Imagine how content this AirPods Pro fan would be with some additional cutting-edge audio equipment. (TechRadar credit for image.)
Apple just filed a declaration stating that it expects to utilise a more advanced version of Bluetooth than it ever has, which is potentially excellent news for the iPhone 14 and AirPods Pro 2, since it would enable a few extremely beneficial audio enhancements.
The file by Apple with the Bluetooth control group(opens in new tab), which was discovered by MacRumors(opens in new tab), indicates that the company may begin using Bluetooth 5.2 in upcoming products, which it hasn't done so far. Although Bluetooth 5.3 is mentioned in the filing, MacRumors notes that for some reason Apple consistently files for a version higher than the Bluetooth version it actually uses.
Why does it matter what Bluetooth version Apple is using? Because Bluetooth 5.2 has a unique new feature that is quite helpful, despite the fact that it is, should we say, more practical than outrageously thrilling.
It's called LE Audio, and it's made to provide you with better audio, particularly when the link between your phone and your headphones becomes shaky. The new approach, according to the Bluetooth website, can sound better than current Bluetooth audio even if it can only utilise 50% as much data as the connection can handle.
With LE Audio devices, you may move considerably farther away from them or put up more barriers between your phone and your headphones before the sound stops working. Just feel more dependable and adaptable.
It also suggests that AirPods using it may have the potential for better battery life because it may transmit in excellent quality but much more effectively.
That is, of course, provided that Apple adopts it. Just having Bluetooth 5.2 in your phone and earbuds doesn't necessarily mean you actually get LE Audio because it's a feature that needs to be properly enabled in goods.
Share audio more easily
AuraCast, which allows audio to be shared through Bluetooth with numerous devices simultaneously, is another intriguing innovation that Bluetooth 5.2 offers. This capability hasn't previously been feasible.
There are many potential applications for this. If AirPods are compatible, you might be able to connect to a shared screen in a public space and use the audio for your own use. If iPhones are compatible, you might be able to share your music or the audio from a video with several pairs of headphones from different manufacturers (as long as they also support AuraCast).
It might resemble AirPods' present audio sharing feature on steroids.
The iPhone 13 and older, as well as any current AirPods (including the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max), can only handle Bluetooth 5.0 at maximum, therefore neither of these functionalities can be added to them. Therefore, even though a.2 update may not seem like much, we believe it will have a significant impact.
