Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi (2024)

Bluetooth and WiFi are different standards for wireless communication.

Bluetooth technology is useful when transferring information between two or more devices that are near each other when speed is not an issue, such as telephones, printers, modems and headsets. It is best suited to low-bandwidth applications like transferring sound data with telephones (i.e. with a Bluetooth headset) or byte data with hand-held computers (transferring files) or keyboard and mice.

Comparison chart

Bluetooth versus Wi-Fi comparison chart
	Bluetooth	Wi-Fi
Frequency	2.4 GHz	2.4, 3.6, 5 GHz
Cost	Low	High
Bandwidth	Low ( 800 Kbps )	High (11 Mbps )
Specifications authority	Bluetooth SIG	IEEE, WECA
Security	It is less secure	Security issues are already being debated.
Year of development	1994	1991
Primary Devices	Mobile phones, mouse, keyboards, office and industrial automation devices. Activity trackers, such as Fitbit and Jawbone.	Notebook computers, desktop computers, servers, TV, Latest mobiles.
Hardware requirement	Bluetooth adaptor on all the devices connecting with each other	Wireless adaptors on all the devices of the network, a wireless router and/or wireless access points
Range	5-30 meters	With 802.11b/g the typical range is 32 meters indoors and 95 meters (300 ft) outdoors. 802.11n has greater range. 2.5GHz Wi-Fi communication has greater range than 5GHz. Antennas can also increase range.
Power Consumption	Low	High
Ease of Use	Fairly simple to use. Can be used to connect upto seven devices at a time. It is easy to switch between devices or find and connect to any device.	It is more complex and requires configuration of hardware and software.
Latency	200ms	150ms - Average Latency. (It depends on the speed of connection)
Bit-rate	2.1Mbps	600 Mbps

Video Explaining the Differences

References

About the Author

Nick Jasuja has over 15 years of technology industry experience, including at Amazon in Seattle. He is an expert at building websites, developing software programs in PHP and JavaScript, maintaining MySQL and PostgreSQL databases, and running Linux servers for serving high-traffic websites. He has a bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Engineering.

Share
Follow
Cite

Share this comparison via:

If you read this far, you should follow us:

"Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi." Diffen.com. Diffen LLC, n.d. Web. 2 Jun 2024. < >

Comments: Bluetooth vs Wifi

FAQs

Bluetooth vs Wi-Fi? ›

Wi-Fi is better suited for operating full-scale networks because it enables a faster connection, better range from the base station, and better wireless security (if configured properly) than Bluetooth.

Read On ›

Is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection better? ›

In general, Bluetooth is better for mobile devices that have limited power requirements. Meanwhile, WiFi is better for larger, more stationary devices that need a direct connection to the Internet.

Discover More Details ›

Should I have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi at the same time? ›

Using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi simultaneously for different purposes can also pose some challenges, such as interference, battery drain, and security risks. Interference can cause dropped connections, slow speeds, poor audio, or distorted video.

Which is more efficient Bluetooth or Wi-Fi? ›

Both technologies are used for different purposes. Bluetooth is short-range, less expensive, and energy efficient, whereas wifi covers larger areas but is more expensive and consumes more energy. In this article, we will discuss what Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are, their difference, and corresponding features.

See Details ›

Should I leave Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on? ›

In conclusion, disabling Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use is a simple yet effective practice to enhance the security of your mobile device and conserve battery life. Hackers are constantly looking for vulnerabilities in wireless communication technologies, and leaving Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled when not in use can ...

Find Out More ›