This is how Bluetooth actually works and it's a lot more advanced than you might think
Published on Jan 30, 2026 at 9:04 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Jan 30, 2026 at 9:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Bluetooth is an incredible phenomenon, and it is truly fascinating to see how it actually works.
Many of us probably take the technology for granted, as it feels like a simple wireless connection between our phones and other devices.
The vast majority of us have probably used it for years, and are likely to have done so when playing music or playing other audio through a speaker and connecting to our cars.
But as we have seen, Bluetooth is actually a very complicated bit of technology, and one we probably shouldn’t take for granted.
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How Bluetooth actually works
First introduced in 1999, Bluetooth technology takes its name from the Viking King who is credited with bringing Scandinavians together back in the 10th Century.
The king in question is Harald Blatand, whose last name translates to Bluetooth in English.
Aside from its Viking origins, the technology is far more complex than just a basic Wi-Fi signal between two devices.
Officially, it is a ‘low-powered, wireless technology’ that connects different devices.
This allows the devices in question to share various data, be that files or audio.
Each signal can cover around 10 meters or 33ft, and they are sent over 79 frequency channels around 2.45GHz.
The devices sense and connect with each other automatically, with up to eight available to do so with one another at any given time.
Thanks to the 79 channels available, there is no possibility of interference with another Bluetooth device.
To avoid this, channels are picked at random.
If it conflicts with another two devices, the other devices hop to another frequency.
Devices, be they phones or earphones, often switch frequency thousands of times a second to avoid interference.
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How is it different from Wi-Fi communication?
It might sound like Bluetooth is similar to Wi-Fi, but in reality, it isn’t.
Wi-Fi is designed to share much larger amounts of data, usually between computers or other devices with internet access.
Plus, it does this over a longer distance, so more power is needed, as are stronger security measures.
With Bluetooth, things work a little bit differently.
Pairing a device to your phone via Bluetooth almost effectively ‘locks’ it into your phone.
Once saved, it can happen automatically, and it uses very little power compared to Wi-Fi.
Most of us will use it to stream music to our earphones, which involves quite a small amount of data by comparison.
It is remarkable just how complex the technology actually is.
So while it might seem simple, the technology is far more complicated than any of us may have realized.
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Henry joined the Supercar Blondie team in February 2025, and since then has covered a wide array of topics ranging from EVs, American barn finds, and the odd Cold War jet. He’s combined his passion for cars with his keen interest in motorsport and his side hustle as a volunteer steam locomotive fireman at a leading heritage steam railway in England.
