Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a short-range wireless standard that connects devices such as phones, earbuds, watches and speakers without a cable.
On this page 3 sections
How it works
Bluetooth sends data as radio waves in the 2.4 GHz band, over a distance of a few metres up to around a hundred metres in open space, depending on the version and the device. Two devices first pair, which means they exchange a secret key. After that they reconnect by themselves. The standard is maintained by an industry group and used by many brands, so devices from different makers work together.
What the version numbers mean
- Newer versions such as 5.0, 5.3 and above improve range, speed, power saving and connection stability.
- Bluetooth Low Energy is a mode designed for devices that send small amounts of data for a long time, such as fitness bands and trackers.
- Bluetooth LE Audio is a newer way of carrying sound that uses less power than the older method.
- Audio quality depends on the codec, the method used to compress sound, which both devices must support.
What it does not promise
A higher version number does not by itself give better sound, because both devices must support the same features. Walls, the human body and other 2.4 GHz signals can shorten range or cause dropouts. Bluetooth also carries less data than Wi-Fi, so it is not used for large file transfers.