Main differences between Bluetooth Low Energy and traditional Bluetooth

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), also known as Bluetooth Low Power (BLP), is a Bluetooth communication technology designed for low-power applications. Its specification name in the Bluetooth technology standard is Bluetooth Low Energy, and in terms of technical implementation, it is often called Bluetooth Smart. BLE was initially introduced into the Bluetooth 4.0 standard to meet the needs of specific application scenarios such as low power consumption, short-range communication and periodic data transmission.

Here are the main differences between Bluetooth Low Energy and traditional Bluetooth:

1. Power consumption:

Bluetooth Low Energy: BLE focuses on extremely low power consumption and is suitable for scenarios that require long-term standby and periodic data transmission. When inactive, BLE devices can enter low-power sleep mode, greatly extending battery life.

Traditional Bluetooth: Traditional Bluetooth usually has higher power consumption and is suitable for scenarios that require higher transmission rates and long-term continuous communication.

2. Communication range:

Bluetooth Low Energy: BLE is generally suitable for short-range communication, and the communication range is usually between a few meters to tens of meters.

Traditional Bluetooth: Traditional Bluetooth usually has a longer communication range, which can reach hundreds of meters.

3. Data transfer rate:

Bluetooth Low Energy: BLE usually works at a lower data transmission rate and is suitable for low-bandwidth application scenarios.

Traditional Bluetooth: Traditional Bluetooth can provide higher data transmission rates and is suitable for application scenarios that require larger bandwidth, such as audio transmission.

4. Connection time:

Bluetooth Low Energy: BLE is generally designed for short connection times, reducing power consumption by quickly establishing and disconnecting connections.

Classic Bluetooth: Classic Bluetooth typically supports longer sustained connections.

5. Application scenarios:

Bluetooth low energy consumption: BLE is suitable for applications that have strict power consumption requirements, such as smart watches, health monitoring, smart homes, sensors, and wearable devices.

Traditional Bluetooth: Traditional Bluetooth is suitable for applications that require higher transmission rates such as audio equipment, file transfer, and wireless printing.

Overall, Bluetooth Low Energy is a Bluetooth technology designed to meet the needs of the Internet of Things (IoT) and low-power devices. It has significant advantages in specific application scenarios by reducing power consumption, shortening connection time, and limiting communication range.