One of the biggest new features on the Google Pixel 10 is also one of the most overlooked

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Pixel 10 is the first US phone to get Bluetooth 6.
• Bluetooth 6 adds upgrades, including precise channel sounding.
• Both devices need Bluetooth 6 to fully take advantage, so adoption will be slow.

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Google’s Pixel 10 smartphones debuted with plenty of noteworthy features, including native magnetic wireless charging, an industry-first IP68 dust- and waterproof foldable phone design, and more intuitive AI features. One of the most significant updates, however, is the phone’s adoption of Bluetooth 6, making them the first in the US with the latest Bluetooth connectivity standard.

Also: Every Pixel device announced at Made by Google yesterday: 10 Pro Fold, Watch, Buds, more

In addition to improving wireless connections’ stability, power consumption, and strength, Bluetooth 6 introduces channel sounding, which makes device location tracking more accurate. Despite its 2024 release, Bluetooth 6 and Channel Sounding are in the painfully slow adoption process. Still, two Pixel devices are compatible with it. Here’s what it means for you now and in the future.

What is channel sounding?

Channel sounding builds on Bluetooth LE’s positioning technology to enable two devices to establish the distance between them. Currently, Bluetooth devices use signal strength to determine distance, but channel sounding measures the time it takes for the signal to travel. This more secure and accurate method provides device location information down to the centimeter.

Current Bluetooth-enabled device tracking can tell you where your device is, in a general sense, but Channel Sounding should be able to alert you that your device is within 10 feet and low-lying to the right, wedged between your couch cushions.

Also: This Pixel 10 Pro camera feature sets a high bar for the iPhone 17 Pro to beat

According to Bluetooth, Channel Sounding, or precision location tracking, requires a hardware update. However, existing devices can be upgraded to support Bluetooth LE, which provides basic location awareness.

Accurate location-tracking devices, like AirTags, have an internal ultra-wideband (UWB) chip, which aids in ultra-precise location tracking. UWB is incredibly precise, but it’s more expensive and complex than Bluetooth to implement universally.

Which Pixel devices have Bluetooth 6?

The Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold support Bluetooth 6. Thanks to a recent Wear OS update, the Pixel Watch 3 also supports channel sounding. Google has not confirmed how it supplied the Pixel Watch 3 with this update, considering Bluetooth version updates historically require new hardware.

Also: Google just copied the worst feature of modern iPhones (but not all hope is lost)

Bluetooth 6 also brings faster Bluetooth device scanning, better-quality audio codecs, improved audio and video latency streaming for Bluetooth LE devices, and more efficient connections.

What does this mean for the future?

Bluetooth’s goal is to standardize technologies across devices. When introduced in 1999, Bluetooth intended to standardize our communication methods, eliminating wires for connecting to headphones, phones, and computers.

Also: I’m a longtime iPhone user, but the Google Pixel 10 has me reconsidering my loyalty

Today, wireless communication and connections are standard, and Bluetooth’s next challenge is standardizing channel sounding. It would implement secure and accurate location capabilities into all of our Bluetooth devices, one day enabling our smartphones to act as digital car and house keys.

Gone would be the days of living within a device ecosystem to access device tracking features. Picture this: instead of purchasing a dedicated location tracker to find your gym bag, your headphones, earbuds, or tablet inside your bag could act as its Bluetooth tracker.

Apple’s iPhone 17 and Samsung’s Galaxy 26 lineup, which are slated to release this fall and early next year, respectively, are the next smartphones to potentially receive Bluetooth 6 support.

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