Bluetooth is getting its biggest upgrade yet

The Bluetooth SIG is preparing the biggest set of improvements yet, from more accurate device location to faster transfers and advanced audio. Some features, like Channel Sounding, are already in new phones, while others are coming in the coming years.

Bluetooth technology is poised for its biggest leap forward in years, with improvements that promise better sound quality, faster data transfers, and more accurate device discovery. But these features won't automatically be included in all new products. Manufacturers will have to first include them in devices, and users will have to be more careful about checking the functionality.

The first major innovation, Channel Sounding, is already available in some devices. The new feature allows Bluetooth devices to locate each other with much greater accuracy, up to a few tens of centimeters. Channel Sounding also allows for real-time measurement of the distance between two devices, which is a major improvement over the old RSSI method, which often gave inconsistent results. According to SIG, digital car keys will be the first mass use of the technology, followed by more accurate trackers. Some phones, including the Google Pixel 10 series, already include Channel Sounding, although the feature is not exposed.

Another major upgrade, High Data Throughput (HDT), is expected to arrive in the fourth quarter of the year. HDT will increase the maximum transfer speed over Bluetooth from 2.1 Mbps to approximately 8 Mbps, enabling direct file transfers between devices without using Wi-Fi services. HDT will also enable a new generation of Bluetooth LE Audio features, including high-resolution and lossless codecs, surround sound support, and improvements to the Auracast standard.

A separate Ultra-Low Latency project aims to reduce latency in gaming controllers from the current 7.5ms to just 1ms. Some of the technology is already available to developers, with the rest expected to be ready by mid-2026. If widely adopted, it could greatly improve responsiveness in fast-paced games.

The Bluetooth SIG is also exploring expansion into higher frequency bands. The goal is to expand Bluetooth LE from the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum into 5 GHz, and later possibly into 6 GHz. Since countries have different licensing rules for the 6 GHz band, the transition will be gradual.