Jada Jones/ZDNET
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**ZDNET’s Key Takeaways**
The most current iteration of the Bluetooth Core Specification is recognized as Bluetooth 6.2, marking the latest milestone in the evolution of this wireless communication standard. However, the mere existence of a new specification does not automatically mean consumers will immediately experience its benefits. The integration of these advancements into everyday technology rests entirely in the hands of individual manufacturers, who decide which capabilities to include in their hardware and software ecosystems. While some features—such as the promising but slowly adopted Channel Sounding—have not yet gained universal traction, others, notably Auracast, are steadily advancing and beginning to reshape how wireless audio is experienced across devices.
Over the course of my participation in two separate Consumer Electronics Shows (CES), no meeting has proven as enlightening or technically illuminating as my conversation with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the collective body responsible for overseeing Bluetooth development and standards. Bluetooth has become so deeply woven into the fabric of modern life that it often fades into the background—an invisible force connecting smartphones, headphones, computers, and even household appliances. Yet, despite its omnipresence, many people remain unaware of the intricate engineering and evolving innovation that sustain it.
**Bluetooth 6.2 Is Here — So Where Are the New Features?**
The Bluetooth SIG has officially published version 6.2 of the Bluetooth Core Specification, introducing several transformative elements, including Shorter Connection Intervals—designed to enable ultra-low latency and faster response times for wireless peripherals—and Channel Sounding Resilience, a feature meant to heighten data integrity and security in critical wireless key applications. These updates promise smoother, more reliable connectivity for devices such as wireless controllers, digital pens, and emerging Internet of Things (IoT) tools.
Despite these theoretical improvements, users often encounter performance gaps across common Bluetooth peripherals like headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, gaming accessories, and wireless keyboards. The disconnect between the capabilities described in the Bluetooth specification and the actual user experience can be attributed primarily to one factor: manufacturers. The Bluetooth SIG continuously sets benchmarks and requirements for the technology, but individual companies determine which features to implement when building products. As a result, owning a device labeled with the latest Bluetooth version number does not necessarily guarantee access to every cutting-edge capability. The Bluetooth team affirmed that implementation remains a manufacturer’s choice, even when the underlying chipset technically supports newer features. Thus, consumers should interpret Bluetooth version numbers as indicators of potential rather than promises of performance.
**Channel Sounding: The Feature Everyone Anticipated—But Rarely Encountered**
When Bluetooth 6.0 was unveiled, Channel Sounding emerged as one of its most discussed and futuristic features. This capability demonstrated the Bluetooth SIG’s vision to democratize “Find My Device” functionality—traditionally associated with proprietary ecosystems—by giving all manufacturers access to the same foundational technology. In theory, Channel Sounding could enable Bluetooth devices to measure distance and location more accurately, allowing users to locate lost or misplaced items with minimal additional hardware or power consumption.
However, even as the market has become saturated with devices claiming Bluetooth 6.0 compatibility, few if any have promoted Channel Sounding as a main feature. This slow adoption is not due to technical limitations but rather stems from the same dynamic at play throughout the Bluetooth ecosystem: manufacturers selectively enable the capabilities that align with their product strategies or cost constraints. Nonetheless, small but significant examples of Channel Sounding are emerging, particularly within the Bluetooth tracker and smart lock industries.
At CES 2026, Motorola showcased its Moto Tag 2—a compact Bluetooth tracker demonstrating how Channel Sounding can complement Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology to accelerate device discovery, strengthen location accuracy, and ensure more resilient wireless connections. Similarly, Bauer Products introduced the NE-CS smart RV lock, which incorporates Channel Sounding to improve spatial awareness between a key device and the lock mechanism while enhancing resistance to interference or unauthorized access. During the demonstration, a Google Pixel 10 smartphone featuring Bluetooth 6.0 support successfully unlocked the new NE-CS lock, illustrating how seamless integration of advanced Bluetooth features can enhance everyday interactions and security functionality.
Still, envisioning a unified, global ‘Find My Device’-style network powered solely by Bluetooth remains a distant prospect. Technological ecosystems evolve incrementally, and wide-scale interoperability typically follows years after initial feature introduction. As a point of comparison, Auracast—announced in 2022—has only recently begun seeing meaningful consumer-level adoption in 2025, with broader integration projected for 2026 and beyond. Channel Sounding, promising as it is, seems poised to follow a similar multi-year adoption trajectory.
**Auracast: The Future of Wireless Audio Sharing Has Already Begun**
While Channel Sounding’s full potential remains nascent, Auracast stands out as the most exciting and accessible Bluetooth advancement currently reaching consumers. This technology enables a single device to broadcast audio to an unlimited number of interconnected Bluetooth receivers simultaneously—an unprecedented leap in wireless broadcasting capability. For consumers who have purchased headphones or earbuds within the past several years, the hardware required for Auracast compatibility may already be present and only awaiting activation through a future firmware update.
New generations of audio equipment are arriving pre-equipped with Auracast, allowing users to create personal broadcasting networks in ways previously restricted to specialized audio systems. Because Bluetooth functions as a universal standard across smartphones, computers, hearing aids, and multimedia devices, Auracast’s implementation effectively eliminates the problem of brand exclusivity. For example, a single Auracast-enabled smartphone can transmit a live audio stream to multiple pairs of Bluetooth headphones or speakers without additional cables, hubs, or pairing complexity.
Beyond the consumer entertainment landscape, Auracast holds considerable promise in more practical and inclusive contexts. Imagine an airport terminal or railway station equipped with public announcement systems that broadcast directly to listeners’ hearing aids or earbuds, ensuring accessibility for individuals who are hard of hearing or situated in noisy environments. In a similar way, patrons at a bustling sports bar could tune their personal devices to the television of their choice, hearing play-by-play commentary without external noise distortions. Friends could easily share music or podcasts in real time simply by activating an Auracast session from a smartphone, avoiding the need for physical audio splitters or secondary apps.
Google and the broader Android ecosystem have emerged as enthusiastic champions of Auracast integration. Many Android smartphones can already function as transmitters, receivers, or even intermediaries that bridge communication between the two—creating a seamless, dynamic audio-sharing environment. Several headphone and speaker brands have confirmed that existing products will receive compatibility updates, while newly released devices are being designed with Auracast support from inception. The trend signals that 2026 may be the year Bluetooth evolves from a private connection protocol into a shared communication platform—fundamentally reimagining how we experience sound in both public and personal spaces.
Ultimately, while Channel Sounding represents a powerful concept that will undoubtedly mature over time, Auracast’s ongoing deployment offers immediate, tangible value to users. Together, these innovations signal a broader transformation in Bluetooth’s role—from a simple wireless connector to an expansive, inclusive, and intelligent communication standard that continues to define the future of connected lifestyles.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/bluetooth-forecase-ces-2026/
