A Bluetooth device is a wireless transmitter and receiver that provides connectivity between devices, enabling them to communicate with others wirelessly using radio signals. Bluetooth 4.1 vs Bluetooth 4.0 are both the latest versions of the wireless technology that was originally introduced in 1994. The aim behind introducing the standard is to provide easy connectivity with low power consumption. Let discuss the Difference Between Bluetooth 4.0 And 4.1, which is better with some pros and cons of each technology.
difference between bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1
The two versions of Bluetooth are not very different from each other in terms of their internal working. The major difference between the two standards is the availability of new features in Bluetooth 4.1, while most of the features present in Bluetooth 4.0 are available only in version 4.1.
The features that are addition in Bluetooth 4.1 include the following:
- Improved broadcasting capacity over previous versions of Bluetooth
- Enhanced security with faster pairing and data encryption, along with authentication signal.
- Upgraded packet structure to enable more powerful applications
- More robust connection which reduces power consumption during transitions between active and idle states. This helps in extending the battery life.
- Increased broadcasting capacity by adding 8-32 channels for transmitting data over a period of time to increase bitrate, speed and reliability of Bluetooth connections.
- Enhanced coexistence with WiFi by using single radio signal band in 2.4 GHz frequency.
- Additional support for smart sensors like accelerometer, gyroscope, compass etc.
is bluetooth 4.1 compatible with bluetooth 4.0?
Bluetooth 4.1 is backward compatible with Bluetooth 4.0, as it supports most of the features that were introduced in Bluetooth 4.0, but not all features can be supported simultaneously due to radio signal issues and potential power consumption problems.
What are the benefits of bluetooth 4.1
Some of the major changes introduced by Bluetooth 4.1 over version 4.0 includes an increase in broadcasting capacity over previous versions of Bluetooth, with 8-32 channels available for transmitting data at a given time. The enhanced coexistence with WiFi is another important feature, which enables the connection to use a single radio signal band in 2.4 GHz frequency. This not only helps in maintaining a stable connection but also saves power consumption by using a single band. The most prominent feature of Bluetooth 4.1, which is not available in Bluetooth 4.0, is the ability to connect with smart sensors like accelerometer etc. This makes it possible to add new features to devices without adding a physical button or port for connecting other components or accessories.
Which devices support bluetooth 4.1?
Bluetooth 4.1 is backward compatible with Bluetooth 4.0 devices and thus all the devices that support version 4.0 can be connected to a device that supports version 4.1 using the same pairing mechanism, but not all features present in Bluetooth 4.0 can be supported simultaneously by older versions of Bluetooth due to certain limitations like power consumption, radio signal interference and limitations in hardware specifications.
Which version should you buy or use?
It all depends on your specific requirements from a device regarding features, power consumption etc. If you are not using any smart sensors but want to connect your phone or laptop to other devices like speakers then you can choose Bluetooth 4.0 as it supports most of the feature available in 4.1 along with backward compatibility with previous versions of Bluetooth. If you are looking for some smart features like connecting your wearable device to an accessory, support for smart sensors etc., then choosing Bluetooth 4.1 can be an advantage as it supports these features.
What are the limitations of bluetooth 4.1?
The main issue with the increased broadcasting capacity is that it uses a huge chunk of radio signal band, which can cause interference or limit other devices from accessing the same frequency. Another problem is high power consumption as Bluetooth 4.1 requires more power to transmit data over a longer period of time due to having a larger number of channels available for carrying data.
As of 2015, the primary use case for Bluetooth 4.0 is wireless audio streaming (taken over by Bluetooth Low Energy after 2010), while Bluetooth 4.1 supports low-energy technology but is not widespread in use.
While Bluetooth 4.1 devices can connect to older versions without any compatibility issues, older versions cannot support all the features available in the new standard.
Another limitation of Bluetooth 4.1 devices is high power consumption which might be an issue in battery operated devices.
While both Bluetooth 4.0 and 4.1 are capable of transmitting data over short distances, the range is greater with earlier versions due to increased power consumption in 4.1 devices which decreases the signal strength with propagation distance.
Another drawback of version 4.1 is that it uses more hardware resources than its predecessor, which can be a problem in devices with limited resources.
Lastly, newer features like streaming audio and transmitting of messages and notifications cannot be supported by earlier versions of Bluetooth.
Is there a difference between these two versions in terms of battery life or speed?
Bluetooth 4.1 has a longer battery life than its predecessor due to decreased power consumption, but the range is shorter for devices that are compatible with Bluetooth 4.1.
While earlier versions have 3Mbps bandwidth, version 4.1 has 24 Mbps which makes it faster for data transfer over short distances. However the signal strength decreases with propagation distance, so it might not be as fast for data transfer over long distances.
Another difference between these two versions is the number of channels available for data transmission which is 79 in Bluetooth 4.0 and 4092 in Bluetooth 4.1 which enhances throughput and makes it faster for data transfer over short distances such as audio streaming and low energy technology.
As of now, Bluetooth 4.1 offers better power management and data transfer speeds than its predecessor, but 3Mbps bandwidth might be insufficient for some applications like high definition audio streaming. This could be an issue in devices that are built with Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility as these cannot support all the features available in version 4.1.
What is the difference between Bluetooth Low Energy and regular Bluetooth connections?
In Bluetooth Low Energy connections, devices can work together in close proximity without draining out the battery life of either device.
Regular Bluetooth connections are used mostly for audio streaming and other short range data transfers like transferring files or connecting smart accessories with your phone etc., (although they do provide low power consumption) but they cannot be used for setting up a personal area network or transferring data over long distances.
As Bluetooth Low Energy connections provide a longer battery life and range, they are the preferred method of transferring data over long distances.
Why does it matter which version you have on your device?
When the standard was introduced in 1994, it enabled wireless connectivity among devices such as mobile phones, laptops and other home appliances. However with an increased number of devices available in the market every day, supporting every single device by default becomes a costly affair for manufacturers. So to avoid this companies choose a specific version of Bluetooth and continue using it until it is no longer efficient to do so. This way it reduces the cost of production and maintenance at the same time, which further increases profitability for a company.
Conclusion
So even if your phone supports Bluetooth 4.0, it may only initially support version 4.1 or vice versa depending on the manufacturer and which Bluetooth standard was chosen during manufacturing for that specific device. It is wise to check what version of Bluetooth is supported by your phone before buying an accessory compatible with a different version of Bluetooth because you might not be able to use it afterward, and this can lead to a considerable loss of money.
