Secrets of the blue tooth: what's new in Bluetooth 5.0 and how it differs from earlier versions

What is Bluetooth and how does it work

First, a little and funny backstory. In 1998, a group of Intel engineers were tasked with developing a short-range radio technology that could link computers, phones, and other technology. It's funny that the biggest problem during development was the name — none of the proposed options suited the top of Intel. Then project manager Jim Kardak heard from a friend a story about the Danish king Harald Sinezub (note: Bluetooth means blue tooth in English), who conquered the eternally warring Denmark and Norway, converting both peoples to Christianity. The symbolic unifying name "Blue Tooth" was taken for a while. However, due to patent problems, Intel was unable to use the name Personal Area Networking and the new network remained “blue-toothed”, and the strange logo reflects the first letters of the name Harald Bluetooth (XB), written in runic alphabet.

To better understand the differences between new and old versions, let's look at how Bluetooth works in general using the example of a simple file transfer from one smartphone to another. So, first you activate a radio transmitter operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The first smartphone starts to monitor all signals within these limits, and the second one pings something like a hello signal. After detecting each other, the transmitter of the first smartphone forms a special pattern of radio waves that changes more than a thousand times per second, jumping between frequencies from 2.4 GHz to 2.48 GHz in an almost random order. It turns out something like a unique handshake, by which both smartphones identify each other and ignore all other active Bluetooth devices in range. Then the sending process begins: the data is divided into packets (data blocks designed in a certain way with instructions for assembling the source file from them), and the receiver's processor processes these packets, puts them into one file and places it in the device's permanent memory. This principle of operation is common to all wireless devices. Only the principles of data transfer and connection features differ.

Current Bluetooth Versions

At the moment, the current version of Bluetooth is 5.1. Most modern gadgets use the "five" and "four", and the third and earlier versions retire and are not particularly relevant. It is important to understand that new versions of the protocol work with old ones as well. That is, a smartphone with Bluetooth fifth generation is easy to connect to a gadget with Bluetooth 3.0. However, they will play according to the rules of the younger version, which does not know how to do everything that the older one does.

bluetooth 2

Bluetooth 2.0 was released to the masses in 2004. The main innovation was the support for Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) to speed up data transfer. The nominal speed of EDR is about 3 Mbps, although in fact this allowed to increase the speed to 2.1 Mbps. A little later, the function of an extended request for device characteristics and energy-saving Sniff Subrating technology was added, which allows you to increase the duration of the device from a single battery charge by 3-10 times.

The second version and its predecessors are now used mainly where a combination of speed and volume is not needed. For example, in selfie sticks, where in fact you need to press the camera shutter. Or simple wireless mice. Especially since

Bluetooth 3

The third version was released in 2009 and seriously changed the principles of the protocol for the sake of a serious increase in speed. Now the new modules with Bluetooth 3 support actually combined two radio systems: the first actually works in the Bluetooth 2.0 standard and provides a transfer rate of 3 Mbps, and the second is compatible with the 802.11 standard and provides data transfer rates up to 24 Mbps. In fact, it was an attempt to combine several existing wireless technologies into one, which paved the way for a truly breakthrough fourth version of the protocol.

Bluetooth 4

Bluetooth fourth generation actually combined several communication protocols: conventional, high-speed (up to 1 Mb / s) and low energy. The last of these, Bluetooth Low Energy, was promoted as an perfect solution for miniature devices in the Internet of Things era, but was more useful in the creation of headsets, wireless headphones and fitness trackers.

