What Is Bluetooth 5 and How Does It Work?

Bluetooth 5, released in July 2016, is the latest version of the short-range wireless standard. Compared to the previous version, it quadruples the wireless range, doubles speed, and increases the bandwidth to allow for broadcasting to two wireless devices at once.

The benefits of Bluetooth 5 are threefold:

• range
• speed
• bandwidth

Wireless Range

The wireless range of Bluetooth 5 maxes out at 120 meters, compared to 30 meters for Bluetooth v4.2. This improvement means people can send audio or other data at greater distances to different rooms or the backyard.

The extended range also helps it better communicate with the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem (i.e., smart devices that connect to the internet).

Speed

Bluetooth 5 is twice as fast as Bluetooth v4.2, which means a shorter delay in transmitting, for example, music from one source to another.

Increased Bandwidth

You can broadcast to two devices simultaneously with Bluetooth 5, sending audio from your smartphone or laptop to multiple rooms in a house, creating a stereo effect in one space, or sharing audio between two sets of headphones.

Beacon Technology

Another area in which Bluetooth 5 improves is Beacon technology, in which businesses, such as retail, can beam messages to nearby potential customers with deal offers or advertisements. Depending on how you feel about ads, this is either a good or a bad thing, but you can opt out of this functionality by turning off location services and checking app permissions for retail stores.

Beacon technology can also facilitate indoor navigation, such as in an airport or shopping mall (who hasn't gotten lost in either of these locations?), making it easier for warehouses to track inventory. The Bluetooth SIG reports that more than 371 million beacons will ship by 2020.

Naming Convention

A minor change is in the name. The previous version was Bluetooth v4.2, but for this version, the Bluetooth SIG (special interest group) has simplified the naming convention to Bluetooth 5 rather than Bluetooth v5.0 or Bluetooth 5.0.

How to Get Bluetooth 5

To take advantage of Bluetooth 5, you'll need a compatible device. Smartphone manufacturers started adopting Bluetooth 5 in 2017. Other Bluetooth 5 devices to look out for include tablets, headphones, speakers, and smart home devices.

What Does Bluetooth Do?

Bluetooth technology enables short-range wireless communication. One common usage is to connect a smartphone to wireless headphones for listening to music or chatting on the phone. If you've ever linked your smartphone to your car's audio system or a GPS navigation device for hands-free calls and texts, you've used Bluetooth.

It also powers smart speakers, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home devices, and smart home devices, such as lights and thermostats. This wireless technology can work even through walls, but the connection will fizzle if there are too many obstructions between the audio source and the receiver. Keep this in mind when placing Bluetooth speakers around your home or office.