Bluetooth 5.x (5.0/5.1/5.2/5.3/5.4)
TL;DR
Bluetooth 5.0-5.4 are the current-generation wireless audio standards. Each revision improves range, energy efficiency, and codec support. Bluetooth 5.4 adds LE Audio (LC3 codec) for future high-quality low-power streaming.
Bluetooth 5.0 (2016) doubled the range and quadrupled the throughput of Bluetooth 4.2. Subsequent revisions added minor improvements:
- 5.1 – Direction-finding, better location accuracy
- 5.2 – LE Audio foundation, LC3 codec spec
- 5.3 – Faster connection, better co-existence with Wi-Fi
- 5.4 – Encrypted advertising, better broadcast
What matters for audio
For streaming audio, the Bluetooth spec version matters less than the codec support. A Bluetooth 5.0 device with LDAC sounds better than a Bluetooth 5.4 device stuck on SBC. Check codec list, not just Bluetooth version.
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