Coming soon: Faster, longer-range Bluetooth 5
A new version of the Bluetooth wireless spec will be coming to devices soon, giving users faster connectivity among devices over longer distances.
The new version, Bluetooth 5, is a big upgrade over Bluetooth 4.2, the current specification. In a clear line of sight, the range of Bluetooth 5 could stretch to 400 meters, said analysts at The Linley Group in a research note this week. That means users could connect a smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker that may not even be visible.
Final Bluetooth 5 specifications will be disclosed by the end of this year or early next year, the Linley analysts said.
In a typical, realistic setting, Bluetooth 5 will offer a range of up to 120 meters, which is four times that of Bluetooth 4.2, and be two times faster, with data transfer rates of 2Mbps, said Chuck Sabin, director for business strategy at the Bluetooth-Special Interest Group, which sets the standards for Bluetooth.
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