Why many Bluetooth devices lack new features — and what matters now

Bluetooth 6.2 introduced features such as Shorter Connection Intervals for ultra-low latency and Channel Sounding Resilience to improve security. Yet many peripherals — headphones, earbuds, smartwatches, gaming mice and keyboards — do not deliver the expected performance because manufacturers choose which new features to include.

A device's Bluetooth version alone does not guarantee it supports the latest capabilities. Channel Sounding, highlighted in Bluetooth 6.0 as a way to broaden Find My Device-style functionality, has seen slow uptake; several Bluetooth 6.0 products on the market do not advertise it for device finding.

CES demonstrations showed Channel Sounding paired with Ultra-Wideband for stronger location and security — Motorola's Moto Tag 2 and Bauer Products' NE-CS smart RV lock were examples, and a Google Pixel 10 was shown unlocking the NE-CS lock. Still, consolidating all Bluetooth devices into a single Find My Device ecosystem seems unlikely for the next several years.