The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has unveiled the new Bluetooth 6.1 standard, which aims to enhance user privacy in devices utilizing this wireless connectivity protocol. Devices equipped with Bluetooth 6.1 might begin to surface by 2026, promising improved power efficiency along with the latest features. In a strategic shift, the Bluetooth SIG has adopted a bi-annual release schedule, indicating that the subsequent version of Bluetooth is expected to be launched in the latter half of 2025.
New Privacy Features with Bluetooth 6.1
The official announcement regarding the Bluetooth 6.1 Core Specification highlights two significant updates to the wireless communication standard. The first change targets enhanced privacy protections for devices using Bluetooth 6.1, while the second focuses on extending battery life for these wireless-enabled gadgets.
Bluetooth 6, released last year, introduced the ability to alter a device’s MAC address to safeguard user privacy through a Resolvable Private Address (RPA). This address changes at a fixed interval of 15 minutes, which could potentially enable malicious users to trace individuals by recognizing the generated randomized address.
To mitigate this vulnerability, Bluetooth 6.1 incorporates support for randomly generated RPAs that refresh between 8 to 15 minutes, with the specific timing chosen at random. This adjustment significantly complicates tracking attempts by malicious actors, as it becomes increasingly challenging to predict when a device’s address will change.
A comprehensive account of how Bluetooth 6.1 enhances user privacy can be found in the detailed documentation provided by the Bluetooth SIG. This document also outlines an additional advantage for devices equipped with Bluetooth 6.1 support.
With Bluetooth 6.1, the processing of these randomized RPA requests will be managed by the wireless chip (controller) in compatible devices, rather than the main processor. This change is expected to benefit small devices such as true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds, fitness trackers, smartwatches, and portable speakers by improving their battery performance.
While consumers may have to patiently wait several months before new devices featuring Bluetooth 6.1 become available, the Bluetooth SIG’s recent commitment to a bi-annual release cycle sets the stage for the next Bluetooth version to be anticipated by late 2025.
