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Bluetooth 6.0 — the first major update to the wireless connectivity standard in eight years — was released earlier this week by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The arrival of the new version means that future hardware supporting Bluetooth 6.0 can offer new features that enable precise distance measurement between two devices, secure Bluetooth communications while using digital keys, and save power. The new Bluetooth version is also expected to reduce latency on compatible devices.
The Bluetooth SIG has explained the details of the latest Bluetooth Core Specification version update via a after on its website. One of the most notable features that will be accessible to users is called Bluetooth Channel Sounding. However, Bluetooth 6.0 also includes support for six low-level technical changes that will not be immediately visible to users with compatible devices, the group said.
Bluetooth 6.0 Features
The main feature coming to devices that support the new version is called Bluetooth Channel Sounding. This feature will make it much easier for two Bluetooth 6.0 devices to find each other, via precise measurements. It is also expected to improve the experience of using Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device networks, which currently allow users to locate missing objects via Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB) technology.
The new Bluetooth Channel Sounding feature will also improve the security of digital keys, such as those used on certain vehicles, by ensuring that they only work when within a certain range. Devices with Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity should also be able to offer other proximity awareness features from third-party developers, the Bluetooth SIG said.
Monitoring Advertisers is another feature coming to Bluetooth 6.0 devices that will allow them to see when a device of interest enters or leaves Bluetooth range. This can help the host device conserve power by eliminating the need to scan for a device that isn’t nearby.
Bluetooth 6.0 also supports Decision-based Advertising Filtering, a new feature that provides even more power savings. Compatible devices will no longer scan for secondary channels until the relevant information is received on the primary channel.
Gamers who prefer to use wireless accessories for in-game conversations, and those who use wireless audio devices for video calls, will see lower latency when using Bluetooth 6.0 devices. Thanks to a new Isochronous Adaptation Layer (ISOAL) Enhancement feature, data frames are sent in smaller link-layer packets, according to details shared by the Bluetooth SIG.
It may take a while for manufacturers to introduce new devices with the latest Bluetooth standard, and this is expected to be the case with Bluetooth 6.0 as well. Keep in mind that you’ll need a smartphone and a wireless accessory that both support the next-generation Bluetooth version to take advantage of all the new features, meaning it may take a few months for Bluetooth 6.0 devices to hit the global market.
