The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the organization responsible for developing the Bluetooth standard, has adopted High Data Throughput (HDT), a new feature that increases the maximum data transfer speed of Bluetooth LE devices from 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps.
According to the Bluetooth SIG, HDT is nearly four times faster than the previous maximum speed supported by Bluetooth LE. It is an optional feature included in the recently adopted Bluetooth Core 7.0 specification, meaning manufacturers are not required to implement it in their devices.
The first major application will be audio. The Bluetooth SIG expects standardized premium wireless audio based on HDT to arrive in 2027. It will support lossless and high-resolution audio, multi-channel surround sound, and spatial audio.
According to Engadget, the first HDT-enabled devices are expected in early 2027, followed by wider adoption. The publication suggests that the first compatible products could be unveiled at CES in January, if not earlier.
The Bluetooth SIG explained how HDT works in late July. The technology introduces a new radio mode using more advanced modulation schemes, including QPSK and QAM, allowing the same signal to carry more data. Supported speeds include 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7.5 Mbps. When signal strength decreases, devices can automatically reduce the data rate to maintain a stable connection.
The organization claims that higher speeds do not result in increased battery consumption. Because data is transferred more quickly, the radio can spend more time in a low-power state. In early demonstrations by member companies, transferring a file of several megabytes took approximately four seconds, compared with around 16 seconds using existing technology.
HDT also introduces stronger data protection. Message integrity check codes are longer than before, increasing from 32 bits to 64 or 128 bits.
Beyond headphones and speakers, the Bluetooth SIG identifies several other categories of devices that could benefit from the new standard, including extended reality devices, AI-powered devices, industrial systems, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart home products.
Øyvind Strøm, executive vice president at Nordic Semiconductor, provided two examples. A smartwatch could transfer several hours of workout data to a smartphone in just a few seconds, while smart glasses could offload data for processing to deliver more advanced AI features.
"Bluetooth HDT brings a new level of performance to Bluetooth technology," said Neville Meijers, CEO of the Bluetooth SIG.
To achieve maximum speeds, both connected devices must support HDT. According to market research firm ABI Research, an HDT-enabled device connected to a smartphone without HDT support will operate using existing Bluetooth LE capabilities.
The Bluetooth SIG has more than 43,000 member companies, which collectively ship over five billion Bluetooth-enabled devices every year.
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