The Google Pixel 8 series smartphones can now be located even when turned off or the battery is depleted. This convenient new feature was announced as part of today's launch of an upgraded and more advanced "Find My Device" network. Google states that this offline tracking capability is enabled through "dedicated Pixel hardware" in its latest two phones.
The company hopes to extend the same functionality to the future Pixel Fold 2 and Pixel 9 / 9 Pro. However, it's currently uncertain if the budget-friendly Pixel 8A (rumored to be released at next month's I/O conference) will offer offline location tracking, or if this will be a perk exclusive to high-end products.
Apple's recently launched iPhones can be located without a data connection or when powered off, a feature Samsung also supports. In each case, these companies utilize a large network composed of other people's devices to detect your device if it's lost or stolen.
Google's new "Find My Device" network launched today in the United States and Canada. In May, trackers from Chipolo and other companies will also join this crowdsourced network. Google states that while launching the enhanced "Find My Device" system, it has focused on security and personal safety, implementing measures such as alerts for unknown trackers, end-to-end encryption, and rate limiting/throttling of location requests.
