Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Bluetooth are different, yet complementary wireless technologies. Each of them serves its own purpose, but when used together in a single device, users can benefit from improved performance and reliability. Start by understanding how each technology works and their distinct benefits.
What is Bluetooth Low Energy?
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), is a branch of Bluetooth technology designed to provide a low-power consumption, fast, efficient connection between two devices. While Bluetooth has been used for years to wirelessly connect two devices, it was initially designed as a cable replacement and not necessarily optimized for low power consumption. BLE is a major improvement over the classic Bluetooth in terms of power consumption, speed, and reliability.
BLE operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range and uses a variety of data rates to facilitate the needs of devices with different power requirements. The data rate of BLE can reach up to 250 kbps, allowing it to transfer larger amounts of data faster than classic Bluetooth. BLE is ideal for connecting devices that require low energy consumption and low latency like fitness trackers, home appliances, or low-energy sensors. BLE can operate for months or even years on a single charge, making it ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) and wearables.
BLE is designed to ensure reliable communication and prevent interference from other wireless connections. In order to do so, it uses GAP (Generic Access Profile) which enables devices to discover each other, and Pairing/Bonding which adds an extra layer of security and allows two devices to communicate. GAP is also often used to initiate connections between two devices, and BLE utilizes a different encapsulation format for secure communication called GATT (Generic Attribute Profile), which is designed to use less power.
What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a wireless technology used to quickly and efficiently exchange data with devices over short distances, within the same room. Bluetooth devices are generally inexpensive, have low power requirements, and since most devices, such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets, come with built-in Bluetooth support, its easy to take advantage of the technology.
Unlike BLE, which was developed for low-power, low latency connections, Bluetooth was designed to facilitate data exchange over greater distances than BLE can. Bluetooth is capable of achieving a data rate up to 3Mbps, making it well suited for streaming video, music, and voice calls.
The main differences between Bluetooth and BLE
The most obvious difference between both technologies is the average power output and range. However, aside from that, there are other differences between the two.
• BLE is optimized for low power, while Bluetooth is better suited for large data transfers.
• BLE typically has a shorter range, and is intended to be used in situations where two devices need to remain close together.
• Bluetooth can be used to connect devices which are separated by large distances (up to 100 meters), whereas BLE is limited to shorter ranges.
• BLE is designed for low latency communication, while Bluetooth can be delayed by higher data rates.
• Bluetooth is more secure than BLE, as it is capable of providing more encryption and authentication.
• BLE works well with low-power IoT devices, and is ideal for small, battery powered wearables which need to be monitored for extended periods of time.
Overall, the main differences between BLE and Bluetooth are the power consumption, range, the kind of data transfer, and the security. Even though both technologies are different, when used together, they can provide a level of performance and reliability that exceeds that of either technology on its own.
