The Galaxy S26 series may already be behind Pixel phones in one big way

Source: Android Authority

Andy Walker / Android Authority

TL;DR

• Logs posted by a Google employee confirm the Galaxy S26 Ultra does not support powered‑off tracking via Google’s Find Hub.
• Google’s Find My Device network can locate powered‑off phones, but only Pixel devices have supported the feature so far.
• Samsung’s SmartThings Find works offline, but still requires the phone to be powered on.

Find Hub support on the Galaxy S26 Ultra

A log entry from the Galaxy S26 Ultra was posted on Google’s Issue Tracker. The log, originally shared while discussing a font issue, contains the line:

[ro.bluetooth.finder.supported]: [false]

This indicates that the Galaxy S26 Ultra does not support Bluetooth‑based finding when the phone is powered off—a capability that Google has offered on Pixel phones since the Pixel 8 series.

Google’s Find My Device network, now branded Find Hub, uses Bluetooth and proximity data from nearby Android devices to locate a phone for several hours after it powers down. To work, Bluetooth and Location must be enabled before shutdown. Currently, the feature is limited to Pixel devices starting with the Pixel 8 series. The earlier Galaxy S25 series also lacked this powered‑off tracking support.

Samsung’s SmartThings Find “offline” feature

Samsung provides its own solution, SmartThings Find, which includes an “offline” finding mode. However, “offline” here means the device can be located without mobile data or Wi‑Fi as long as the phone remains powered on and you’re signed into your Samsung account.

Nearby Galaxy devices act as “Find Nodes,” reporting the phone’s location back to Samsung’s servers. Once the phone is truly powered off, this system stops functioning.