Bluetooth technology: Understanding Classic, LE, and audio codecs

Bluetooth technology operates through two distinct radio types: Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). Bluetooth Classic is optimized for continuous data streams, such as music streaming or phone calls, utilizing 79 channels to achieve bitrates up to 3 Mb/s. In contrast, Bluetooth LE focuses on power efficiency, security, and extended networking, making it ideal for devices like smartwatches.

Audio quality within these connections is further determined by codecs, which encode and decode audio between source and receiver. While SBC is the universal standard, high-performance options include Sony’s LDAC, Qualcomm’s aptX family, and Samsung’s Scalable codec. Because Bluetooth currently faces a technical ceiling of approximately 2 Mbps, no standard Bluetooth device can manage true lossless audio without relying on a Wi-Fi connection. The effectiveness of a codec depends heavily on the compatibility between the specific smartphone, headphones, and audio files used.