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ZDNET's key takeaways
- The current Bluetooth Core Specification is Bluetooth 6.2.
- It's up to manufacturers to integrate the latest Bluetooth features into consumer tech products.
- Although Channel Sounding adoption is slow, Auracast adoption is gaining momentum.
I've attended two CES shows so far, and undoubtedly, the most informative meeting I've had is with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). Bluetooth is ubiquitous in our devices, but aside from wirelessly connecting us to our things, the technology feels obscure and cryptic.
Also: CES 2026: 7 biggest news stories across TVs, laptops, and other weird gadgets you missed
I talked with the Bluetooth team about all things Channel Sounding, Bluetooth 6.0, and Auracast, and the largest takeaway might surprise you: we're thinking about Bluetooth all wrong. Here's why.
Bluetooth 6.2 is here, so where are all the new features?
The Bluetooth SIG recently published Bluetooth 6.2, with key features including Shorter Connection Intervals, which enable ultra-low latency for wireless peripheral devices, and Channel Sounding Resilience for enhanced security in wireless key applications.
However, many devices, especially peripherals, such as headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, and gaming mice and keyboards, don't perform as well as you'd hoped over a Bluetooth connection. The Bluetooth SIG often announces promising features, but they're not in your devices. Why? Manufacturers.
Also: What is Bluetooth 6.0? How the new audio connectivity standard changes the way you listen
The Bluetooth team told me that implementing the latest Bluetooth features within a Bluetooth Core Specification is a decision made entirely by manufacturers, even if a device contains the latest Bluetooth version. Therefore, you shouldn't allow a device's Bluetooth version to carry too much weight, because there's a chance the manufacturer will omit the best features.
Channel Sounding was all the rage. Where is it?
Bluetooth Channel Sounding was a standout feature in Bluetooth 6.0, proving that the Bluetooth SIG had developed a technology to democratize Find My Device capabilities. Yet, several Bluetooth 6.0 devices are now on the market, and none of them advertise Channel Sounding in a Find My Device context.
As mentioned above, the decision to include Channel Sounding is at the discretion of manufacturers, whatever their reason. However, applications of Channel Sounding are emerging in the Bluetooth tracker and smart lock industries.
At CES 2026, Motorola's Moto Tag 2 demonstrated how Channel Sounding, for faster device discovery and secure connections, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB), for precise location tracking, can work together to strengthen the tag's location and security features.
The Bauer Products NE-CS smart RV lock, also announced at CES 2026, incorporates Channel Sounding. The Bluetooth technology offers improved distance awareness between the lock and the key device, as well as enhanced security to prevent interference and vulnerabilities.
Also: I replaced my deadbolt with this Apple HomeKey smart lock - and it's an iPhone user's dream
At the show, Bauer demonstrated how a Google Pixel 10 smartphone with Bluetooth 6.0 compatibility can unlock the NE-CS smart lock via Bluetooth.
However, envisioning a world where all of your Bluetooth devices are consolidated into one, large Find My Device ecosystem may be far-fetched, at least for the next several years. Consider this: Bluetooth Auracast was announced in 2022, with widespread adoption gaining the most traction in 2025, with more anticipated in 2026. To put it simply, Channel Sounding has a way to go.
You should focus on Auracast for now
Consumer audio enthusiasts should remain excited about Auracast, a major Bluetooth feature that enables audio to be broadcast from one device to an unlimited number of receivers. If you've purchased headphones or earbuds within the last three years, these devices might already contain the hardware necessary to be compatible with Auracast, even via an over-the-air software update.
Also: Your Sony headphones just got a useful Bluetooth upgrade with the latest software patch
Newer audio devices are being introduced to the market with Auracast, allowing consumers to access a range of broadcasting features. Because smartphones, headphones, earbuds, and hearing aids are all equipped with Bluetooth, using its standardized audio broadcasting technologies allows consumers to bypass brand lock-in. Auracast's features include broadcasting audio from a listening device, such as a smartphone, to several Bluetooth speakers.
Other applications of Auracast include privately connecting hearing devices to public broadcasts, such as PA announcements in airports or train stations; connecting earbuds or headphones to a TV in a sports bar; or sharing audio from your smartphone with a nearby friend's headphones or earbuds.
Also: Your Android phone just got a major Bluetooth upgrade for free - how it works
Google and Android have been notable adopters of Auracast in smartphones, with several Android phones capable of acting as Auracast transmitters, sharing audio with others, or serving as assistants, acting as a middleman between a receiver and a transmitter.
Several Bluetooth speakers, earbuds, headphones, and hearing aids are compatible with, or can be updated to be compatible with Auracast. More brands are expected to adopt the technology this year.
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