Bluetooth SIG targets lossless audio + first HDT test
Plus: ESP32-H21 launches, UWB payments in Japan, and Channel Sounding demos
This Week in Bluetooth & UWB |
Mar 6, 2026 |
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In This Issue
→ Bluetooth SIG targets lossless audio
→ First Bluetooth LE HDT test solution → Espressif's new ESP32-H21 chip → UWB payments come to Japan → AI meets UWB radar sensing |
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Bluetooth LE
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ZDNET
The Bluetooth SIG's goal is to enhance its LE Audio radio to support hi-res and lossless audio via high-data throughput, standardizing the technology across brands and manufacturers. LE Audio also includes a framework for multi-channel audio playback, which is the foundation of spatial audio. The LC3 codec supports higher bandwidth, lower latency, and independent audio streams, enabling data transmission for 3D audio and spatial imaging. However, these features are unlikely to appear until the turn of the next decade.
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Bisinfotech
Rohde & Schwarz and Realtek demonstrated the first test solution for Bluetooth LE High Data Throughput (HDT) using the CMP180 platform. The HDT feature increases maximum data rates from 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps, enabling low-latency audio streaming, fast media sharing, and accelerated over-the-air software updates. The RTL8773J is a dedicated Bluetooth audio SoC that unifies BT Legacy, Bluetooth LE, LE Audio, and HDT.
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Notebookcheck
The ESP32-H21 adds an integrated DC-DC converter that reduces power consumption in battery-powered smart home and IoT devices. The chip supports Thread, Matter, Zigbee, and Bluetooth LE connectivity with a 32-bit RISC-V core running at 96 MHz, 320 KB SRAM, and active-mode current of approximately 8.2 mA for RX. The integrated converter reduces bill-of-materials costs, though the H21 is not a drop-in replacement for the H2 due to different pin definitions.
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Business Wire
Quectel announced the FCE870Q, a Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 module with a peak data rate of 5.8 Gbps. A highlight is the integration of Bluetooth 6.0 with built-in Channel Sounding for enhanced ranging accuracy and proximity-based applications. The module also features high accuracy distance measurement (HADM) for precise location tracking, dual-mode Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE audio support, and 2x2 MIMO across 2.4, 5.0, and 6.0 GHz bands. Dimensions are 15.0 mm × 13.0 mm × 1.8 mm.
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Embedded Computing Design
Ellisys and Metirionic are demonstrating combined tools at embedded world that enable engineers to evaluate Bluetooth Channel Sounding capabilities. The collaboration integrates Metirionic's Advanced Ranging Stack (MARS) with Ellisys's Bluetooth Vanguard Advanced Analysis System. The combined platform transforms raw I/Q data from commercial chipsets into application-ready distance and precision-angle information, giving engineers a clear path to explore high-accuracy distance and angle estimation.
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Phandroid
Qualcomm unveiled the Snapdragon Wear Elite, designed to transform smartwatches into always-on intelligent hubs. Connectivity includes 5G RedCap, Micro-Power Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 6.0, Ultra-Wideband, and satellite NB-NTN messaging. The chip delivers up to 5x improvement in single-core CPU performance and a 30% battery life increase. Google, Samsung, and Motorola are collaborating to integrate the processor into upcoming smartwatch models.
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Technobezz
Microsoft updated Windows 11 with individual volume sliders for each listener when using two sets of Bluetooth LE Audio headphones. The shared audio controls now let users adjust sound levels independently when connecting multiple pairs of wireless headphones simultaneously, expanding the LE Audio ecosystem on the desktop.
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PR Newswire
Midmark announced expanded capabilities around its Hybrid BLE/IR Sensory Network, a unified RTLS platform designed to eliminate the tradeoff between scalable visibility and precision automation. The system merges Bluetooth LE for facility-wide coverage with interoperable Wireless Infrared technology to achieve room-level or bed-level precision. Applications include nurse call automation, patient flow optimization, and delivery of location data to Electronic Medical Records systems.
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New Electronics
Nordic Semiconductor released a reference design to help developers build secure access control products using Aliro and Matter standards. The specification supports Bluetooth LE, Ultra-Wideband, and NFC, offering flexibility in how products are designed and deployed. Nordic's nRF54L Series chipset powers the design, enabling simultaneous operation of Aliro and Matter to reduce hardware complexity. The solution includes certified software for both standards plus hardware documentation, available through the nRF Connect SDK.
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Ultra-Wideband (UWB)
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Yahoo Finance
JCB and Resona Holdings announced a project to commercialize Ultra-Wideband payment technology for practical use. UWB enables secure, short-range wireless communication that can detect precise location and distance, making it suitable for contactless payment transactions. The technology operates through FiRa Consortium standards and offers enhanced security compared to traditional contactless methods by requiring closer proximity and precise distance verification.
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Just Auto
ARIA Sensing has teamed up with Algorized to develop an AI-driven UWB radar platform, launching with an in-cabin child presence detection system for vehicle integration. The platform combines ARIA Sensing's HYDROGEN 4×4 UWB Radar chip with edge-based AI software for human-centric applications. The HYDROGEN 4×4 supports three-dimensional sensing with digital beamforming at approximately five-degree angular resolution, programmable bandwidth up to 1.8 GHz, and a low-power framework.
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CNX Software
Qualcomm unveiled the FastConnect 8800, billed as the world's first mobile solution with a 4×4 Wi-Fi radio configuration. The chip supports an 11.6 Gbps PHY rate and integrates Bluetooth with 7.5 Mbps High Data Throughput mode. The UWB implementation includes 1× Tx + 3× Rx chains with support for RADAR and advanced ranging via FiRa and CCC standards. Thread connectivity and Proximity AI capabilities for directional awareness round out the package, targeting smartphones, tablets, laptops, and robotics.
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P.S. Do you think standardized Bluetooth lossless audio will have a real chance competing against proprietary codecs like LDAC and aptX? Hit reply — I'd love to hear your take.
— Mohammad Afaneh
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