In-depth Review of HUAWEI Tag: Functionality, Compatibility, and Future Outlook

In-depth Review of HUAWEI Tag: Functionality, Compatibility, and Future OutlookLaunched in July 2022, HUAWEI's Tag anti-lost tracker quickly gained attention due to its minimalist, pure white, rounded design and affordable price (99 for a single unit/299 for a four-pack). However, this compact device isn't without its shortcomings in functionality and compatibility

In-depth Review of HUAWEI Tag: Functionality, Compatibility, and Future Outlook

Launched in July 2022, HUAWEI's Tag anti-lost tracker quickly gained attention due to its minimalist, pure white, rounded design and affordable price (99 for a single unit/299 for a four-pack). However, this compact device isn't without its shortcomings in functionality and compatibility. This review delves into a detailed analysis of HUAWEI Tag, covering its core features, compatibility issues, and potential future developments.

Lightweight and Portable, Simple Functionality

Weighing only 6g and measuring just 5.6mm thick, the HUAWEI Tag's design prioritizes portability and allows for discreet attachment to various items. Its primary function is rapid item location via near-field communication (NFC). When the user is close to a connected HUAWEI Tag, the phone displays a notification indicating the item's location. Additionally, the HUAWEI Tag offers a loud 92dB alarm, ensuring easy retrieval even in noisy environments.

Long-Range Finding via HUAWEI's Network

The HUAWEI Tag's location capabilities extend beyond NFC. Its long-range finding feature leverages HUAWEI's "Find My" network, utilizing the vast network of Huawei devices to provide approximate location even when the item is far from the user. This functionality showcases HUAWEI's extensive device ecosystem and its investment in IoT technology. However, the accuracy and success rate of this feature depend on network coverage and the number of participating devices, requiring further consideration.

Compatibility Issues: Not All HUAWEI Phones are Supported

Despite being a HUAWEI ecosystem product, the HUAWEI Tag's compatibility is limited. Currently, it only supports connection and tracking functionality with the Mate70 series and X6 phones (running HarmonyOS 4.3 and HarmonyOS NEXT). This means other HUAWEI phones, including high-end models like the Mate60 series and P70 series, cannot fully utilize all HUAWEI Tag features.

Furthermore, the "Precise Find" feature, which displays the Tag's current direction and distance, is only available on select HUAWEI phones. Phones without "Precise Find" can only use the general "Find" function, indicating whether the Tag is closer or further away, resulting in lower location accuracy. This significantly impacts user experience and reduces the product's practicality.

According to HUAWEI's official statement, HarmonyOS 5.0 currently only supports proximity connection to the Tag, not NFC connection. This further restricts compatible devices. This highlights the need for improved software and hardware compatibility to better address discrepancies between different system versions and devices.

Software Update Requirements: Multiple App Upgrades Needed

To ensure proper HUAWEI Tag functionality, users must update multiple HUAWEI apps to specific versions. The official requirements include updating "Find My Device" to version 11.1.8.300 or higher, "HUAWEI Cloud Space" to 12.0.0.304 or higher, and "HMSCore" to 6.7.0.XXX or higher. These update requirements add extra steps for users and may prevent some from using the HUAWEI Tag due to incompatible software versions. This emphasizes the need for improved user experience through a simplified update process and clearer instructions.

Incompatibility with Some HONOR Phones: Ecosystem Integration Needs Improvement

Significantly, some newer HONOR devices, such as the HONOR Magic3 and HONOR 50, currently do not support connecting to the HUAWEI Tag. This indicates ongoing challenges in ecosystem integration between HUAWEI and HONOR. Although HUAWEI and HONOR maintain some technical cooperation after their brand separation, further improvements are needed in unifying and connecting their IoT product ecosystems. This is a crucial point for HUAWEI's ambition to build a unified and powerful IoT ecosystem.

Future Outlook: Feature Refinement and Enhanced Compatibility

While the HUAWEI Tag currently has limitations in functionality and compatibility, there's reason to believe HUAWEI will continuously improve this product. Based on the possibility of the HUAWEI Mate60 and P70 series gaining "Precise Find" functionality, and given HUAWEI's continued investment in IoT, future improvements are expected in the following areas:

• Improved Compatibility: Expanding support for more phone models and operating system versions, eliminating compatibility discrepancies between HUAWEI and HONOR phones.

• Enhanced Functionality: Adding more practical features, such as more precise location technology, improved anti-interference capabilities, and integration with other smart home devices.

• Optimized User Experience: Simplifying the pairing process, improving the software interface, and enhancing ease of use.

In conclusion, the HUAWEI Tag, as a tentative step by HUAWEI into the IoT market, demonstrates its strengths in technology and design, but also has areas for improvement. Future success hinges on addressing user feedback, continually enhancing product functionality and compatibility, and ultimately improving user experience to solidify its competitiveness in the IoT market. The success or failure of the HUAWEI Tag will directly impact HUAWEI's progress in building a complete smart ecosystem.