Bluetooth LE audio on Windows 11: What you need to know

In a string of announcements at the Microsoft Build 2023 conference, the Redmond tech giant also said that Bluetooth Low Energy Audio is coming on Windows 11, a first for the PC ecosystem.

Microsoft released the feature on Windows 11 for the next generation of wireless audio devices, in a partnership with Samsung and Intel. The feature promises to bring high-quality audio at low power, while also delivering better experiences for your calls, videos, and music on compatible devices.

Wireless earbuds like Samsung’s Galaxy Buds2 Pro will greatly benefit from this feature, but Microsoft aims to bring the feature to more devices. A new sustainable way to leverage Bluetooth® Audio on the PC begins.

So, what is Bluetooth Low Energy Audio and how will it help you, you may ask?

Here is what you need to know about Bluetooth Low Energy Audio

Practically, there are two types of Bluetooth connections: Bluetooth Classic and Bluetooth LE or Bluetooth Low Energy. All the Bluetooth devices on the market use either one or the other.

However, when it comes to audio devices, especially wireless headphones, Bluetooth Classic is preferred due to the fact that it uses radio continuously. That means Bluetooth Classic can achieve a higher throughput, which makes it more suitable for audio transfers.

Bluetooth Low Energy, on the other hand, sacrifices audio quality for much lower energy consumption, and this is the main reason why it hasn’t been suitable for wireless devices. Until recently.

Bluetooth Low Energy Audio came out and with it, a new era for wireless audio devices, especially headphones, has begun.

With the new Bluetooth Energy Audio headphones, you’ll get the same audio quality for a much longer time. The headphones will be far more sustainable, and overall better in every aspect.

And these aspects will also be valid for your PC, as well. Laptops, especially, will benefit from this type of Bluetooth, as lower power means less energy consumed. So their batteries will last much longer.

Another important feature is that Bluetooth LE Audio can deal much better with audio distance. For example, a Bluetooth LE Audio connection will have no problem sustaining sound over longer distances than Bluetooth Classic.

This means you can move freely without worrying that you’ll disconnect.

You also need to know that this type of Bluetooth will become the new standard moving on. For example, Apple already implemented it in their AirPods, but not every other device has it. A lot of existing wireless headphones still have Bluetooth Classic, but that’ll change in the future, as Low Energy Audio becomes the norm.

So look out for wireless headphones that support it, next time you want to buy a pair.

What do you think about Bluetooth Low Energy Audio coming to Windows 11 and Microsoft devices? Let us know in the comments section below.