Phones with Bluetooth

What should you look for when it comes to Bluetooth in a phone?

Bluetooth is the wireless standard for short-range connections, developed in the 1990s by Ericsson and managed by the Bluetooth SIG ever since. In smartphones, it has become the standard way to connect audio devices, wearables, and accessories. For most buyers, it’s no longer just a nice-to-have feature, but the only option: the headphone jack has disappeared from virtually every new mid-range and high-end device. If you absolutely want to keep it, filter for phones with a headphone jack.

When does Bluetooth make a difference in your choice?

Since virtually every device has Bluetooth, the choice comes down to the details. What you look for depends on what you’re connecting.

• You listen to a lot of music: check which audio codecs the device supports, whether it supports LE Audio, and whether your headphones do too
• You wear a smartwatch or fitness tracker: check how many accessories can stay paired at the same time, so your watch stays connected while you’re also using earbuds
• You mainly listen to music in the car: stability is more important here than sound quality; also check how many devices can stay connected at the same time, since your car stereo will be connected alongside your watch and earbuds

Bluetooth version and LE Audio

For music, a newer Bluetooth version primarily provides a more stable and energy-efficient connection, not greater range. The additional range that has been added over the years applies to the energy-efficient LE variant used by wearables and trackers; newer versions add more precise distance measurement, which is especially important for locating trackers. More important for audio is LE Audio, the newer way to transmit sound using the LC3 codec. LE Audio was introduced with Bluetooth 5.2, so a device running an older version does not support it. It’s more energy-efficient than traditional Bluetooth audio and enables Auracast: audio transmitted to multiple receivers simultaneously. Both ends must support it—meaning both your phone and your earbuds. Keep in mind that the manufacturer must actually enable LE Audio in the software; having a compatible chip alone is no guarantee.

Codecs determine how your music sounds

SBC works everywhere, and AAC works almost everywhere. The difference lies in the higher-tier codecs, such as Qualcomm’s aptX and Sony’s LDAC, which transmit more data per second. You’ll only notice a difference if your earbuds or headphones support the same codec; otherwise, the connection automatically falls back to the codec that both sides support, usually SBC.

Extensive codec support isn’t a matter of price. You’ll find it even on mid-range Android devices, while a more expensive device doesn’t automatically support more codecs. So look at the listed support rather than the price tag.

Multiple Devices at Once

Multipoint allows headphones to stay connected to two sources at the same time—for example, your phone and your laptop—so you don’t have to switch manually. This feature is built into the headphones, not the phone. What your phone does determine is how many accessories can remain paired at the same time—such as a smartwatch, a car stereo, and a tracker all at once.

Range in Practice

On paper, Bluetooth has a range of dozens of meters, but that applies to line-of-sight conditions. Indoors, about ten meters is realistic, and walls, floors, and your own body further reduce that range. If your phone is in your back pocket, you yourself are positioned between the transmitter and receiver, which can explain any interruptions.

What You Connect via Bluetooth

Most devices you pair with your phone use Bluetooth. These are the most common ones.

• Wireless earbuds: the most common Bluetooth connection, where codec support matters on both ends
• Smartwatches: typically stay connected at all times and use the low-power version of Bluetooth for this
• Bluetooth trackers: small transmitters that you attach to your keys or bag to help you find them