Almost everyone uses Bluetooth every day, but what exactly is it? Bluetooth is the ubiquitous wireless connectivity standard that connects our headphones, speakers, smartwatches, and smart rings to our phones; our headsets, keyboards, and mice to our laptops; and even broadcasts audio to individuals or large audiences in public places using Auracast.

In this Bluetooth guide, I'll briefly explain how it works, look back at its twenty-year history to describe the differences between versions, and look at what's next for the standard.

01 How Does Bluetooth Work?

Bluetooth enables supported devices to connect wirelessly using high-frequency radio waves. Bluetooth uses the same 2.4 GHz band as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, but it avoids crowded frequencies and limits interference thanks to adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) technology. Bluetooth also uses less power, has a shorter range, and isn't as fast as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.

Bluetooth has had its share of vulnerabilities, but it's not hard to stay secure, and the latest versions are designed to be more secure. Everyone has experienced Bluetooth pairing issues and annoying glitches—we've got a guide to help you fix Bluetooth problems—but it's a robust standard that's still incredibly convenient, and therefore incredibly popular. Each version of Bluetooth is backwards compatible, meaning a Bluetooth 5.3 device can connect to a Bluetooth 4.0 device. But features and functionality will always be limited by older devices.

Companies use Bluetooth in many proprietary features, such as Apple's AirDrop and Google's Quick Share. While the U1 chip in Apple devices supports ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to determine the phone's orientation and help you share files with nearby devices, AirDrop uses Bluetooth for the initial discovery process and then switches to Wi-Fi to transfer files. Google merged Nearby Share with Samsung's Quick Share in 2024, which is very similar to AirDrop in that it uses Bluetooth to establish a connection and then uses Wi-Fi to transfer files.

These are just two examples. Google also has a standard called "Fast Pair" for quickly connecting wireless devices to smartphones, which also uses Bluetooth.

02 History of Bluetooth

Bluetooth is named after King Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, whose logo is a rune combination of his initials, who had a literal bluetooth (it's dead). He unified Denmark and Norway in 958. This short-range radio technology originated from a meeting between Intel, Ericsson, and Nokia in 1996. The first version didn't come out until 1999, but Bluetooth didn't become popular until a few years later.

The standard is managed by the nonprofit Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG), which is based in the United States. While there are thousands of members, the most influential companies help shape the direction of the standard, including companies such as Ericsson, Intel, Nokia, Apple, Microsoft, Lenovo, and Google.

Each version has brought countless incremental improvements that make Bluetooth faster, more efficient, more secure, and less buggy, but we'll only cover the main features here.

• Bluetooth 1.2, introduced in 2003, solved the problem of how to avoid Wi-Fi interference and enabled faster pairing, helping the standard become popular.

• Bluetooth 2.0, in 2004, brought EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), which tripled the data rate from 1 Mbps to 3 Mbps. Bluetooth 2.1, in 2007, brought SSP (Secure Simple Pairing), which enhanced security and reduced power consumption.

• Bluetooth 3.0 + HS (High Speed), introduced in 2009, initially connected via Bluetooth, then switched to Wi-Fi, which increased the rate.

• Bluetooth 4.0 LE (Low Energy) came in 2010 and, as the name implies, further reduced the power requirements. Bluetooth 4.1, in 2013, allowed Bluetooth devices to communicate with each other.

• In 2014, Bluetooth 4.2 increased the data rate and IoT connectivity.

• Bluetooth 5, introduced in 2016, significantly increased the potential range, from about 50 meters to more than 200 meters. But the range depends on the power level, which is divided into three levels. Class 1 devices have the longest range and use the most power, Class 2 is limited to around 10 meters, and Class 3 is just 1 meter.

• Bluetooth 5.1 in 2019 brought faster pairing and better tracking accuracy.

• Bluetooth 5.2 in 2020 allows for multiple data streams to be transmitted simultaneously and better control of the power and signals required to connect devices.

• Bluetooth 5.3 in 2021 brought improvements to audio quality, greater power efficiency, and wider compatibility.

• Bluetooth 5.4, coming in 2023, improves security and reduces latency, but it also includes features for retailers that allow them to monitor and change electronic shelf labels (ESLs).

• Devices that support ESLs are expected to ship in 2027.

• Bluetooth 6.0 is the latest version, released in 2024.

• It includes a precision tracking feature called "channel sounding" that allows two devices to accurately measure the distance between them, while also implementing various efficiency improvements.

03 How to Use Bluetooth

One of the main reasons Bluetooth is so popular is that it's easy to use. You can usually turn Bluetooth on through your phone or computer's settings, then find a menu of connectable devices. Sometimes you'll need to put the device you want to connect to into pairing mode, which may require holding down a button (check with the device manufacturer). A pairing window will usually pop up on one or both devices so you can accept the connection.

Many devices have Bluetooth support built into their chipsets, but if your computer or laptop doesn't support Bluetooth, you can always add it via an adapter.

04 What's Next for Bluetooth?

The most exciting new feature coming to Bluetooth is Auracast. Announced by the Bluetooth SIG in 2022, the idea is that you’ll be able to broadcast and join audio streams in public places by selecting a stream from a list (just like you currently join a Wi-Fi network), scanning a QR code, or tapping where you see the Auracast logo.

Auracast allows multiple people to connect to the same audio stream at the same time and can be used to watch a movie together on a smartphone in the back seat of a car, get audio from a TV in a public place like a gym, or enhance accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing by allowing them to stream audio directly to their hearing aids at a public concert.

The catch is that devices must support Bluetooth 5.2 or higher and the Public Broadcast Profile (PBP) to receive Auracast streams. It may take a while for transmitter-capable devices to roll out, but we may see plugins that support this feature in the short term. Venue adoption is another challenge, as they must deploy Auracast broadcast transmitters, so it may take a few more years before widespread adoption.

Reference link https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-bluetooth/

Source: Content compiled from Wired

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