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Bluetooth, the omnipresent and often frustrating wireless standard, is getting a major update to version 6.0. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) released details of the update this week, promising better efficiency and security. However, you won’t be able to enjoy all the benefits until hardware with Bluetooth 6.0 support shows up, which could take a while.
This marks the most significant update to Bluetooth since version 5.0 launched in 2016. The Bluetooth SIG says it has implemented six new features in the updated standard, most of which are low-level technical changes that won’t have a significant impact on how you use wireless devices. However, there are a few with some user-facing improvements and one that could have a major impact.
The headlining feature is Channel Sounding, which will improve Bluetooth-based digital keys, as well as device-finding features. This feature will allow Bluetooth devices to determine each other’s location with centimeter-scale accuracy. That will make device-finding networks like the ones run by Apple and Google more accurate. It should also protect secure Bluetooth transmissions like those for digital locks. Devices with Bluetooth 6.0 can be configured to unlock only when your device is very close, reducing the likelihood of someone executing a “man in the middle” attack to steal your credentials.
Decision-Based Advertising Filtering and Monitoring Advertisers have the potential to save power on BT 6.0 hardware. The former ensures devices will only scan secondary channels after receiving relevant data on the primary channel, thus saving power. Similarly, Monitoring Advertisers uses Host Controller Interface (HCI) events to determine when a Bluetooth device has moved out of range, saving the device from wasting power trying to connect when the target is no longer available.
Credit: Bluetooth SIG
Bluetooth latency is always an issue, particularly in real-time applications like video chat and gaming. Isochronous Adaptation Layer (ISOAL) Enhancement will allow Bluetooth to chop data frames into smaller chunks while preserving timing. This should reduce latency versus Bluetooth 5.0. The LL Extended Feature Set adds more features for Bluetooth LE devices, and Frame Space Update can increase available bandwidth.
It may be a while before you can enjoy any of these new features. Chip makers will have to integrate the new Bluetooth into wireless radios, and then OEMs will have to add those to laptops, phones, headphones, and everything else that relies on Bluetooth for close-range wireless communication. It could be a year or more before we begin seeing a significant move to Bluetooth 6.0 hardware.