Bluetooth Classic vs. Bluetooth Smart: Key Differences Explained

This article breaks down the key differences between Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth Smart, helping you understand which technology is better suited for different applications.

  • The original Bluetooth specification 4.0 is referred to as Bluetooth Classic.
  • The low-energy version, Bluetooth specification 4.1, is known as Bluetooth Smart. It’s also commonly called BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy). BLE encompasses the newer Bluetooth versions 4.2 and 5.0.

Here’s a comparison in a table format:

Bluetooth Classic vs. Bluetooth Smart Specifications

FeatureBluetooth ClassicBluetooth Smart
VersionBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.1+
Frequency2.4 GHz2.4 GHz
Coverage Range10 to 100 meters~10 meters
Throughput0.7 to 2.1 Mbps~25 Kbps
Maximum Nodes7No limit
Latency (Data)~2.5 msSeveral ms
Latency (Connection)~100 ms<6 ms
Target ApplicationsHigh throughput, interoperabilityLow power consumption, IoT devices