Bluetooth 5.3 Vs. 5.4: What's The Difference?

Just like how the USB standard evolved over its lifetime, Bluetooth has also undergone significant changes across different versions. For example, going from Bluetooth 4.2 to Bluetooth 5.0 doubled the speed of peripherals, quadrupled the active range, and increased the Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) from 3 Mbps to 50 Mbps. Bluetooth 6.0 is already being put to use in devices like the Google Pixel 11, but most users still own phones with older versions of the technology. Since improvements differ by generation, what exactly is the difference between Bluetooth 5.3 and 5.4, and do you really need Bluetooth 5.4 on your device?

The Bluetooth 5.4 update focuses on improvements for retail and enterprise uses. It introduces four new features that make low-energy (LE) Bluetooth devices more secure and allow for more efficient communication between a central hub and thousands of receiving devices. For the average consumer with a phone, laptop, or tablet, there's no real difference between Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth 5.4. Both standards transfer data at rates of up to 2 Mbps for LE devices like wireless earphones and up to 50 Mbps with EDR. Both iterations of the standard also have the same 800-foot maximum range. 

Bluetooth 5.4 is still a huge improvement over Bluetooth 5.0. However, this is primarily due to earlier updates like version 5.3. The next major update for your smartphone or laptop is Bluetooth 6.0, which lowers latency, smoothens device pairing, and adds precise universal tracking for devices without the need for ultra-wideband (UWB) chips.

Bluetooth 5.4 introduced four new features that all improve various aspects of home systems and large-scale retail. The first of these features is Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR), which affects how data is transferred between one host device and many BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) receivers — such as when updating hundreds or thousands of electronic shelf labels simultaneously. Before PAwR, communication was one-way; a host could send changes, but the receivers could not send data back to verify if things had been updated. PAwR enables efficient bi-directional input, where each receiver can send back a response notifying the host that it has received data successfully.

Other features include Encrypted Advertising Data (EAD) and a new LE GATT Security Level Characteristic, both of which target security. EAD encrypts the advertising data being sent to LE devices so it cannot be intercepted, while the LE GATT Security Level Characteristic allows devices to indicate the level of required security before establishing a Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) connection (the Bluetooth protocol LE devices typically use). Lastly, there is an Advertising Coding Selection feature that lets the host configure one of two long-range coding options to use with Extended Advertising, a function that lets LE devices transmit large amounts of data over longer distances without requiring a point-to-point connection.

Even though there's no real difference between Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth 5.4 for most users, it helps to know which version your device is running — especially if you've bought a new device recently, as there's a chance it has the much better Bluetooth 6.0.

You can check what version of Bluetooth your Windows computer or laptop is running by right-clicking the Start menu and opening Device Manager. Here, click the arrow next to Bluetooth to open a dropdown that includes various Bluetooth devices. Your main adapter's name will differ depending on the manufacturer, but look for words like "adapter" or the brand name, such as "Intel" or "Realtek." Also ignore any devices with "Enumerator" in the name. Right-click the proper device, select Properties, and then Advanced. Here, you'll find an LMP (Link Manager Protocol) number under Bluetooth Radio Information. LMP 12 means you're running Bluetooth 5.3, LMP 13 is Bluetooth 5.4, and LMP 14 is Bluetooth 6.0.

To check the version of Bluetooth on your MacBook, click on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen, then choose About This Mac and select More Info. Scroll down to the bottom and click System Report. In the left sidebar, click on Hardware to expand a dropdown and select Bluetooth. This will show the Bluetooth version. For other phones and tablets running Android, iOS, or iPadOS, there is no way to check the Bluetooth version natively. For these, refer to manufacturer specifications online.