Bluetooth® audio streaming has been around for decades and is still experiencing steady, step-ladder growth. Many technologies with that level of longevity have inevitably reached market saturation. But the demand and desire for mobility and flexibility continues to increase, and Bluetooth technology is helping to drive it.

Bluetooth technology is also helping create new use cases and products, from broadcast audio to enhanced hearing assistance, both of which are supported by Bluetooth LE Audio – a new innovation in Bluetooth audio that is driving future growth.

Building on 20 years of innovation, Bluetooth LE Audio will enhance the performance of Bluetooth® audio, add support for hearing aids, and introduce exciting new features that will enable the creation of new products and use cases. The promise of Bluetooth LE Audio and the impact the upcoming adoption of the full Bluetooth LE Audio specification suite will have on industry forecasts is already reflected in this year’s Bluetooth Market Update.

 

Higher Quality at Lower Power

Bluetooth LE Audio provides higher audio quality at lower power, enabling audio developers to meet increasing consumer performance demands and drive continuous growth across the audio peripheral market (headset, earbuds, etc.). Thanks, in part, to Bluetooth LE Audio, analysts predict in the 2022 Bluetooth Market Update that by 2026, annual Bluetooth earbud shipments will climb to 619 million, making up 66 percent of all wireless headsets.

The lower power capabilities of Bluetooth LE Audio will also enable new types of audio peripherals — such as a wider range of Bluetooth® enabled hearing aids — and allow greater flexibility for better form factors. With Bluetooth LE Audio, smaller, less intrusive, more comfortable hearing devices will emerge, enhancing the lives of those with hearing loss.

FEATURED REPORT

The Bluetooth® Market Update

The Bluetooth® Market Update provides updated forecasts and trends in key Bluetooth solution areas and highlights Bluetooth use cases that will drive future growth.

SEE THE LATEST REPORT

New Broadcast Audio Feature

Bluetooth LE Audio will also add Auracast™ broadcast audio, a new capability that will enable an audio source device (e.g., a smartphone) to broadcast one or more audio streams to an unlimited number of audio sink devices (e.g., earbuds, speakers, hearing aids, etc.). This new capability will deliver unique audio experiences that will enhance the way we engage with each other and the world around us, allowing people to listen together, hear better, and unmute the world.

The introduction of broadcast audio opens significant new opportunities for innovation and will enable Bluetooth® technology to be installed in public locations, allowing people to interact with audio in various public venues and environments like never before. Over 60 million locations have the long-term potential to benefit from deploying Bluetooth broadcast audio.

Learn more about Bluetooth LE Audio, and check new audio streaming market forecasts and trends in the Bluetooth Market Update.

See the full report.

FEATURED INNOVATION

Bluetooth LE Audio

Bluetooth® LE Audio will enhance the performance of Bluetooth audio, add support for hearing aids, and introduce Auracast™ broadcast audio, an innovative new Bluetooth capability with the potential to once again change the way we experience audio and connect with the world around us.

LEARN MORE

The Auracast™ PA System That Fits in Your Pocket

Watch how Auracast™ broadcast audio enables a simple clip-on microphone to provide a high-quality…

Growing the Auracast™ Ecosystem

Discover a small sampling of the expanding Auracast™ product ecosystem, showcasing an array of…

More Than One Way to Unmute Silent TVs

From native integration to retrofit solutions, explore the ways silent public TVs in noisy…

How Auracast™ Broadcast Brings Low-Latency, Live Audio to Life

Discover how Auracast™ transforms live audio experiences by significantly reducing latency and overcoming one…

How Sennheiser Is Using Auracast™ Broadcast Audio to Create an Enhanced Audio Experience

With more than 75 years of experience delivering audio innovation, the Sennheiser brand strives…

New Auracast™ Devices Validate the Potential of This Latest Bluetooth Audio Innovation

Upon its release, bold claims were made about how Auracast™ broadcast audio would enhance…

UAIA Gets an Exclusive Look at the Latest Bluetooth Audio Innovation

Last week, the Universal Access in Aviation (UAIA) conference was held in Seattle, Washington…

Next-Generation Bluetooth: Exploring Auracast

Explore how Auracast is set to transform audio experiences and connectivity across various devices.…

Bluetooth audio is changing. Here’s what you need to know!

Bluetooth LE Audio brings in a suite of changes including a new generic audio…

Crafting Innovative Auracast™ Devices from Concept to Compatibility

If you haven’t heard of AuracastTM broadcast audio yet, it’s time to fully embrace it. This…

The Perfect Fit for an Auracast™ Retrofit

Learn about Auracast™ broadcast audio retrofit solutions and opportunities.

Low Energy Audio – Basic One-Way Unicast Audio

This document gives an introduction to Bluetooth LE Audio by explaining the basics of…

Low Energy Audio – Using UCIs, URIs, and URI Schemes

This document describes how implementers can use the UCIs, URIs, and URI schemes in…

Auracast™ - Hear, There and Everywhere

Most everyone reading this enjoys the benefits of Bluetooth®. Providing short-range wireless point-to-point solutions…

How to Build an Auracast Assistant

This document covers the basic design principles for building an Auracast™ assistant, explaining the…

Bluetooth® LE Audio and Auracast Going Mainstream Will Redefine Wireless Audio

Three-and-a-half years on from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group’s (SIG) announcement of a new…

2024 Bluetooth® Market Update

The 2024 Bluetooth® Market Update examines the direction and adoption of Bluetooth technology.

Auracast Broadcast Audio Retrofit Solutions and Opportunities

This report by ABI Research delves into the opportunity for public spaces to offer…

What's the Range of Auracast Broadcast Audio?

Get the answer to the question everyone’s asking. Find out what the coverage area…

Can You Add Auracast Support to Existing Devices?

Are you waiting for native Auracast™ support? You might not have to. Find out…

2023 Bluetooth® Market Update

Featuring new market insights and industry forecasts from ABI Research and other analyst firms...

Introducing Bluetooth® LE Audio

Now available for free digital download, get your copy of this in-depth, technical overview of the LE Audio specifications.

NOTICE: The Bluetooth SIG updated its Terms of Use on 29 October 2024Learn more
 Get Help