Sometimes it feels like Bluetooth 5 is still a fairly new technology , but it was first present in 2016 . Now , after multiple peak releases , the Bluetooth special interest mathematical group has released a major new rendering of the specification : Bluetooth 6 .
There are six major new features in Bluetooth 6 , most of which are very expert , but here ’s a brief summary :
Bluetooth Channel Sounding : lets you determine the focussing and range between two Bluetooth gadget . In other words , Bluetooth can act a lot like Ultra Wideband does with paying attention to determining the location of Bluetooth devices .
Decision - Based Advertising Filtering : this should make it faster to scan and observe certain Bluetooth devices because your machine can find a gimmick on the primary channel and use that information to fix what to expect for on a secondary distribution channel .
Monitoring Advertisers : this can better the efficiency of Bluetooth legion machine by making it so they do n’t send out multiple “ here I am ! ” packet to connected machine .
ISOAL Enhancement : improve latency and reliability specifically for devices that use the Isochronous Adaptation Layer .
LL Extended Feature Set : machine are currently capable to change information that says which link stratum boast they each support . Now that Bluetooth LE has spring up , it has become necessary to draw out the inclination to support even more feature .
Frame Space Update : lets connection events have variable frame spacing alternatively of a fixed 150 microsecond . Shorter frame spacing can improve throughput for things like LE Audio devices , seaworthiness tracker , downloading firmware updates , etc .
Channel Sounding is the big new feature
Most of the new features are update to core Bluetooth functions that should smooth out headaches for engineer working on the low-toned - level connexion particular of in advance Bluetooth devices , but they ’re not run to make a big difference to you or me other than “ can sometimes make things a small quicker or more reliable in specific situations . ”
The first item on that listing thatisa real user - look improvement – Bluetooth Channel Sounding basically adds a layer on top of the Bluetooth LE broadcasting stuff that lets devices learn their effective compass .
Bluetooth LE already lets devices set the slant of going and slant of arrival for signals , so you may have a go at it what management another gimmick is in . With Channel Sounding , you could know its space as well . In other words , it allow you do what Apple does with Ultra Wideband using its U1 and U2 splintering , only in a standards - base manner built into Bluetooth without the need for special hardware .
This will obviously benefit service like Find My – in a few years , most point trackers and Bluetooth devices will have the sort of “ preciseness finding ” that Apple ’s devices with U1 / U2 chips have .
But it ’s also a big potential benefit for affair like smartphones as railway car keys or menage keys . Your car or front door may be more secure by only unlock for the correct Bluetooth twist that is also within a few feet of range , so motor - by Bluetooth broadcasters with trance Francis Scott Key ca n’t unlock them from a distance .
When will you see Bluetooth 6 on your iPhone?
Bluetooth 5 was released by the Bluetooth SIG in December 2016 , and the iPhone 8 and iPhone X were released with Bluetooth 5 support in September 2017 .
Since Apple relies on Bluetooth radios from away company ( some of which are already embark preliminary Bluetooth 6 scrap ) , it ’s not out of the question to expect the iPhone 17 to feature this technology . If it does n’t come next year , we will surely have it in the iPhone 18 in 2026 .
While living in host devices like iPhone , iPad , and Macs is a good matter ( especially since we are expected to keep these devices for years ) , Bluetooth 6 will only be utile when gadget Creator start out selling Bluetooth 6 devices as well . That can sometimes take a while .
