Bluetooth: Difference Between Classes

Created on: May 5, 2013
Last updated: August 24, 2015

Bluetooth is a standard communications protocol primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (power-class-dependent: 100m, 10m and 1m, but ranges vary in practice – see table below) based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device. Because the devices use a radio (broadcast) communications system, they do not require line of site with each other.

In most cases the effective range of class 2 devices is extended if they connect to a class 1 transceiver, compared to a pure class 2 network. This is accomplished by the higher sensitivity and transmission power of Class 1 devices