How Does BLE Use Less Power?
BLE uses the same radio wavebands as Bluetooth and allows two devices to exchange data in many of the same ways.
The difference is that BLE devices remain asleep in between connections. They are also designed to only communicate for a few seconds when they do connect.
This is in contrast to “Classic Bluetooth,” which is always on and was designed for continuous communication that often lasts hours.
Switching off between transmissions allows BLE devices to communicate effectively at a fraction of the power. It’s not uncommon for a BLE device to last for a year on a single battery.
BLE vs. Bluetooth
BLE is primarily used to save power but there are actually several important differences.
- Bluetooth offers continuous communication in two directions. BLE only communicates in short bursts, and some BLE connections only go in one direction.
- Bluetooth performs data transfers at 1-3MBs. BLE is limited to 125KBs-2MBs.
- Bluetooth is voice capable and BLE is not.
- Bluetooth connections have a latency of up to 100ms. BLE connections have a latency of 6ms. Keep in mind that lower is better.
- Bluetooth uses 1 Watt of power. BLE uses between 0.01 and 0.5 Watts. This means that some BLE devices use 100 times less power.
Do All Smartphones Support BLE?
Since 2012, almost all smartphones support both Classic Bluetooth and BLE. BLE support was introduced in iPhone 4 and Android 4.3. BLE is also supported by most Windows, Linux, and Mac devices.
What Are Bluetooth Beacons?
Bluetooth Low Energy is more than just a tool for data transfers. Arguably the most important application of the technology is the creation of beacons.
Bluetooth beacons are hardware transmitters that use BLE technology to send out an ID number every few seconds.
This ID number is then picked up by BLE devices in the area. If a device recognizes the ID number, it can connect to the beacon and receive information.
For example, a beacon could be used to send notifications to any BLE-enabled smartphone with a specific app installed.
What Is Bluetooth Low Energy Used For?
BLE is never going to replace bluetooth. But it has become the standard technology for many applications.
Smart Devices
Most smart devices use BLE to communicate with each other. Many smart devices have limited power and wouldn’t be able to support Bluetooth use. BLE is also found in most smartphones, so it provides easy compatibility.
Proximity Marketing
BLE can be used to send promotional messages to nearby smartphones. This allows marketing to be targeted to people solely based on location. For example, a store might send notifications to people as they enter the premises.
Indoor Location Tracking
GPS is obviously effective at location tracking. But it’s usually not accurate enough to be used within small areas such as inside buildings. BLE provides a useful alternative for indoor tracking. When combined with beacons, it can be used to track a smartphone from room to room.
Asset Management
BLE can also be used to track physical items and is therefore popular in asset management. Each item to be tracked is given a BLE tag. Beacons are then set up throughout the premises to listen for the unique ID of each tag.
What Is Bluetooth Low Energy Not Used For?
The original Bluetooth is still used for applications where power consumption is not a priority. Bluetooth is faster and is therefore still popular for transferring large files. It is also used for PC peripherals, such as keyboards and headsets, which require continuous communication.
How Secure Is Bluetooth Low Energy?
All BLE connections are equipped with AES-128 end-to-end encryption. This prevents data from being read if it’s ever intercepted.
Man-in-the-Middle attacks are possible, but this can only happen for a limited period when two BLE devices are pairing.
The limited range of BLE is also beneficial from a security standpoint. Any attempt to hack a BLE device will require the hacker to get close to it.
How BLE Changed the Internet of Things
Many of the most popular applications of the Internet of Things would not be possible without Bluetooth Low Energy. By reducing power consumption, it allows IoT devices to be significantly smaller and to last longer.
BLE is therefore responsible for many of the wearables, tags, and other smart devices that we use today. It’s likely that BLE will only become more important as more devices start connecting to each other.