Why does the Bluetooth version need to be constantly updated?

There is demand for new technologies and us cases. If Bluetooth would not be developed than proprietary standards supporting these new technologies and use cases would arrise. It is better to have one standard rather multiple vendor specific proprietary standards.

I dont think the price grow always. Bluetooth is good that it is backward compatible and many new features can be implemented using older chips with just chaning firmware (software). Note that many chip BT/BLE vendors do this and for example Noric regularly increments supported Bluetooth version on older chips.

Bluetooth went through several different iterations - early upgrades (Classic, EDR) focused more on improving data rates, while later upgrades address complexity and low-power requirements (Smart, BLE) while adding special capabilities (e.g. larger packets, AoA, ToA measurements for ranging) and also improving range (Coded PHY) or data rate (2M PHY).

The technology progresses because there is an application for it - costs actually reduced for BLE versus Classic because of the reduced complexity. The needs of consumers have changed too - expectations on size, battery life has placed pressure on better wireless connectivity.

- Gough

deryunpony said:

In theory, the more advanced the Bluetooth chip, the higher the cost.

That's not quite the case. For example, when PSoC4 BLE modules (BLE 4.0 / 4.1 / 4.2) were released approx. 10 years ago they were one of the most competitively priced (they combined ARM M0+ MCU with BLE stack). I seem to recall the price point being around $10. Now you can get BLE modules from same manufacturer from $6 upwards.

Then OEM's like Espressif came along and they've introduced BLE 5 modules at even lower prices at sub $5.

In my experience often the higher priced modules have more memory and faster processors and have nothing really to do with the Bluetooth wireless stack etc.

deryunpony said:

Why does the Bluetooth version need to be constantly updated?

Why does any technology need to be updated? New features enable new applications and use. As we explore those new capabilities we envision even newer ones!

The ubiquity of a nearly seamless, and for the most part secure, wireless protocol opens up a world of possibilities. In the 2000s, Bluetooth was viewed as a wireless-serial connection between PC, laptops, and mobile phones. That is where the focus for higher data rates came from with versions 2 and 3. However, with the popularity of a wireless handset for use with mobile phones, in cars, and even some desk phones came a need for better audio quality. How do you get higher quality? Faster data rates! Now you can stream audio data fast enough to get quality comparable to wires!

Then as Bluetooth 3 got to impressive speeds the new focus became power management, so Bluetooth 4 gets a little speed bump and introduces the Low-Energy protocol. (And wow, as a terrible firmware developer, I love BLE! It is so easy to develop for compared to the full stack.)

And now that practically everything that requires a WiFi connection also has a BLE radio for that initial setup, there are an unthinkable number of Bluetooth devices in the field. Wouldn't it be nice if they could mesh with each other? Kind of like how AirTags and Tiles do? Now you have Bluetooth 5....

So why does it update? Because the industry and its customers continue to see new ways to use this ubiquitous protocol.

Bluetooth was developed to fill a low-power short range wireless communications gap. It has evolved with upgrades to have lower power, higher bandwidth, longer range, lower latency etc.

These upgrades fill needs and demands in the industry for better performance. It would be possible to accommodate new technologies by creating completely new standards and call Bluetooth Low Energy something else since it is significantly different from Bluetooth. But the Bluetooth SIG decided to keep it all under the same umbrella and just keep upgrading/expanding the scope of Bluetooth.

Most commonly used protocols are constantly evolving, USB is changing, Wi-Fi is changing, cell phone radios are changing, etc. Standards that are not used much any more like RS232 are pretty static.

New technologies cost money to develop and those costs need to be recovered when selling products, but eventually the costs come down as the technology matures. You can still buy legacy Bluetooth devices which may be lower cost - which I do whenever those features are adequate for my application. 

I confess the upgrades at times add to my frustration. Didn't I already learn that...oh it is a new version and it is different than the other versions. Argh!

When I step back and examine the features that are added through change it makes sense. The changes are meeting needs. I command line much of my Linux knowledge. This stuff is so new much of that knowledge is not available. DIdn't that use to work...oh yeah it is a new version.

deryunpony I use Debian 11, as I only use Bluetooth for my headphones, I really don't care about the upgrades, unless it breaks my distro. like Firefox does (continuously crashes and restarts. or how about my trusty VLC (video streamer, now when it crashes it takes the whole system down!! :( 

Go Windows!

jancumps You are out of your mind.... Fools Love Micro$oft.