Bluetooth technology has come a long way since it was considered a “revolutionary breakthrough” when first announced in May 1999. At the time of writing this post, Bluetooth 5.3 was the latest version, with each iteration improving on its predecessor.
Today, we will talk about the significant differences between Bluetooth versions 5, 5.2, and 5.3. This way, you can pick the right device to match your needs, and whether the new features in the later versions are worth their money.
Table of Contents
Bluetooth 5, 5.2, 5.3 Summary
| Released In | Transfer Speed | Range | Distinct Features | |
| Bluetooth 5 | July 2016 | 50 MB/s | 200 m | Improved range, speed, and stability. Support for multiple simultaneous connections |
| Bluetooth 5.2 | December 2019 | 50 MB/s | 200 m | EATT, ISOC, and LE Audio |
| Bluetooth 5.3 | July 2021 | 50 MB/s | 200 m | Periodic Advertising Enhancement, Encryption Key Size Control Enhancements, Connection Sub Rating, and Channel Classification Enhancement |
What is Bluetooth
Today, you see Bluetooth everywhere – in your cars, phones, tablets, watches, and even smart home appliances. Bluetooth is a wireless communication technology used between devices to send and receive encrypted data.
However, using Bluetooth has its caveats. For example, it is limited in range and data transfer speeds.
Bluetooth is a patented technology and, therefore a proper noun. If the device supports this feature, then you will find the following icon inside the device or on its packaging:
Bluetooth 5
Bluetooth 5 is a Bluetooth version that introduced drastic improvements over its predecessor – Bluetooth 4. Bluetooth 5 was released in July 2016 and doubled the transfer speed, 4 times the range, and 8 times the rate of transferrable data.
That said, the most significant breakthrough was Bluetooth 5’s support to connect and communicate with 2 sets of Bluetooth devices. Additionally, it also introduced Low Energy (LE) technology, where the Bluetooth device consumes less power to transfer more data within a limited time frame.
Bluetooth 5 operates in a 2.4 GHz frequency range with a transmitting range of 200 meters (when in line with sight without obstacles). It has a maximum transmitting speed of approximately 50 MB/s.
Bluetooth 5.1 came soon after the release of Bluetooth 5. However, since it did not show significant improvements, we will not discuss it in this article.
Bluetooth 5.2
Bluetooth 5.2 was a minor improvement over Bluetooth 5 and 5.1 – hence, only the minor version number changed.
Bluetooth 5.2 was announced in December 2019 and released in January 2020. It did not significantly improve in terms of range when compared to Bluetooth 5, which was approximately 200 meters, but it did improve in terms of connection stability using Enhanced Attribute Protocol (EATT).
L2CAP packets from various applications can be combined and broken down into more manageable pieces thanks to EATT. In this manner, transactions from two or more programs can be completed concurrently.
It also introduced the Isochronous Channels (ISOC) feature, thus supporting time-sensitive data transmissions and synchronized data stream rendering across multiple connections.
Not only that, but Bluetooth 5.2 also included the Low Complexity Communications (LC3) Bluetooth audio codec inside its new feature named “Low Energy (LE) Audio.” This feature enables high-quality and low-power audio codecs to gain maximum Bluetooth optimization.
Bluetooth 5.2 introduced these new features and support, but the data transfer speeds remained pretty much the same as Bluetooth version 5.
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3 is another improved iteration of Bluetooth technology. It was released in July 2021, and may therefore not be widely available on devices.
Like Bluetooth 5.2, the 5.3 version does not significantly improve in terms of range, transfer speeds, or operational frequency. However, it does introduce new features to optimize the user experience.
A new feature called “Periodic Advertising Enhancement” has been introduced. This technology reduces the receiver device’s power consumption by automatically discarding/deleting the repeated data packets transmitted by the Bluetooth source.
Bluetooth 5.3 also reduces the device’s power consumption through “Encryption Key Size Control Enhancements.” This reduces the back-and-forth exchange between the devices by controlling the minimum number of characters used to encrypt the data being transferred.
It is now also easier for devices to switch between low-duty cycles and heavy-duty cycles, thanks to the “Connection Sub Rating” feature. Now, your audio devices can switch from the low-duty cycle for regular use to a heavy-duty cycle for a call or play music, keeping the quality maintained while reserving energy when not needed.
Additionally, like Wi-Fi channels, Bluetooth 5.3 can now also optimize data transfers by choosing the right frequency channel using “Channel Classification Enhancement.” When a channel has less traffic in the surroundings is being used, there are fewer chances of any data being lost.
How to Check Bluetooth Version in Windows
You can determine which Bluetooth version your computer supports by checking the adapter’s Link Manager Protocol (LMP) Version and then matching that to the table given below. Follow these steps to determine your Bluetooth’s LMP version:
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Ensure that your Bluetooth is enabled.
You can enable your Bluetooth using the Quick Access menu in the taskbar or from the Settings app.
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Open the Device Manager by typing in “devmgmt.msc” in the Run Command box.
Open Device Manager -
Expand Bluetooth.
Expand Bluetooth -
Right-click on the Bluetooth adapter and click “Properties.”
Open Bluetooth properties -
Switch to the Advanced tab.
Open Advanced tab -
Note down the LMP version in front of “Firmware Version.”
Note the LMP version -
Now match the LMP version to its respective version of Bluetooth from the table below, and you shall know which Bluetooth version your device has.
Link Manager Protocol Version (LMP) Bluetooth Core Specification LMP 0 Bluetooth Core Specification 1.0b LMP 1 Bluetooth Core Specification 1.1 LMP 2 Bluetooth Core Specification 1.2 LMP 3 Bluetooth Core Specification 2.0 + EDR LMP 4 Bluetooth Core Specification 2.1 + EDR LMP 5 Bluetooth Core Specification 3.0 + HS LMP 6 Bluetooth Core Specification 4.0 LMP 7 Bluetooth Core Specification 4.1 LMP 8 Bluetooth Core Specification 4.2 LMP 9 Bluetooth Core Specification 5.0 LMP 10 Bluetooth Core Specification 5.1 LMP 11 Bluetooth Core Specification 5.2 LMP 12 Bluetooth Core Specification 5.3 Bluetooth version’s associated LMP version
By the looks of it, I have Bluetooth version 5 on our computer.
The future of Bluetooth
Bluetooth technology is advancing toward lower power consumption and improved audio and transmission quality. It has already achieved multi-streamed communication where it can connect to two devices at once, for convenience and increased productivity. Therefore, the next step would be for a Bluetooth connection to 3 or more devices simultaneously. However, that will need to be done smartly.
Additionally, Auracast is a technology that has recently hit the consumer market. With the use of Auracast broadcast audio, audio transmitters like computers, televisions, public address systems, and cellphones may broadcast audio to as many nearby speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids as possible. Auracast has already started hitting the market with supported devices, such as certain mobile phones.
Another development in the Bluetooth technology is the Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL). In retail, paper labels are replaced by Electronic Shelf Labels, which are tiny, battery-operated electronic paper (or e-paper) displays that provide product and price details at the shelf edge. To create a dynamic pricing automation network, ESLs connect wirelessly to a central hub using the 2.4 GHz channel.
ESLs will change the retailing experience for both the retailers as well as the end consumers by providing on-the-go information and better inventory management tools.
Conclusion
Now that you know what each of the Bluetooth versions has to offer, you can make an informed decision before making your next purchase of anything with Bluetooth support in it. You can determine whether a supported feature is worth the extra money, and whether you’ll be needing it or not.
