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Bluetooth 6.0 has just been announced which means alongside the anticipated iPhone upgrades being highlighted this week, Apple fans can also enjoy a Bluetooth upgrade soon.
There are six major new features in Bluetooth 6.0 - most of which are very technical - and the one that stands out is Bluetooth Channel Sounding.
This feature acts a lot like Ultra Wideband but adds an extra broadcasting layer by determining the direction and range between two Bluetooth devices.
It also means major improvements in security. Bluetooth Channel Sounding can ensure things like car keys or your front door only unlock when the correct Bluetooth device is within a few feet of range.
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Currently, the range is a lot higher so drive-by Bluetooth broadcasters don't need to be close by to unlock certain things.
Other features include Decision-Based Advertising Filtering which should speed up device Bluetooth scanning and make it easier to find certain ones, and Monitoring Advertisers.
The latter can improve Bluetooth host efficiency and limit unnecessary streamlining signals.
Another highlight of Bluetooth 6.0 is the introduction of variable frame spacing. So, instead of a fixed 150 microseconds, users can experience shorter frame spacing to improve LE Audio devices, fitness trackers, downloading firmware updates, etc.
It's good to see security and speed being prioritised as smartphones become more advanced. However, some iPhone users aren't happy with the announcement as the tech giants have failed to address one common issue.
Many were hoping for major upgrades in audio quality, particularly for AirPods, where users have reported ongoing issues with microphone quality. Some have tried to rectify the issue by trying to combine the audio from their AirPods with the iPhone's microphone, but this isn't possible, according to Apple.
Fans have taken to Reddit to voice their frustration.
"Still no simultaneous headphone and mic high quality audio?? wtf?," one Reddit user wrote.
"I just want better quality audio codecs, and for phone manufacturers to support them," added a second social media user.
Another replied: "I just wanna be able to have a bluetooth device with mic + headphones that doesn't sound like absolute trash. Is it just impossible to do? As I can't see why this wouldn't be prioritised over the other enhancements."
Meanwhile, one not-very-optimistic user chimed in: "I mean, it can't be any worse that what we've got now, right? It's still such a crap shot if you can pair two things together."
While a few saw the update as a step in the right direction, calling it 'promising', others regarded the announcement as a 'bunch of nothing.'
