Bluetooth 5
Bluetooth 5 in the iPhone XS Max
Apple has been shipping all their hardware products with Bluetooth 5 since 2017. This includes iPhone X, MacBooks, and the HomePod.
What's New About Bluetooth5?
The Bluetooth 5 spec allows low-energy transmissions to sacrifice data rate for more range. A lot more range: up to four times the range of Bluetooth 4.2 LE. That's a technical maximum, mind you. In the real world, you can expect much less, though it's still going to be a huge improvement over older versions of Bluetooth.
Supporting a faster speed at the expense over a range makes it easier to connect multiple devices to a source. For example, Amazon Alexa Show show can appreciate having multiple devices connected to play music from different phones.
Best Range for Bluetooth Devices
The ideal range for Bluetooth 5 is 800 feet - as long as there are no obstructions. Which is more than 2 football fields in length.
The longest home run at Fenway Park is 502-feet - That's how far the Ted William's red seat is from home plate!Keep in mind is both devices have to support BlueTooth 5 to get the long range. If the source only supports Bluetooth 4.1 you'll only get 330 feet.
Key Functionality of Bluetooth 5
Bluetooth 5 is igniting the "Internet of Things" products. These are small electronic devices that allow smart phones to interact with them.
Some Popular "Internet of Things" examples
- Nest Learning Thermostat - Bluetooth is use during setup.
- Amazon Alexa Show - Connect additional speakers or iPhone to play music
- Apple TV - Connect Headphones, Keyboards and remotes
- Samsung SmartTV - Connect Headphone, Bluetooth enabled Soundbars and Game Controllers
- Toyota - Connect your phone to enable Internet and access your contacts.
Bluetooth 5 will help bring more exciting technology to the consumer living rooms.
iPhone XS Max Bluetooth
After Apple started shipping the iPhone XS Max some consumers were reporting issues with the iPhone dropping the Bluetooth connection. Apple has fixed some of the software issues in related iOS updates. The appears to have subsided and recently only a few users have reported issues.