BLE Timeline

The evolution of Bluetooth Low Energy technology, from the introduction of BLE in Bluetooth 4.0 to the latest specification releases.

Bluetooth 4.0

“Bluetooth 4.0”
2010.06

The first Bluetooth specification to include Low Energy (LE), enabling coin-cell-powered sensors and accessories.

Data Rate: 1.0 Mbps
Range: 50 m
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) introduced Dual-mode (Classic + LE) 1 Mbps LE data rate 31-byte advertising payload

Bluetooth 4.1

“Bluetooth 4.1”
2013.12

Improved coexistence with LTE, added connection-oriented channels, and allowed dual-mode topology changes.

Data Rate: 1.0 Mbps
Range: 50 m
Improved LTE coexistence L2CAP connection-oriented channels Dual-mode topology flexibility Low duty cycle directed advertising

Bluetooth 4.2

“Bluetooth 4.2”
2014.12

Added LE Data Length Extension for higher throughput, LE Secure Connections for improved security, and IPv6 support via 6LoWPAN.

Data Rate: 1.0 Mbps
Range: 50 m
LE Data Length Extension (DLE) LE Secure Connections (LESC) LE Privacy 1.2 IPv6/6LoWPAN support (IPSP)

Bluetooth 5.0

“Bluetooth 5.0”
2016.12

Doubled the speed (2 Mbps LE 2M PHY), quadrupled the range (LE Coded PHY), and increased advertising capacity 8x with extended advertising.

Data Rate: 2.0 Mbps
Range: 200 m
LE 2M PHY (2 Mbps) LE Coded PHY (long range) Extended advertising (255 bytes) Slot availability mask (SAM)

Bluetooth 5.1

“Bluetooth 5.1”
2019.01

Introduced direction finding with Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) for centimeter-level positioning.

Data Rate: 2.0 Mbps
Range: 200 m
Angle of Arrival (AoA) Angle of Departure (AoD) GATT caching Advertising channel index Periodic advertising sync transfer

Bluetooth 5.2

“Bluetooth 5.2”
2020.01

Added LE Audio with LC3 codec, isochronous channels for synchronized audio, and Enhanced Attribute Protocol (EATT).

Data Rate: 2.0 Mbps
Range: 200 m
LE Audio (LC3 codec) Isochronous channels (CIS/BIS) Enhanced ATT (EATT) LE Power Control

Bluetooth 5.3

“Bluetooth 5.3”
2021.07

Improved connection subrating for better power efficiency, enhanced periodic advertising, and channel classification.

Data Rate: 2.0 Mbps
Range: 200 m
Connection subrating Periodic advertising enhancement Channel classification enhancement AdvDataInfo in scan response

Bluetooth 5.4

“Bluetooth 5.4”
2023.02

Introduced Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) for electronic shelf labels and encrypted advertising data.

Data Rate: 2.0 Mbps
Range: 200 m
Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) Encrypted advertising data LE GATT security levels characteristic

Bluetooth 6.0

“Bluetooth 6.0”
2024.09

Major release with Channel Sounding for centimeter-accurate ranging, decision-based advertising filtering, and monitoring advertisers.

Data Rate: 2.0 Mbps
Range: 200 m
Channel Sounding (high-accuracy distance measurement) Decision-based advertising filtering Monitoring advertisers Frame space update
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