Bluetooth LE gains a faster data option

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has formally added High Data Throughput, or HDT, as an optional feature in Bluetooth Core 7.0. The change lifts Bluetooth LE’s maximum supported data rate from 2 Mbps to as much as 7.5 Mbps, nearly four times the previous limit.

Wireless audio is expected to be an early use. The extra capacity could support higher-resolution sound, as well as spatial audio and multichannel surround sound over Bluetooth, without relying on proprietary wireless formats. The first products with HDT are expected in 2027, with an initial wave anticipated early in the year.

The faster transfer rate could also help other devices. Smartwatches may send fitness and health information to phones more quickly, while shorter transfer sessions could reduce how long their Bluetooth radios remain active. Updates for watches and smart-home accessories could take less time, too.

Spatial-computing and extended-reality equipment could use the added bandwidth for more capable experiences without a Wi-Fi connection. HDT may also help personal AI devices pass information to smartphones for processing, potentially supporting smaller, lighter devices.

Bluetooth SIG chief executive Neville Meijers said the feature expands the technology’s potential across consumer, commercial and industrial uses. Manufacturers’ announcements of HDT-compatible products are the next step in the rollout.