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Wireless technology is set for a major speed upgrade as the Bluetooth Special Interest Group officially announced Bluetooth High Data Throughput on Thursday. The flagship update forms part of the upcoming Bluetooth Core 7.0 standard and supercharges Bluetooth Low Energy by increasing maximum bit rates to 7.5Mbps. This change quadruples the throughput of current LE 2M technology, with compatible devices expected to reach store shelves by 2027.
Expanding Wireless Capabilities
The update brings benefits for users of smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart speakers, maintaining Bluetooth’s position as a leading medium-to-short-range wireless standard. While the rollout will begin with premium wireless audio devices such as earbuds, other applications will follow over time.
Future applications could encompass spatial computing, local AI data exchanges, health wearables, and various smart home functions like operating smart bulbs or streaming music through smart speakers. Damon Barnes, Director of Technical Marketing at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, told CNET that the technology will allow smartwatches to sync extensive training data to phones in seconds and enable smart home devices to complete firmware updates with minimal downtime.
Barnes also told CNET that smart glasses and AI devices will be able to exchange greater amounts of data with companion devices or the cloud. In terms of audio, the expanded capacity will support richer listening experiences, including high-resolution, lossless, surround, and spatial audio.
How Bluetooth HDT Achieves Higher Speeds
The performance boost stems from a brand-new physical layer within the Bluetooth protocol. As the foundational layer responsible for transmitting and receiving data signals, improvements to this bedrock can dramatically influence all Bluetooth communications.
For this update, new modulation schemes allow the physical layer to process data more efficiently and transmit larger volumes simultaneously, driving the substantial speed increases. Additionally, these modifications improve energy efficiency to help preserve battery life across numerous devices, meaning smart locks, earbuds, and similar hardware can operate longer between charges or battery replacements.
Availability and Timeline
While initial flagship hardware featuring the technology is anticipated in early 2027, an exact release date has not yet been specified. Barnes told CNET that because the rollout prioritizes wireless audio, headphones, earbuds, and speakers will be the first products to incorporate the upgrade.
Adoption timelines can vary significantly with major protocol changes, and manufacturers may take extended periods, potentially years, to fully integrate the new standard into their product lineups.
