Bluetooth Latest Specs Compared: 6.0 vs 6.1 vs 6.2
Bluetooth SIG moved to a bi-annual Core release rhythm, so planning by major version is now easier. This comparison focuses on what changed from 6.0 to 6.2 and how teams should sequence adoption.
Version timeline at a glance
- Core 6.0: September 2024
- Core 6.1: May 2025
- Core 6.2: November 2025 (latest adopted as of March 4, 2026)
Core 6.0 focus: ranging and filtering foundation
Core 6.0 introduced the big structural updates many teams still reference in architecture decisions, including Channel Sounding, decision-based advertising filtering, and monitoring advertisers.
Core 6.1 focus: privacy and coexistence
Core 6.1 emphasized practical system behavior. The headline addition was Randomized RPA updates, designed to improve privacy and help reduce power usage, with better RF coexistence in dense radio environments.
Core 6.2 focus: operational refinements
Core 6.2 built on 6.0 and 6.1 foundations with updates across advertising behavior, Channel Sounding, frame spacing, and controller feature signaling. This release is especially relevant for teams optimizing reliability under real-world load.
Adoption strategy by product type
- BLE scanner or diagnostics apps: prioritize 6.2 validation first.
- Wearables and low-power peripherals: evaluate 6.1 privacy and power impacts, then move to 6.2.
- Legacy stable products: keep current baseline but test 6.x compatibility in parallel.
- New product programs: set 6.2 as the target baseline unless chipset constraints block it.
Rollout checklist
- Align target version by chipset and SDK capabilities.
- Define interoperability matrix across Android, iOS, and accessory firmware.
- Run crowded-RF regression tests before production rollout.
- Track power delta and reconnect reliability as release gates.