Bluetooth 5 is here, with big benefits for the gadgets we use every day

Great news for everyone trying to live a more wireless life: Bluetooth just got an impressive upgrade. There are benefits all kinds of devices, but smart-home gadgets in particular will get a lot more versatile.

The association that sets the wireless tech standard, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), announced it has officially codified Bluetooth 5, the next version of the Bluetooth specification. With this news, manufacturers can begin building the new tech into their products going forward. 

Bluetooth 5 will be a major step up from the current standard for wireless connectivity, version 4.2. It's twice as fast, with four times the range and eight times the bandwidth. Along with the increased performance specs, the Bluetooth SIG claims it works in harmony while in range of other wireless connection technologies. Read more...