In recent years, Bluetooth technology has undergone several improvements, such as increased range and connection stability, reduced energy consumption with newer versions, and improved connectivity. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)as well as improved sound quality, especially with the integration of advanced codecs such as AptX or LDAC. A new step has just been taken today with Bluetooth 6 and it could be very useful for the “Locate” feature to find lost Apple products!
Are there big changes coming thanks to Bluetooth 6?
This week, the new version of the Bluetooth standard, Bluetooth 6.0, was officially launched. With promising technological advances, this update could revolutionize many sectors and in particular Apple’s “Find My” function. Bluetooth 6.0 makes it much easier to find lost objects thanks to a precision never seen before on a publicly available wireless connection.
The main innovation brought by Bluetooth 6.0 is the feature called “Channel Sounding”. This technology allows a radical improvement in the measurement of distances between devices, which offers an accuracy of the order of a few centimeters, even over long distances. A considerable advancement compared to previous versions of Bluetooth, which suffered from a less precise approximation.
For Apple users, this advancement could transform the Find My app, which is used to locate lost items like iPhones, AirPods, and MacBooks. Currently, the feature relies in part on Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband to locate nearby objects. If Apple adopts Bluetooth 6.0 on future devices, precision searching could become much faster and more reliable. With Channel Sounding, finding lost items would be easier, even at greater distances, making location not only more accurate but also more widespread.
Bluetooth 6.0 vs. Ultra Wideband: A Potential Replacement?
Apple already relies on Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology to provide precise location tracking with its latest devices, such as iPhones, AirTags, and AirPods. However, the arrival of Bluetooth 6.0 could change that; if Bluetooth 6.0 proves to be more efficient at calculating distance and offering a better connection range, it could replace Ultra Wideband in some applications.
That said, Apple could also consider combining the two technologies to offer even more precise and extensive localization. This combination could dramatically improve the precision search feature, using the strengths of each technology.
However, despite all these promises, Bluetooth 6.0 will not be included in the iPhone 16, which is expected to be announced next week. We will probably have to wait until 2025 to see the first devices from Apple and other manufacturers adopt this technology. Until then, Ultra Wideband will remain the gold standard for precision location.
Uses far beyond the location of objects
Of course, the benefits of Bluetooth 6.0 aren’t limited to tracking objects. This new version also improves the user experience in other areas such as video games, virtual and augmented reality, and multi-room audio systems. Latency is reduced, transfer speeds are increased, and overall performance is improved. Gamers and music lovers will benefit from a faster and smoother connection, creating a more responsive immersive experience. Fingers crossed for Lossless, the famous lossless quality. But for that, you’ll need new AirPods Pro 3, for example…