Bluetooth 5: what changes for wireless music?

Bluetooth is a wireless technology that lets you connect devices to each other without the need for cables. Whether you’re listening to music with headphones, transferring files or connecting a watch to a phone, Bluetooth makes it easy to exchange data over short distances. Over time, this standard has evolved. Bluetooth 5 and its recent variants are now ubiquitous, particularly in wireless headphones.

The origins of Bluetooth

Bluetooth technology was born in 1994, in the laboratories of Swedish company Ericsson. The ggoal was simple: to create a wireless means of communication to replace cables between cell phones and computers. At the time, the idea of connecting two devices wirelessly was still a technical gamble. It wasn’t until 1998 that the project gained momentum with the creation of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), a consortium bringing together giants such as IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba.

The name “Bluetooth” comes from a 10th-century Viking king, Harald Blåtand (Harald Bluetooth in English), famous for unifying the tribes of Denmark. This symbolic choice reflects the idea behind the technology: connecting different devices to make them work together. Even the Bluetooth logo is a nod to this king, combining two runes representing his initials. This logo is now part of everyday life, identifying devices compatible with this wireless protocol.

Bluetooth 5 versions

After the first versions (1.0 to 4.2), Bluetooth 5 marked a real turning point in usage, particularly for audio. This series was then enriched by successive updates, each bringing targeted improvements. Here’s a summary of each version:

🔹 Bluetooth 5.0 (2016)

• Range up to 200 meters (in open field)
• Double speed (2 Mbps)
• Greater stability in saturated environments (reduced interference)
• Ideal for modern headphones with fewer cuts and a wider range

🔹 Bluetooth 5.1 (2019)

• Addition of precise location (signal direction)
• Better indoor geolocation
• Possible applications: in-store navigation, finding lost objects or earbuds, etc.

🔹 Bluetooth 5.2 (2020)

• Introduction of the LC3 codec (high audio quality at low bit rates)
• LE Audio mode: audio sharing with multiple devices, public broadcasting
• Reduced energy consumption while maintaining good sound quality

🔹 Bluetooth 5.3 (2021)

• Improved interference management (channel classification)
• Energy optimization through dynamic connection subrating
• More reliable and efficient connections

🔹 Bluetooth 5.4 (2023)

• Optimization for connected objects (IoT)
• Enhanced encryption and security
• Supports a large number of simultaneously connected devices

Wi-Fi: a serious competitor to Bluetooth?

Launched in 2024, Bluetooth 6 marks a new step towards even smarter connectivity. Its main new feature, called Channel Sounding, can estimate the distance between two devices with an accuracy of around 10 centimeters. This paves the way for functions such as automatic car unlocking, or pinpoint precision when searching for lost headphones.

But the future is not limited to Bluetooth alone. Wi-Fi, long confined to Internet access, is also entering the race. We’re seeing the emergence of headphones capable of connecting directly to devices with far superior sound quality, without compression or audible latency. Wi-Fi enables much higher data rates, but consumes more energy. Bluetooth therefore retains the advantage for portable uses.

However, Wi-Fi is particularly well suited to gaming thanks to its ability to reduce latency (the delay between an action and it taking effect in the game). Unlike Bluetooth, which can introduce a slight lag, Wi-Fi offers faster, more stable transmission, essential for online gaming or competitive uses where every millisecond counts. For this reason, most gaming headphones come with a USB dongle to transmit the signal using this protocol.

Also read: What are the differences between Bluetooth 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4?

Bluetooth 5, in all its variations, has profoundly improved the wireless audio experience. It has made headphones more autonomous, more reliable, with better sound quality and simplified connectivity. For users, this means fewer interruptions, increased range, and practical functions such as shared listening and geolocation. And with the arrival of Bluetooth 6 and the gradual integration of Wi-Fi into audio, wireless headphones will continue to evolve to suit all uses, from the street to the living room.