Bluetooth SIG has adopted High Data Throughput (HDT), an optional Bluetooth Core 7.0 feature that raises Bluetooth Low Energy’s maximum transfer rate from 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps. The 3.75-fold increase targets connected products including wireless headphones, wearables, sensors and other low-power devices.
HDT is built around a new physical layer, or PHY, designed to use radio spectrum more efficiently. Bluetooth SIG says the technology can also provide more robust connections in difficult conditions. Sending the same data in less time could allow a device’s radio to return to a low-power state sooner, potentially improving power efficiency during accessory synchronization and software updates.
- Smartwatches: detailed data from long workouts could be synchronized in seconds.
- Smart glasses: information could be sent to another device for AI processing.
- Smart-home equipment: software updates could be delivered faster.
- AR and VR devices, as well as industrial systems, are also among the targeted categories.
The first major application planned for HDT is a premium wireless-audio standard expected in 2027. It is intended to support lossless and high-resolution audio, while the added bandwidth could also help enable multichannel surround sound and spatial-audio features.
