If there is one type of digital connection between devices that is constantly evolving, it is bluetooth. We have been with USB 3.0 for a lot of years, without an appreciable evolution. Something similar happens with wireless transmission over Wi-Fi. Something has been improved in recent years, but not to rave about.
But transmission between devices via Bluetooth is another story. This technology is in constant evolution, with a lot of more or less "particular" protocols (APTX, L2CAP, etc.) and others that are standard. In less than ten years we have gone from Bluetooth 3.0 to Bluetooth 5.1. Now the next one emerges: Bluetooth LE Audio.The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, the trade group of Bluetooth modem manufacturers that develops the standards with the blue icon, has just presented its new protocol for audio streaming: Bluetooth LE audio. This consortium ensures that with this new protocol, it will be possible to transmit audio of better quality than current at 50% lower data rates. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to say then that devices using this standard will need less power to process such data.
The Bluetooth SIG affirms that device developers will take advantage of this new protocol with lower consumption, to extend the autonomy of future products, or to design them with a smaller battery. In this new standard, the Audio Sharing function that already exists in the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro has also been added. This Apple feature allows two sets of AirPods to connect to a single iPhone to share the audio stream. A similar system also exists with the APTX LL Bluetooth protocol.
This new Bluetooth standard is the first to specifically address the needs of people with hearing loss. Their goal is to encourage the creation of smaller wireless headphones with longer battery life.
This new protocol is currently under development. Final specifications will be published in the middle of this year. Somewhat later the first devices with this technology will begin to be seen. It will surely apply to AirPods from 2021.