What Is Bluetooth 5.3? Bluetooth 5 Versions Explained (2024)

The Bluetooth version of your device determines data transfer speeds, power consumption, and connection stability. However, with so many Bluetooth versions, figuring out if you're using the best version is difficult.

Bluetooth 5.3 is fast becoming the standard for new devices. But do you really need to upgrade your hardware to keep up with the latest Bluetooth standards?

What Is Bluetooth 5.3?

Bluetooth 5.3 launched in 2021 and introduced several enhancements for consumers and developers.

One major improvement is connection subrating. Often, devices work on a low-duty cycle connection to conserve energy. However, when high bandwidth support is needed, the connection parameters should change almost instantly. Otherwise, there's a delay.

Connection subrating makes the transition between low and high power modes faster, eliminating delays and offering a better user experience. For instance, headphone audio using a sub-rating connection will experience less delay compared to one that doesn't, especially if the headphones aren't near the host device.

Bluetooth 5.3 also enhanced Bluetooth BR/EDR, the controllers responsible for negotiating the encryption key size during the establishment of a Bluetooth connection. The change enables the host device to define a minimum acceptable key size, providing better control and flexibility over the encryption process. This allows the host to determine the security level it requires based on the sensitivity of the data being exchanged or compliance with security standards.

Two other notable features of the Bluetooth 5.3 update include channel classification and periodic advertising enhancements. The first, channel classification, allows peripheral Bluetooth devices to communicate with a central device based on the actual radio frequency conditions of the peripherals, thus avoiding interference and enhancing reliability.

The second, periodic advertising enhancement, simplifies how devices share information. Normally, Bluetooth devices repeatedly send the same data to ensure it is reliably delivered. Now, devices using Bluetooth 5.3 can check once for duplicates and skip unnecessary repeats, saving energy and potentially extending device battery life.

Bluetooth 5.0 vs. 5.1 vs. 5.2 vs. 5.3

Bluetooth 5.3 delivers a host of new features, but let's see how it compares to previous Bluetooth 5 versions.

Bluetooth 5.0

Bluetooth 5.0 launched in 2016 and was a major improvement from Bluetooth 4.2. It came with a message capacity of 255 bytes, eight times larger than Bluetooth 4.2's 31 bytes. This doubled data travel speeds and quadrupled the communication range while maintaining a low power consumption rate.

Data transfer speeds increased from 1Mbps to 2Mbps, the range shot up to 120 feet in indoor environments, and devices using Bluetooth 5 could stay switched on much longer than their older counterparts.

Bluetooth 5.1

The Bluetooth 5.1 upgrade was released in January 2019, enabling devices to locate connected devices within a short distance and determine where a signal originates. Enhancing location-based services improved navigation and tracking capabilities in indoor environments.

Other updates included Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) caching, which changed how devices handle repeated data transfers, reducing power consumption, enhancing advertising capabilities, and improving coexistence with other wireless technologies. Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio was also enhanced for better audio quality and synchronization.

Bluetooth 5.2

Bluetooth 5.2, released in early 2020, focused on improving audio quality.

Bluetooth Low Energy Power Control was introduced to optimize power consumption in low-energy devices. It also introduced the Low Complexity Communication Codec (LC3) feature, which provided higher audio quality, enhancing music streaming and gaming experiences. Together, these two components power Bluetooth Auracast, which enables simultaneous audio streaming from one device.

Bluetooth 5.2 also introduced the Enhanced Attribute Protocol (EATT). Previously, Bluetooth devices inefficiently traded attribute data to convey information about their status and capabilities. EATT streamlined the process of exchanging this data, making it more direct and resource-efficient and optimizing the communication channel.

Bluetooth 5.2 also introduced Cross-Transport Key Derivation, a protocol that simplifies the management of encryption keys across multi-transport devices, thus enhancing security.

What Is Bluetooth 5.4?

Bluetooth 5.4 is the latest version, officially released in early 2023. It has a few updates that improve Bluetooth's functionality by enabling bidirectional and secure communication between low-power devices. These features include:

• Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR). Broadcasts data in small packets sent within sub-events that can be synchronized with and responded to by observers. This allows observers to scan for data only at specific times and thus be more power efficient.
• Encrypted Advertising Data. A standard method for advertising-data encryption that allows for partial or full encryption of shared data. This means any Bluetooth-enabled device can receive advertising data from a host, but only those with the decryption key (authorized devices) can access the encrypted data.
• Low Energy GATT Security Levels Characteristic. It allows devices to communicate the required security levels for access before attempting to access specific attributes. If the device doesn't meet the security level, the client prompts them to upgrade it and gain access. This system prevents interruptions in application transitions, offering a smoother and more secure experience.
• Advertising Coding Selection. Enables a host device to determine the coding system to use when transmitting advertising data to a controller. This enhancement provides more control over the balance between data rate and range, allowing for optimized performance based on specific communication needs.

All these advancements are particularly useful for high-volume use cases such as retail Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) applications where there's a multitude of connected and synchronized devices but will filter down into consumer tech products like headphones and earbuds, too.