The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has officially adopted Bluetooth High Data Throughput (HDT), an optional feature in the new Bluetooth Core 7.0 standard that will nearly quadruple the maximum data transfer rate for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) devices from 2 Mbps to 7.5 Mbps. The first devices supporting the new technology are expected to arrive in 2027.
On November 4, 2026, the Bluetooth SIG announced the adoption of HDT, describing it as a significant milestone in the evolution of wireless technology. The adoption comes as part of the Bluetooth Core 7.0 specifications, and it introduces a new physical layer (PHY) that enables more robust frequency modulation schemes. This allows devices to communicate more efficiently and carry significantly more data over an established Bluetooth link.
A New Standard for High-Quality Audio
The Bluetooth SIG identifies premium wireless audio as the flagship application
for HDT. The increased bit rate will support high-resolution audio, spatial audio, and multichannel surround sound without requiring proprietary wireless formats like Qualcomm’s aptX Lossless or Sony’s LDAC. This standardization could make lossless audio more widely accessible across different brands of wireless earbuds and headphones.
Bluetooth HDT brings a new level of performance to Bluetooth technology, expanding the role it can play across consumer, commercial, and industrial markets and creating a powerful foundation for the next generation of wireless innovation, , CEO of the Bluetooth SIG, said in a statement.
Benefits Beyond Audio
The performance improvements from HDT extend beyond just audio. The technology promises better energy efficiency, increased capacity, and enhanced reliability for a range of connected devices.
By moving more data in less time, Bluetooth HDT allows device radios to be active for shorter periods and remain in low-power states for longer. This could lead to improved battery life for devices like smartwatches, which can sync large amounts of health and fitness data to a phone in seconds. Similarly, smart home products could receive firmware updates with virtually no user-visible downtime, and AI-powered devices like smart glasses could offload data for processing more efficiently.
Imagine a smartwatch that syncs hours’ worth of sensor-rich training data to your phone in seconds, smart glasses that deliver richer AI experiences by offloading data for processing, or a smart home product that completes a firmware update with virtually no user-visible downtime, , executive vice president of the short-range business unit at Nordic Semiconductor, said in a statement.
Together, these advancements enable more sophisticated applications, new product opportunities, and continued Bluetooth ecosystem growth, .
Manufacturers Decide Whether to Adopt Bluetooth 7.0 HDT
As an optional feature in Bluetooth Core 7.0, manufacturers are not required to adopt HDT. Support will depend on companies implementing the new radio hardware in their products. Qualcomm has already introduced its FastConnect 8800 mobile chip with Bluetooth 7 support, though it has not separately confirmed if it supports HDT. Samsung is already using Bluetooth 6.2 in its Galaxy Buds On and will likely bring Bluetooth 7.0 to its future Galaxy Buds or Galaxy Studio models.
The adoption by Apple remains a key question. While the company has not made a public statement, the Bluetooth SIG’s chief marketing officer, Ken Kolderup, indicated that Apple’s interest is high. [The decision] is left to each company,
Kolderup said, However, our current feeling is that [Apple’s] interest is very high, because Apple executives are participating and we are currently discussing the standard.
The first compatible devices are expected to launch in 2027, starting with premium wireless audio peripherals. This follows a similar timeline to previous Bluetooth versions, where Bluetooth 6.0 was released in September 2024 and the first Bluetooth 6.0 headphones arrived in June 2026. The Bluetooth SIG expects the first HDT-enabled products to arrive in 2027, and with Bluetooth 6.0, major headphone brands such as Sennheiser updated their flagships mid-year.
In late October, Nordic Semiconductor (OSE: NOD) demonstrated the HDT feature in silicon, making it one of the first vendors to showcase support for the new standard. Samsung vice-president Joonsuk Kim said, The significance of Bluetooth High Data Throughput goes well beyond speed.
🚨 FLAŞ GELİŞME: Kablosuz bağlantı teknolojilerinde devrim yaratacak yeni High Data Throughput (HDT) özelliği resmen duyuruldu ve veri aktarım hızını neredeyse dörde katlamaya hazırlanıyor. Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) tarafından resmen Bluetooth Core 7.0 standardına… pic.twitter.com/rmLafC3I6A
