Cables are dead! Long live wireless communication! Today, in the ever-shifting technology realm, we rely more and more on wireless connectivity. Almost all of our gadgets nowadays communicate over the air, and the days of the petty cable are long gone.
There are many wireless standards around, but probably the most popular, widespread, and well-known is Bluetooth. This wireless standard connects all kinds of electronics, from headphones and speakers to game controllers and smart home accessories.
In this article, we'll be focusing on the latest iteration of the standard, Bluetooth 5.4, and every new feature it brings to the table. But before we get to specifics, let's briefly explain the nature of the beast.
What is Bluetooth?
Blueberry-loving King Harald
Bluetooth is a wireless communication standard that enables short-range data exchange between electronic devices. Conceived by Ericsson in 1994, Bluetooth was named after a 10th-century Danish king, Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson, who united Denmark and parts of Norway. Similarly, the technology aimed to unite different devices and industries under a universal wireless standard.
Fun fact - the Bluetooth symbol consists of two Nordic runes, depicting the first letters from the Danish king name, H and B. Why "Bluetooth?" Well, the king loved blueberries and his teeth were always blue, or so the legend goes.
How does Bluetooth work?
Bluetooth operates on radio waves in the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band, using a technique called frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS). FHSS allows Bluetooth to rapidly switch frequencies within the designated band, minimizing interference from other wireless devices operating in the same spectrum.
Some of you may know that Wi-Fi uses the 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band too (check out our article about Wi-Fi for more detail), but both technologies co-exist without interfering, thanks to the aforementioned technique.
There's an overlap in applications and in some features between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Both standards allow devices to connect wirelessly and transfer data, but Bluetooth is most often used for simpler connections between two devices at relatively short distances.
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Evolution of Bluetooth
The journey began with the release of Bluetooth 1.0 in 1999, offering basic connectivity with limited data transfer capabilities. Over the years, subsequent versions addressed shortcomings and introduced enhancements, culminating in Bluetooth 5.0, which brought significant improvements such as longer range, higher data transfer speeds, and enhanced device interoperability.
Bluetooth versions:
Bluetooth 1.x: Basic data transfer capabilities.
Bluetooth 2.x: Enhanced data rate (EDR) for faster data transfer.
Bluetooth 3.x: Introduced Bluetooth High-Speed for faster data transfer over Wi-Fi.
Bluetooth 4.x: Low Energy (LE) introduced for power-efficient communication.
Bluetooth 5.x: Increased range, higher data transfer speeds, and improved power efficiency.
Bluetooth 5.4
Enter Bluetooth 5.4! We're finally on the subject! The latest iteration of the popular wireless standard brings advancements that promise improved performance, enhanced efficiency, and expanded capabilities. Let's quickly sift through the key features.
Key features of Bluetooth 5.4
Most of the improvements between the different versions of Bluetooth 5.0 concern the encryption and security aspects of the connection. In the following table, you will find all the differences between the latest versions of Bluetooth 5.0 all the way to version 5.4.
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth 5.2
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.4
Range
Up to 800 feet (240 meters)
Same
Same
Same
Same
Speed
2 Mbps (LE) 50 Mbps (EDR)
Same
Same
Same
Same
Energy efficiency
Good
Great
Great
Excellent
Excellent
Reliability
Good
Great
Great
Excellent
Excellent
Security
Great
Great
Great
Great
Excellent
Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR)
Without getting too technical, this allows a Bluetooth access point to connect and communicate with multiple end nodes bi-directionally. With previous versions of the standard, this simply wasn't possible. This feature is not meant to allow your phone to connect with every Bluetooth gadget you have in your home (sadly), but it's more geared toward the retail sector.
Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) profile
Using PAwR technology, Bluetooth 5.4 makes it possible for a retail store to monitor and change electronic labels on different products remotely. The Electronic Shelf Label profile (ESL) provides all the necessary information and instructions for such connections to be established and managed easily.
Encrypted Advertising Data
This new type of connection with multiple ESL devices requires encryption to preserve confidentiality, avoid tampering, and secure the network. Bluetooth 5.4 provides a standardized way of encrypting data in advertising in order to keep the connection secure.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. Bluetooth 5.4 brings interesting new features, mainly in the Internet of Things realm, such as better security and improvements in energy efficiency and stability. These steps might not seem huge, given that Bluetooth 5.0 already pushed things such as range (up to 800 feet), low-energy connections, and transfer rates (up to 2Mbps) to the limit, but they are important nonetheless.
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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