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Bluetooth 6.0 is officially available, and it should offer much more help in finding your lost devices.
The newly launched core spec adds real distance awareness through Channel Sounding. This should make it easier to use Find My services (such as those from Apple and Google) without leaning as much on ultra-wideband. You’ll know if you’re getting close to your missing earbuds, for instance.
This tentpole feature also promises better security. If your phone doubles as a digital car key or door pass, it will make sure that you’re physically close before it grants access. An intruder can’t open your smart lock unless they’re standing in front of the door.
Bluetooth 6.0 otherwise includes a host of subtle but practical updates. There are improvements for low-latency audio, faster and more reliable “connectionless” data, and better user interfaces. It should be easier for one device to discover another’s feature support.
It might take a while for 6.0 devices to reach the market. Manufacturers and software developers still have to integrate the new standard into their products, and it could be months before they’re ready.
With that in mind, Bluetooth 6.0 could still represent an important milestone. Ultra-wideband is extremely precise and can point you in the direction of a lost item, not just tell you the distance. However, it can add to the cost of a phone and isn’t ubiquitous. Bluetooth, in contrast, is near-universal — even budget phones could have advanced item tracking and digital key support.
