The next version of Bluetooth is coming soon. After being stuck on Bluetooth 4 for what feels like forever, Bluetooth 5 will soon be unveiled. The new version makes a number of technical improvements to the standard, opening the door to higher quality and more efficient wireless connectivity for smartphones, computers and Internet-of-Things devices.
The most noticeable improvements will be in terms of speed and range; the SIG consortium behind the new standard is promising four times faster speeds and double the range. That should make it much easier to stay connected to peripherals even if they’re in the next room, making Bluetooth more akin to wireless in its range.
Low-powered and poorly placed modules should be less of a concern with the new standard; I remember losing connection on a Bluetooth gamepad from about a metre away because my computer’s built-in Bluetooth module was hidden on the back and totally wimpy. Hopefully, solving these kind of mundane connection issues won’t be a challenge with the new standard.
Bluetooth 5 should also be useful for Internet-of-Things gadgets, allowing loads of tiny widgets to connect to each other (and their control devices, and thereby Internet) without using much power. We’ve seen a lot of competition in this space recently — from cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi and all sorts of other standards — and this will make Bluetooth a more compelling choice. Connectionless services, like beacons to help track people moving around in a store or offer indoor navigation, will also benefit from Bluetooth 5’s improved speeds and stability.
The new standard will require new hardware; there’s no forward-compatibility for existing smartphones, computers and other devices with Bluetooth 4 built in. That means we’ll see a new crop of computers and accessories that are built to take advantage of the new standard’s strengths, but anyone who has bought a new set of Bluetooth headphones recently (for example, to take prepare for the wave of recent and upcoming phones without a 3.5mm headphone port) might not be well pleased.
Bluetooth 5 will be formally announced next week, on June 16th to be exact. The SIG group, backed by tech giants like Microsoft, Apple and Intel, will hold an event in London to detail the new specification, reveal some new products and generally mark the beginning of the rush to produce Bluetooth 5 phones, computers and accessories. It should be a fun time, so tune in next week for all the exciting details.
Let us know what you think and share your own Bluetooth horror stories in the comments below. Thanks for checking out the article and enjoy your weekend!