Are you thinking about buying new Bluetooth headphones and curious about the differences between Bluetooth 4.0 vs 5.0? In this article, we’ll talk about the differences between these two technologies. We’ll also explain the advantages of choosing the upgraded and latest Bluetooth technology. So, let’s get right into our Bluetooth 4.0 vs 5.0 comparison to help you determine if the enhancements are worth the cost for you.
Bluetooth 5.0 Advantages over Bluetooth 4.0
Let’s explore the advantages of Bluetooth 5.0.
Bluetooth 5.0 Has Better Range Than 4.0
The primary difference between Bluetooth 4.0 and 5.0 is in the area of range. With a Bluetooth 4.0 device, you can expect a range of as many as 33 feet.
Bluetooth 5.0’s range extends up to 800 feet. Keep in mind that this maximum range is only a theoretical one.
With Bluetooth 5.0, though, you will likely be able to hear music through your headphones all over your house, no matter where your phone is.
The fact that Bluetooth 5.0 has a higher range can slow down the speed of your device a bit. This probably won’t make a difference to you if you’re using your Bluetooth headphones with a smartphone that you carry around with you.
When your smartphone is near you, your headphones won’t have to use up as much power reaching longer ranges.
Higher Bandwidth
Bluetooth 5.0 has higher bandwidth than Bluetooth 4.0 with a total maximum bandwidth of 2 megabits per second. With the higher bandwidth, Bluetooth 5.0 makes connecting to several devices at the same time easier.
Bluetooth 5.0 is also faster at 2 Mbps. This means that it is twice the speed of Bluetooth 4. It’s because of this that Bluetooth 5.0 is able to satisfy IoT requirements. Bluetooth 4.0 cannot meet IoT requirements because of its limitations in range and lower speed.
You should know, however, that whether or not you will be able to stream to several devices will depend on the software you have on your computer or phone, or whatever other sound source you are using.
While this will use up more power, Bluetooth 5.0 will be useful if you want to send bigger packets of data, such as firmware updates. It can also give you higher quality in your audio.
In many circumstances. Be aware, though, that Bluetooth headphones technically still have the old audio standards.
Optimizing Speed vs Range
One of Bluetooth 5.0’s greatest features is its intelligence. It can choose whether to use a longer range or higher speed. It is designed to know which one should be most appropriate in a specific context or a particular use.
There is a certain context in which the twice the speed feature is most useful. It’s when you are using your Bluetooth at just short range and there is a back and forth transmission of data.
An example of how the technology might use this capability is if you are using Bluetooth 5.0 headphones and a Bluetooth 5.0 device and your headphones decide to increase the speed to achieve high bitrate streaming audio.
If you were using a smart home device, however, it will only need to report information on their status. This means that you could use a larger range.
Multiple Connections
When you have Bluetooth 5.0, you will be able to play audio using two connected Bluetooth headphones or earbuds at the same time. This is Bluetooth 5.0’s dual audio feature on the popular Samsung Galaxy S8.
To take advantage of this feature, simply switch on the dual audio feature. If you have a different phone, check to see if your phone has the same capability. There’s a great chance you will find that it has it, as long as it has Bluetooth 5.0.
This is a great feature if you want to be able to connect two headsets, maybe one belonging to you and one to a friend.
Are you thinking about buying Bluetooth 5.0 headphones for this feature? Make sure that the sound source you will use (for example, your smartphone) has Bluetooth 5.0 and that it is able to use this capability. If you’re not sure, check the manual that came with your phone and do some research.
Power Efficient
Bluetooth 5.0 generally has the benefit of using less power than Bluetooth 4.0. As we said before, however, remember that Bluetooth 5.0, as a new technology, is backward compatible.
This means that you can use it with older devices. However, your device must have Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities. If it doesn’t, you will not be able to enjoy features that are specific to Bluetooth 5.0.
You will be limited to the Bluetooth capabilities of the device.
Other Differences Between Bluetooth 4.0 vs 5.0
If you have Bluetooth 4.0 headphones, you will find that they are always compatible with devices that are made to be compatible with the version 4 series. However, you won’t be able to use them with devices that have Bluetooth 5.0.
An advantage of Bluetooth 5.0 devices is the fact that you can use them with not only Bluetooth 5.0, but Bluetooth 4.0 devices too.
You should be aware, though, that you will only get the advantages of a Bluetooth 5.0 headset if you use it with a Bluetooth 5.0 device.
In other words, if you use a Bluetooth 5.0 headset with a Bluetooth 4.0 device, you will not get features of Bluetooth 5.0. If the ability to use your devices together is your only concern, however, you should be fine.
If you are thinking about purchasing Bluetooth 5.0 headphones to replace your Bluetooth 4.0 ones and specifically want to enjoy the benefits of the newer Bluetooth, then you may need to buy a Bluetooth 5.0 device.
This cost can be prohibitive for many, so bring this into your calculations when deciding whether going with Bluetooth 5.0 would be worth your while right now.
Final Thoughts on Bluetooth 5.0 vs 4.0
As we’ve seen here, whether or not you go ahead and invest in Bluetooth 5.0 right now depends on your own personal needs and preferences. While Bluetooth 5.0 does have certain advantages, you will need to use your new Bluetooth 5.0 device with another device that has Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities in order to enjoy all the new features.
Have you decided to get a Bluetooth personal listening device? Learn more about Bluetooth and how long Bluetooth headphones last in my article on the subject.
