Bluetooth 5 Specifications Now Official: 2x Faster with 4x Range

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has made the Bluetooth 5 official, adopting the latest version of the Bluetooth core specifications that state that the latest version is up to twice as fast with 4x greater range and larger broadcast message capacity. The Bluetooth 5 core specifications also improve coexistence with other wireless technologies for more seamless implementation in IoT devices and it empowers Bluetooth as the IoT communication standard. From a naming standpoint, it has also been simplified to drop the version number and the dot-point-oh following it, referring to the latest version as simply Bluetooth 5.

At a time when Apple has dropped support for the 3.5mm headphone jack on their iPhones while other large companies such as Samsung are poised to follow suit, the announcement of Bluetooth 5 coincides nicely considering the performance improvements will close the gap between existing Bluetooth solutions and what is being promised when it comes to wireless connectivity between devices. In order to function at that level, Bluetooth 5 is also designed to perform with reduced interference with other wireless technologies. The latest specifications also drops the power consumption by half, extending battery life essential for mobile device functionality.

“Bluetooth is revolutionizing how people experience the IoT. Bluetooth 5 continues to drive this revolution by delivering reliable IoT connections and mobilizing the adoption of beacons, which in turn will decrease connection barriers and enable a seamless IoT experience, This means whole-home and building coverage, as well as new use cases for outdoor, industrial, and commercial applications will be a reality. With the launch of Bluetooth 5, we continue to evolve to meet the needs of IoT developers and consumers while staying true to what Bluetooth is at its core: the global wireless standard for simple, secure, connectivity.” according to Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.

There are over approximately 10 billion Bluetooth devices around the world and it is poised to grow more with the upcoming update. Of all wireless products shipped by the year 2020, it is estimated that 1 in 3 will include Bluetooth technology.