Bluetooth version has evolved from the initial version 1.0 to the latest version 5.4. Bluetooth technology has undergone great changes in successive versions. This article explains the differences between Bluetooth versions in a way that is as easy to understand as possible for everyone to understand.
Bluetooth version 4.2 VS Bluetooth 4.0
The Bluetooth 4.2 protocol is a protocol version launched by the Bluetooth Technology Alliance in 2014. Compared with the Bluetooth 4.0 protocol launched in 2010, the following improvements have been made.
01. Speed transfer faster
Compared with 4.0, under the Bluetooth 4.2 standard, the data transmission speed between devices is increased by about 2.5 times, and the amount of data that Bluetooth smart data packets can hold is about 10 times that of the previous one.
02.Higher security
In addition, the security of Bluetooth 4.2 has also been improved. Without the user’s permission, the Bluetooth signal will not be able to try to connect and track the user’s device, and intelligent positioning will not be possible.
03. More powerful functions
The new standard also promotes the introduction of IPv6 protocol into the Bluetooth standard. Bluetooth 4.2 devices can directly access the Internet through IPv6 and 6LoWPAN, and support low-power IP connections.
Later in 2016, the Bluetooth Technology Alliance launched Bluetooth 5.0 version. Further improvements have been made based on the previous 4.2 version.
Bluetooth 5.0 VS Bluetooth 4.2
01. Capacity and speed
Compared with Bluetooth version 4.2, Bluetooth 5.0 can bring twice the data transmission speed and increase the data transmission capacity by 800%. In other words, with Bluetooth 5.0, more data can be transmitted and received at faster speeds.
02.Transmission distance
Compared with Bluetooth version 4.2, the bandwidth (transmission speed) of Bluetooth 5.0 has been increased from 1Mbps to 2Mbps, and the transmission distance has been increased to 4 times, that is, the theoretical effective working distance is 300 meters. It also provides a low-power mode.
03. Bytes
Compared with Bluetooth 4.2 version, Bluetooth 5.0 can broadcast 255-byte data packets instead of 31 bytes, thereby reducing the loss of transmission efficiency caused by interference in the 2.4GHz band.
04.Positioning ability
Compared with Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth 5.0 also enhances indoor and outdoor positioning capabilities, that is, it can transmit a large amount of information to other compatible devices without establishing a real connection.
Bluetooth 5.1
In 2019, the Bluetooth version was updated to version 5.1. Based on 5.0, the positioning accuracy was greatly improved, reaching centimeter-level positioning. According to reports, after the location search accuracy of Bluetooth 5.1 is improved to centimeter level, it has better performance than WiFi-assisted positioning and can play an important role in indoor navigation, quick search of bracelets/remote controls and other scenarios.
On the other hand, GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) is also optimized to improve pairing and communication speeds, random channel indexing that helps avoid packet collisions ensures Bluetooth advertisement arrival rate, etc.
Bluetooth 5.2
In addition to providing higher-quality sound effects, LE Audio also provides different audio transmission mechanisms such as connection and broadcast through the redefined ISO channel, creating more impressive scenes.
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth version 5.3 was released in July 2021, focusing on improving the efficiency and responsiveness of Bluetooth connections. Older, less efficient features were removed, simplifying the specification and potentially reducing implementation complexity. This version has one of the most important features that is the connection sub-rate. It allows Bluetooth devices to negotiate lower connection intervals when they don’t need to transmit large amounts of data. This allows devices to stay in a low-power state for more time, which extends battery life, especially for devices that only need to transfer data occasionally (e.g. sensors, wearables).
Bluetooth 5.4
Released in February 2023, Bluetooth 5.4 builds on the existing low-power Bluetooth (LE) standard and focuses on adding Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) profiles and related features. It defines a standardized way for ESLs (small displays used to show price and product information in retail stores) to communicate with a central control system using Bluetooth LE. Broadcast encryption technology is used, which allows the central device to securely broadcast encrypted updates to multiple ESLs at the same time. This is critical for updating prices quickly and securely across a large number of displays.
In addition, Bluetooth 5.4 introduces new non-GATT connectionless communication and PAwR (Periodic Announcement and Response) functionality.GATT enables one-to-many communication without having to establish a GATT connection. This is ideal for broadcasting data to multiple devices, such as updating prices on an electronic price label (ESL).PAwR allows two-way communication using periodic broadcasts. Devices can listen to the periodic broadcast and then respond with their own data. This is useful for applications that need to receive data from multiple devices, such as sensor networks.
The above is the relevant introduction about ” Differences in Bluetooth Versions “. I hope the comparison will be helpful to you! The core of Bluetooth is short-range radio communication. Its foundation comes from frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology. Bluetooth technology was created by Ericsson in 1994. On May 20, 1998, Ericsson joined forces with five well-known manufacturers including IBM, Intel, Nokia and Toshiba Corporation to establish the “Special Interest Group” (SIG), the predecessor of the Bluetooth Technology Alliance, with the goal of developing a low-cost, A Bluetooth technology standard that is highly cost-effective and can be connected wirelessly at will within short distances.
