside the Pixel 11. Years after Apple introduced the AirTag, the Android camp is finally getting a first-party tracker directly from the operating system manufacturer.

Key takeaways:

  • Google is expected to unveil its first in-house tracker on August 12, 2026.
  • Marketing name: Pixel Tag; model number: GA12506; color: “Fog Light.”
  • Elongated, pill-shaped design without an integrated loop —attaches only via a case.
  • Speaker on the bottom for close-range search, connected to Google’s Find Hub network.
  • Expected price: around 30 euros. UWB support and power supply are still to be determined.

Google Pixel Tag: What We Know About the Tracker

The idea isn’t new. Reports of an in-house Android tracker surfaced over three years ago, but Google has so far left the field to its competitors. While Apple has already launched the AirTag 2 and affordable alternatives from Hama, Xiaomi, and Samsung have long been available, Google has massively expanded its Find Hub location network—but has never followed up with its own hardware. That’s about to change.

According to 9to5Google, the Pixel Tag has appeared in the first European online stores. The following key details can be gleaned from the leaked retailer listings and a leaked product image:

Feature Detail (as of leak)
Marketing Name Google Pixel Tag
Model Number GA12506
Color Fog Light (light gray)
Design elongated/pill-shaped, without an eyelet
Speaker Yes, on the bottom
Location Network Find Hub / “Find My Device”
UWB Not yet confirmed
Power supply Unclear (button cell or rechargeable battery)
Price (expected) approx. 30 euros
Release date (expected) August 12, 2026

Visually, the Pixel Tag stands out: Instead of being round or square like most competitors, the gadget is elongated and pill-shaped, most comparable to Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag. One noticeable feature is the lack of a hole for attachment—if you want to hang the tracker on your keychain, you’ll need a separate case or keychain attachment, just like with the AirTag. On the underside is a fine mesh, behind which a speaker is presumably hidden. This is intended to make it easier to find the device if it disappears into the crevices of the sofa yet again.

Unanswered Questions: UWB, Battery, and Price

The most exciting question remains unanswered for now: Will Google rely on Ultra-Wideband (UWB)? This wireless standard enables direction-finding accurate to the meter, a feature Apple has offered since the very first AirTag. If Google were to forego this, it would be a significant competitive disadvantage. UWB doesn’t appear anywhere in the retailer descriptions so far, but it can’t be ruled out just yet.

We’re also in the dark when it comes to the power supply—it’s not yet known whether it uses a standard replaceable button cell battery or a built-in rechargeable battery. In terms of price, the first listings suggest around 30 euros, which would place the Pixel Tag in the same range as more affordable AirTag alternatives like the UGREEN FineTrack trackers. It remains to be seen whether the tracker will also be available in a multi-pack.

For Android users, the real benefit is the tight integration anyway: a tracker from Google itself should integrate more seamlessly into the Find Hub network than third-party hardware. The Pixel Tag is expected to be unveiled at the Made by Google event on August 12, where the new Pixel 11 smartphones and the Pixel Watch 5 are also expected to be announced. A specific release date has not yet been set.

Sources: 9to5Google