Also in the fourth version, two Bluetooth devices will be able to establish a connection in less than 5 milliseconds and maintain it at a distance of up to 100 m. For this, advanced error correction is used, and 128-bit AES encryption provides the necessary level of security. Also in the fourth version, support for the first aptX codecs for lossless audio transmission was added. The most common now is the modification of Bluetooth 4.2, with a more complex and secure procedure for establishing a connection between devices than the original modification.

bluetooth 5

Currently, the current version of Bluetooth is version 5.0 and 5.1. "Five" was introduced in the summer of 2016 and is distinguished by an increased range (up to 40 metres indoors and 200 metres outdoors), increased bandwidth (theoretically it can be 6.25 Mb / s, but in fact it turns out about 2 Mb / s) and reduced power consumption. There is also an important feature for the Internet of Things (IoT) serial connection of devices. Data can now be transferred not only directly from one device to another, for example, from a smartphone to a smart refrigerator, but also through a network of intermediaries, which are other smart home gadgets. That is, it no longer looks like a two-way road, but a motorway roundabout, along which many cars move in a dozen different directions.

Although all improvements were made with an eye on the smart home, wireless speakers, headphones and other musical devices won the most. Thanks to the increase in data transfer rate and the use of new codecs, the sound quality has improved dramatically. For example, the new version of the aptX HD codec supports 24-bit Bluetooth music quality at up to 48 kHz. And another achievement is the signal-to-noise ratio, which reaches 129 dB, and this is already a value that is not available on all modern reference-level DACs. However, even without support for codecs like AptX, they sound many times better, albeit not at the level of conventional wired models, but very close.

A little later, version 5.1 was released, in which the emphasis was placed on working with location. Devices will not only be able to understand that they are close to a Bluetooth tag, but also determine the direction of its movement. Imagine a future where even a simple TV remote and key fob have become “smart”. Their loss in the apartment will no longer be a problem.

I am buying a gadget. What version of Bluetooth do I need?

Smartphones. As we already wrote, version 4.2 is enough to transmit audio in high quality. However, we would still look towards models with a more modern module, since they cost approximately the same, but they can do more. Moreover, fifth-generation Bluetooth receivers are now installed even in inexpensive models for $ 180 – 200. For example, Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 32 GB / 3 GB .

Portable acoustics. There is no definite answer here yet, many good models work fine on Bluetooth 4.2, others on Bluetooth 5.0 may sound worse. It’s impossible to say unequivocally what the reason is, since the performance of the speaker itself is much more important for the sound quality. The main thing is that the version is not lower than 4.2, since there the transfer speed will be weaker. But the energy consumption of new models is more economical. Although, here again it all depends more on the capacity of the built-in battery.

Wireless headphones. This is the same situation as with wireless speakers. They come across as excellent models with BT 4.2 like Bang&Olufsen BeoPlay E8 Price from 5 499 up to 10 783 ₴ which sound great even with a regular Android smartphone without AptX codecs. And there are, on the contrary, so-so models with support for 5.0. Fashionable now fully wireless True Wireless models also work with the fourth and fifth versions.

Wireless gamepads. With this category, there is generally a minimum of trouble, since popular models like Sony DualShock 4 V2 Price from 2 699 up to 4 099 ₴ and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Price from 2 489 up to 5 059 ₴ respectively transmit a signal using the second and third versions of Bluetooth. Therefore, to connect to a PC, the simplest BT receiver will suffice.

Smartwatches and bracelets. Many 2018 models work with the 4.2 protocol, while the latest smartwatches and fitness trackers have switched to the fifth generation protocol. In the case of the “five”, the primary convenience lies in battery life and range. A smartphone can be thrown at the other end of the apartment and it will still keep a strong contact with the wearable gadget. Unless, of course, you are a descendant of an English lord and do not live in a huge mansion with 5 bedrooms.

"Smart" things for a smart home. For smart gadgets like smart bulbs, sockets and complex security systems like Ajax StarterKit Price from 7 498 up to 9 250 ₴ the higher the Bluetooth version, the better. But that's theoretically. In fact, a full-fledged Internet of Things has not yet come, and in anticipation of progress, smart gadgets use a more familiar Wi-Fi connection.

You can learn more about what is interesting about the concept of a smart home from our material “What is a smart home: functions, types, components and ecosystems”.