Tile is the go-to brand for reliable Bluetooth trackers, and its wide variety of products meet different use cases. But all of its trackers rely on Bluetooth, which works great, but it’s not as sophisticated as ultra-broadband (UWB) – technology that would be used in upcoming products from Apple and Samsung. Rumor has it that Tile is also working on a new product with the same technology that is due out in 2021.

The new tracker is said to resemble the Tile Mate in that it will have a rounded square shape, a center button, a keychain hole, and a flat back to support the adhesive-based mount. The most striking difference will be the use of the UWB which will make it easier to locate lost objects.

Concept art of the next Tile

UWB technology uses a short-range wireless protocol like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. But unlike the latter, the UWB operates at high frequencies, allowing directional / spatial data to be recorded. This makes it especially useful for trackers, especially in cases where it’s difficult to discern its location by calling it.

To get the most out of the new technology, the Tile app will offer users an AR-compatible camera view that will show the location of the tracker and guide them using arrows. However, it should be noted that very few phones currently support UWB – the Samsung Note 20 Ultra and the iPhone 11/12 series are among the few that do. There is no pricing information for Tile’s new trackers yet.