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Bluetooth 5 vs. Bluetooth 5.1: Key Differences and New Features

This article breaks down the differences between Bluetooth 5 and Bluetooth 5.1, highlighting the new features introduced in the 5.1 version. We’ll also touch on how Bluetooth 5 compares to older versions like 4.2.

Introduction:

  • Bluetooth 5.1 was released by the Bluetooth SIG on January 21st, 2019.
  • It’s designed to be backward compatible with older Bluetooth versions, including 5.0 and 4.2.
  • A key improvement in Bluetooth 5.1 is direction finding. This significantly enhances location accuracy, allowing you to find Bluetooth trackers (like those attached to your keys) with “centimeter-level accuracy.”
  • Bluetooth 5.1 improves the advertising mode, enabling smart devices (like thermometers) to broadcast their measurements to other Bluetooth devices without requiring a connection.
  • Bluetooth 5.1 focuses on reliability and scalability for Bluetooth devices.
  • It allows low-power devices (e.g., smartwatches) to rely on more powerful devices (like smartphones) for some tasks, conserving battery life.
  • The handshake process with previously paired devices is faster in Bluetooth 5.1.
  • While caching was introduced in earlier versions, Bluetooth 5.1 makes it more efficient.

New Features of Bluetooth 5.1

Here’s a breakdown of the new features that differentiate Bluetooth 5.1 from previous versions:

  • Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD): These are the core of the improved direction-finding capabilities.
  • Advertising Channel Index: Enhancements to how advertising channels are used.
  • GATT Caching: Improved caching for faster and more efficient GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) operations.
  • Minor Enhancements (Batch 1): This includes a collection of smaller improvements:
    • HCI support for debug keys in LE Secure Connections
    • Sleep clock accuracy update mechanism
    • ADI field in scan response data
    • Interaction between QoS and Flow Specification
    • Host channel classification for secondary advertising
    • Allow the SID to appear in scan response reports
    • Specify the behavior when rules are violated
  • Periodic Advertising Sync Transfer: Enhancements to periodic advertising features.
  • Features added in CSA6 which are integrated in bluetooth v5.1
    • Models
    • Mesh-based model hierarchy

DEPRECATED FEATURES:

  • The “Unit keys” feature has been removed in Bluetooth 5.1.

Bluetooth 5 vs. Bluetooth 4.2: Key Differences

The following table highlights the main differences between Bluetooth 5 and Bluetooth 4.2:

difference between bluetooth 5 and bluetooth 4.2

References

  • BLUETOOTH CORE SPECIFICATION Version 5.1, Vol 1, Part C

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