Almost every year, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) updates Bluetooth specifications, which allow our smartphones to connect with various smart devices like earbuds, smartwatches, rings, and fitness trackers. They have now published the specifications for Bluetooth 6.0, a successor to Bluetooth 5.4, and from the looks of it, it could be a game changer.
With the latest version of Bluetooth, the SIG has addressed various long-standing user issues and focused on providing enhanced features.
Here’s a summary of the updates in Bluetooth 6.0 and reasons why your next smartphone should have this upgraded wireless connectivity.
Bluetooth 6.0 introduces channel sounding
Bluetooth 6.0 is introducing a new feature called channel sounding, which allows a compatible smartphone or accessory to provide an improved low-powered network for wireless devices.
Bluetooth-equipped devices can now accurately determine the presence, distance, and direction of another Bluetooth 6.0-powered device, without compromising on security.
The result of this innovation can lead to the creation of new-age tracking devices such as the AirTag, enabling phone or accessories makers to easily identify and track a linked device. This could also enable improved home automation solutions to auto garage or door unlock within a range, enabling auto access to restricted areas to authorised personnel, and more.
Bluetooth 6.0 won’t be used to deliver ads like your favourite social media apps. In this context, the advertising is meant for how one Bluetooth device identifies and interacts with other Bluetooth devices.
Decision-based advertising ensures that it can automatically decide to scan the secondary device based on the content received on the primary Bluetooth device, which helps with efficiency and can reduce power consumption.
Similarly, Bluetooth 6.0 can also monitor and filter out duplicate data, again to improve efficiency. These features will help device developers to improve the user interface and user experience.
Bluetooth 6.0 can transfer large data in smaller link-layered packets, and it is known as the Isochronous Adaptation Layer (ISOAL) enhancement, helping in audio products that need low latency.
Lastly, a feature called Frame Space Update on Bluetooth 6.0 improves the throughput between different devices, which will be helpful while upgrading the firmware of earbuds, fitness trackers, and more which solely work on Bluetooth networking.
When can we expect Bluetooth 6.0-powered smartphones and accessories?
The Snapdragon 8 Elite is one of the first smartphone chips, as per the official listing that supports Bluetooth 6.0. However, some of the recently introduced phones like the OnePlus 13 and iQOO 13 are still limited to Bluetooth 5.4. Upcoming phones with the same chip are likely to support Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity.
Similarly, the iPhone 16 series is currently limited to Bluetooth 5.3, and with the upcoming iPhone 17 series, Apple is likely to jump directly to Bluetooth 6.0.
Source: The Indian Express
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
