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Hardware·1 min read

Bluetooth 7.0 adds HDT, nearly quadrupling LE data speeds

The Bluetooth SIG has approved High Data Throughput as an optional Core 7.0 feature, lifting LE speeds from 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps. First devices are expected in 2027.

Wireless headphones and a smartwatch next to a phone showing the Bluetooth symbol, illustrating faster Bluetooth data transfer.
Image: Webrazzi
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The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has formally adopted High Data Throughput (HDT) as an optional feature of the Bluetooth Core 7.0 specification. On Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) connections, HDT raises the data rate from 2 megabits per second to 7.5 megabits per second, roughly four times the current maximum.

Aimed first at wireless audio

The most immediate beneficiaries are headphones and other audio gear. The extra bandwidth can support high-resolution and lossless audio, as well as spatial and multichannel surround sound. Some headphones already offer lossless or hi-res playback today, but those features mostly depend on manufacturer-specific codecs that work only with certain devices. HDT is meant to provide a common foundation that works across different standards-compliant products.

Beyond headphones

The impact is not limited to audio. Smartwatches could send workout and health data to a phone faster. Because a transfer finishes sooner, the Bluetooth radio stays active for less time, so the same amount of data can be sent with less energy, which may improve battery life. Software updates for smartwatches and smart home accessories could also take less time.

The SIG says the technology can also be used in augmented and virtual reality devices, smart glasses, personal AI devices, industrial monitoring systems and smart home products.

What to expect

The SIG expects the first HDT-enabled devices to appear in 2027. However, HDT is optional within Bluetooth 7.0, so manufacturers are not required to include it. How quickly it reaches shops will depend on whether chipmakers and device brands choose to implement it.

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Tags:bluetoothbluetooth 7.0hdtwireless audiowearables

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