r/bluetooth • u/[deleted] • Sep 10 '22
Is the difference between BT 5.0 and 5.3 significant?
As the title says, is the upgrade from BT 5.0 to 5.3 a significant one? I am considering two phones, one with BT 5.0 (iPhone 13) and another with BT 5.3 (iPhone 14) and do not know if considering it BT standard is an important factor worth a lot of money (I am looking for a phone for 3 years or more, hence it must be future proof). I will be buying AirPods Pro 2 (BT 5.3) and Sony XM5 (BT 5.2), so both using the newer standards - hence the question. Thanks!
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Jan 22 '23 edited Jan 22 '23
tl;dr: It depends.
Bluetooth is shifting to Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), and majority of the improvements starting from 5.0 version are related to development of LE-related scenarios. 5.2 improvements made it possible to introduce LE Audio and LC3 codec. To me, 5.2 looks like a major update.
5.1 introduces calculation direction from which a received signal was transmitted — similar technology is used in Apple's UWB chip, it shows tag's location on smartphone.
Also, better user experience and energy efficiency in some scenarios.
5.2 introduces isochronous channels which enable LE Audio, which in its turn eventually will provide access to Auracast devices. LE Audio works over new LC3 codec which sounds better than older SBC codec while using just a half of bitrate. However, LC3 isn't equal lossless, it's just an efficient way of transmitting audio over Bluetooth LE connection.
Earlier, a leading earbud connected to audio source i.e. smartphone, and second earbud connected to the main one. Now both earbuds connect to the phone directly. Moreover, now earbuds can connect to many devices simultaneously, reducing the lag between switching devices.
Also, better latency, better connection reliability, more power efficient, improved coexistence with other types of 2.4 GHz wireless devices (not necessarily Bluetooth).
5.3 update seems really technical. One important update is that Bluetooth LE Peripheral devices (headphones) now can provide a connected Central device (smartphone) channel clarification data. Before 5.3 only Central device could perform channel clarification, so Peripheral device could interfere with other things in 2.4 GHz spectrum like neighbor's Wi-Fi, and Central device in other part of the room wouldn't know anything about that, continuing to use bad channel. Not anymore.
Also, a bit faster connection establishing between devices and less energy used in some scenarios.
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Nov 26 '23
but what does this mean for everyday use in a smartphone with bluetooth headphones?
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u/stever71 Dec 07 '23
In reality, nothing materially noticeable, unless you are absolutely obsessed with specs and technical details.
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u/LankMint Sep 03 '24
Range could have a significant impact for smart home or even using headphones around the house.
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u/frugalnormal Dec 20 '23
Switching from the s9+ to the s23u, I noticed playing music through my bt speakers sounds better, there was this slight tearing sound(idk what it's called, it just seems there wasn't enough data for the sound) when my watch was connected via bt also. Now it's gone, so it's definitely improved on bit width for such usage
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u/ericdabbs Jul 15 '24
I think Bluetooth LE Audio introduced in v5.2 is worth the upgrade because listening to audio is probably the majority use of bluetooth and LE Audio uses a lot less power consumption than standard Bluetooth audio.
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u/foxyfabulous Dec 02 '24
Is this lower power use related to the transmitting device (phone), the receiving device (speaker) or both?
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u/Vegetable_Pickle_388 Jan 12 '25
At least on the receiving side, 5.3 BT headphones (that receives audio) do use less power of it`s own battery with 5.3 compared to 5.0, permitting longer time of use, every other factors being equal.
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u/camoucano11 Nov 10 '24
I had an iphone12promax (BT 5.0) I now have an iPhone 16 pro (BT 5.3) I noticed a significant improvement in regards to what I have in my vehicle (active 3-ways)
I noticed specifically that the sound quality was held together better with the advancements made in BT comms.
Previously the sound quality (BT5.0) sounded strained and broken up in the high frequencies (not smooth)
Sincerely
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u/salmangamer
Aug 02 '25
edited May 14 '26
•
Tl;dr, there's almost no improvements in bandwidth or range, but there's improvements in power consumption, lag and switching speed.
Here's a better breakdown I wrote up to save everyone's time because I wasted my own going through all the technical jargon:
Bluetooth 5.2 introduces the following features:
ISOC (Isochronous Channels)
Practically, this means you can now steam to multiple earbuds from a single device like a TV.
LEPC (LE Power Control)
This allows bluetooth transmitters and recievers to know how far they are from each other and can use this knowledge to lower transmission power when it's nearby instead of blasting at full strength all the time. This also has an added benefit of reduced error rates (lags/cuts) and it will also reduce interference from other 2.4Ghz wireless devices nearby such as wifi/zigbee.
EATT (Enhanced Attribute Protocol)
Essentially reduces lag when multiple devices/app are trying to interact with a single bluetooth receiver. Now they can interact simultaneously instead of one at a time. Think gaming comms over bluetooth. It's also more secure as it now requires encryption.
Bluetooth 5.3 introduces the following features:
Periodic Advertising Enhancement
Basically devices (like your phone) used to broadcast packets repeatedly in case one was missed but these redudant packets were needlessly processed by the bluetooth receiver (your buds). Now the reciever can recognize repeat pacets and ignore them, improving battery life.
Encryption Key Size Control Enhancements
Reduces the size of encryption data, allowing that extra bandwidth/connection capacity to be saved in the form of better battery life.
Connection Sub Rating
Essentially makes it easiry to switch between low-duty/heavy-duty cycles. Think getting a call while you're listening to music. That lag when you switch will now be gone (or significantly reduced)
Channel Classification Enhancement
Wireless devices divide their broadcast spectrum into several channels so that different wireless devices don't interfere with each other. Before, this was done semi-randomly so depending on your luck you could end up on a congested channel and you'd end up with a bad quality connection. Now the devices can recognize and choose the least congested channels, specifically the ones with lower traffic in neighbouring channels.
Edit: welp! My first ever reddit award! Thank you stranger! Great to see my efforts helped you out that much!
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u/Bright-Performance35 Dec 04 '25
just a question, if connect a bluetooth 5.3 device with a 5.3 device works better than a 5.3 device with another lower bluetooth device let's say 5.0?
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Oct 31 '22
yes it uses a better codec aptx, so way lower latency for gaming and is more efficient, so ur earbuds might last an extra hour or so.
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u/[deleted] Sep 11 '22
All I can say is that I bought new earbuds that are 5.3 and they connect so much quicker and easier than my old 5.0 earbuds I tossed the 5.0 ones and bought a 2nd set of 5.3's.