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Bluetooth Versions 1.0 to 6.3: Key Differences & Features

By RF Wireless Expert Team

Bluetooth versions release introduced are not only based on speed but it takes care of architecture, security, power, interoperability, discovery, positioning, audio or developer oriented improvements.

VersionEraMajor feature / change
Bluetooth 1.0 / 1.0B1999�2000First Bluetooth specifications; basic wireless connectivity
Bluetooth 1.12001Early interoperability and specification improvements
Bluetooth 1.22003Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH), faster connection, improved error handling, enhanced synchronization, extended SCO
Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR2004Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) with 2 and 3 Mb/s modes
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR2007Secure Simple Pairing (SSP), Extended Inquiry Response, Sniff Subrating, Encryption Pause/Resume
Bluetooth 3.0 + HS2009High Speed (HS) architecture, AMP, 802.11 PAL, enhanced L2CAP/HCI
Bluetooth 4.02010Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), LE PHY/Link Layer, ATT, GATT, Security Manager, AES encryption
Bluetooth 4.12013Improvements around coexistence, LE connectivity and data handling; additional adopted change specifications
Bluetooth 4.22014Improvements to LE, privacy/security and data capabilities
Bluetooth 5.02016Major LE expansion: 2M PHY, LE Coded PHY, extended advertising, increased advertising capacity
Bluetooth 5.12019Direction Finding: AoA/AoD, GATT Caching, Periodic Advertising Sync Transfer
Bluetooth 5.22019LE Audio foundations, Isochronous Channels, Enhanced ATT, LE Power Control
Bluetooth 5.32021LE improvements including periodic advertising/channel classification and controller/host refinements
Bluetooth 5.42023Encrypted Advertising Data, PAwR (Periodic Advertising with Responses), Advertising Coding Selection, LE GATT Security Levels Characteristic
Bluetooth 6.02024Channel Sounding, Decision-Based Advertising Filtering, monitoring advertisers, other LE improvements
Bluetooth 6.12025Randomized RPA Updates
Bluetooth 6.22025LE test enhancements, shorter connection intervals, Channel Sounding amplitude-based attack resilience, HCI USB LE Isochronous support
Bluetooth 6.32026Running Out of Bits, Channel Sounding Inline Phase Correction Term Transfer, PHY-specific RTT accuracy

References & Further Reading

  1. Bluetooth SIG : Bluetooth Core Specification Version 6.3
  2. Bluetooth SIG : Bluetooth Core Specification change history
  3. Bluetooth SIG : Bluetooth technology resources

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