Bluetooth 5 versus Bluetooth 4.2, what’s the difference? (2024)

FAQs

Bluetooth 5 versus Bluetooth 4.2, what’s the difference? ›

Although not fast enough to stream video, audio streaming is now within reach. This is in my opinion the best feature of Bluetooth 5. The range is up to four times that of Bluetooth 4.2. The best case range that a Bluetooth 4.2 solution can reach is about 50m, so with Bluetooth 5 we're looking at a 200m range.

All our best sellers in the true wireless category use 5.0, which can transmit eight times more data, at four times the distance, and twice the speed of the previous version, Bluetooth 4.2.

Version 4.2 featured an increase in maximum transmit power modes for BLE Power Class 1 from +10 to +20 dB. This allows many Bluetooth designs to be implemented without the need for an external power adapter, which can offer both cost as well as board space savings to end users.

A pair of wireless headphones that use Bluetooth 5.0 won't sound better than a pair that use Bluetooth 4.2 – or rather they might, but it won't be because of their Bluetooth version. But while the Bluetooth version doesn't affect sound quality, it does make a huge difference to the headphones' feature set.

Bluetooth 4.2, as implemented in TI's BLE-Stack 2.2, offers significantly improved security and privacy, allowing Bluetooth developers to deploy devices that can enter secure connections without being intercepted or tracked by observers.

Specifically, Bluetooth 5.0 can achieve up to 2 Mbps (megabits per second) whereas Bluetooth 4.2 can only achieve up to 1 Mbps. For example, if you are streaming music from your phone to a Bluetooth speaker, with Bluetooth 5.0, you may experience less buffering and smoother playback compared to using Bluetooth 4.2.

As of 2023, Bluetooth 5.0 is the most advanced version available. Released in 2016, Bluetooth 5 focuses heavily on wider range, faster speed, bigger bandwidth, better quality, and improved wireless connections compared to older versions.

Yes, Bluetooth 5.0 is totally backwards-compatible with previously introduced Bluetooth smart technology such as Bluetooth 4.0, Bluetooth 4.1 and Bluetooth 4.2 devices. However, you can continue using your existing Bluetooth 4.2 and older devices.

Both WiFi and Bluetooth operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. This overlap can lead to interference, especially if both are active simultaneously.

Bluetooth 4.2 extends the functionality of 4.0 by introducing a new low energy feature. Bluetooth 4.2 will be backward compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1 devices, but the low energy feature might not be available. See Is Bluetooth 4.2 compatible with 4.0? - Stack Overflow for a more detailed discussion.

What are the advantages of Bluetooth 5 over 4? ›

Bluetooth 5.0 is now much faster than 4.0 because this new format has a bandwidth of two megabytes per second compared to the previous version's maximum speed of one megabyte per second. In short, this makes for speedy and reliable connectivity through the air, leading to faster firmware updates and data uploading.

indicates the number of speakers, while the second digit indicates the number of subwoofers. For example, a 4.2 channel sound system has four speakers and two subwoofers.

Connect your earphones to the device. Access the 'Developer options' menu. Scroll through the options and find the 'Bluetooth audio codec' setting. Select the Bluetooth audio codec that is supported by your earphones.

Range. The range that Bluetooth was capable of streaming across in version 4.2 was about 50 meters, or 200 feet. While this will naturally decrease inside, it was still a solid distance for audio streaming. However, in 5.0, that distance has quadrupled.

Multiple Connections and Dual Mode Topology

By default four connections are enabled. One of the additions made in Bluetooth 4.2 is the so-called dual mode topology, which allows a device to be in central and peripheral roles simultaneously.

Will Bluetooth 4.2 devices be backward compatible with current Bluetooth devices in the marketplace? Devices implementing only the low energy feature (branded Bluetooth Smart) in Bluetooth 4.2 will be backward compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1 devices that also implement the low energy feature.

The latest Bluetooth version, Bluetooth 5 allows low-energy transmissions offering data range for more range. The theoretically proven range for Bluetooth 5 for a maximum of around 800 feet which is up to four times the range of Bluetooth 4.2 LE.

Bluetooth 5.0 is now much faster than 4.0 because this new format has a bandwidth of two megabytes per second compared to the previous version's maximum speed of one megabyte per second. In short, this makes for speedy and reliable connectivity through the air, leading to faster firmware updates and data uploading.

If your device supports it, switch to aptX for a better sound. Those are also usually the highest quality codecs supported on bluetooth speakers, although this is also rare, most bluetooth speakers having only AAC and SBC as max quality codecs. For the best sonic performance, LDAC has often been regarded as the best.

A higher Bluetooth version can provide faster data transfer speed, longer range, increased bandwidth, and improved power efficiency.