Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has officially launched Bluetooth 6.1, focusing on better user privacy and improved battery life. This new version of the wireless technology brings major changes that will benefit both consumers and device manufacturers.
Devices that support Bluetooth 6.1 are expected to arrive by 2026. These devices will perform better than the previous versions, especially in terms of energy usage. SIG has also announced a new bi-annual release plan, which means a new Bluetooth version will be released every two years from now on.
Bluetooth 6.1 introduces two key improvements in its core specifications. First, it strengthens privacy by enhancing how Bluetooth devices hide their identities. Second, it helps reduce the amount of battery used by connected devices, which is important for wearables and small gadgets.
Earlier, Bluetooth 6 used Resolvable Private Addresses (RPAs) that changed every 15 minutes to prevent tracking. However, hackers could still guess the timing and track users. Bluetooth 6.1 solves this issue by using randomized RPAs, which update at random times between 8 to 15 minutes. This makes it much harder for anyone to track Bluetooth devices.
The update also benefits battery life. In Bluetooth 6.1, the controller chip—not the processor—handles these random address updates. This reduces power usage, especially in smaller devices like wireless earbuds, smartwatches, fitness bands, and portable speakers. As a result, these devices will last longer on a single charge.
More technical details about Bluetooth 6.1 and its privacy improvements are available in the official documents published by SIG. These explain how the changes will protect users and improve overall performance in future devices.
Users may have to wait a few months before Bluetooth 6.1-supported products become available. In the meantime, SIG has confirmed that the next version of Bluetooth will be released by the end of 2025, thanks to their new two-year release schedule.
