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Bluetooth Classic vs. Bluetooth Smart: Key Differences Explained

By RF Wireless Expert Team

This article breaks down the key differences between Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Smart, helping you understand which technology is better suited for different applications.

  • The original Bluetooth specification 4.0 is referred to as Bluetooth Classic.
  • The low-energy version, Bluetooth specification 4.1, is known as Bluetooth Smart. It’s also commonly called BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). BLE encompasses the newer Bluetooth versions 4.2 and 5.0.

Here’s a comparison in a table format:

Bluetooth Classic vs. Bluetooth Smart Specifications

FeatureBluetooth ClassicBluetooth Smart
VersionBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.1+
Frequency2.4 GHz2.4 GHz
Coverage Range10 to 100 meters~10 meters
Throughput0.7 to 2.1 Mbps~25 Kbps
Maximum Nodes7No limit
Latency (Data)~2.5 msSeveral ms
Latency (Connection)~100 ms<6 ms
Target ApplicationsHigh throughput, interoperabilityLow power consumption, IoT devices

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