Wireless technology is about to get a lot more agile. On Thursday, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, the trade association that oversees Bluetooth, officially introduced Bluetooth High Data Throughput, a flagship update coming as part of the Bluetooth Core 7.0 standard. The revision boosts Bluetooth Low Energy by raising maximum bit rates to 7.5 Mbps, effectively quadrupling the performance of existing LE 2M technology. Compatible devices are scheduled to hit stores starting in 2027. That’s good news for phone users, tablet users, laptop fans, smart speaker fans, and more. Bluetooth remains the most popular medium to short range wireless standard for connecting devices. But this is a big launch and the changes will start with premium wireless devices, like headphones, followed by other apps. Those other applications could include spatial computing, sharing AI-related information with local devices, connecting to wearable health devices, and a host of smart home applications, like playing Spotify through an Amazon Echo Studio or dimming a smart light bulb. “In practical terms, a smartwatch could sync hours of sensor-rich workout data to a phone in seconds. A smart home product could complete a firmware update with little visible downtime,” Damon Barnes, director of technical marketing at the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, told CNET. “Smart glasses and other AI-enabled devices could exchange more data with a companion device or the cloud. And in audio, the additional capacity can support richer experiences, including high-resolution, lossless, immersive and spatial audio.” A representative of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group did not respond to a request for comment. What makes Bluetooth HDT so fast? The biggest change in this update is a new physical layer for Bluetooth. The layers are like different sections of the Bluetooth protocol, and the physical layer is the foundation of the standard, the fundamental layer involved in transmitting and receiving data signals. Improvements at the physical layer can have very significant effects on all Bluetooth communications. In this case, new modulation schemes allow the physical layer to handle data more efficiently and transmit more data at once, which is why the speed increases are so significant. These improvements also make the new standard more efficient, saving battery life in many applications. So your smart lock can last longer before you need to change AA batteries, you won’t need to put the earbuds back in the case as quickly, etc. When and what you can expect with Bluetooth HDT We know that the first flagship devices are expected to appear with this technology in early 2027, but we don’t have an exact date. Barnes also told Use that since the update starts with wireless audio, the first devices to see it will be headphones, earbuds, and speakers. With protocol changes like this, it can take some time for new products to reach the market, and it can take a long time, even years, for manufacturers to adopt them. Tyler Lacoma Senior Editor / Smart Home & Home Security Tyler has worked, lived, and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks, and top recommendations. With degrees in business management, literature, and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to the limits, and occasionally throw cameras off his ceiling—all to find the best devices to rely on in his life. Always check with the renters (and pets) in your life to see what smart products might work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler many opportunities to try out the latest technology in all types of weather and temperatures. But when he’s not at work, he can be found hiking trails, trying out a new food recipe for loved ones, keeping up with his favorite read, or playing with good friends. See full biography
