In 2025, there were achievements in multiple areas and a rich harvest.

The year 2025 was a fruitful year for Bluetooth™, with important progress made in terms of technology, market, and ecological construction. As a mature and widely adopted global wireless communication technology, the main challenges Bluetooth faces come from the continuously expanding application scenarios, which put forward higher requirements for performance, latency, positioning accuracy, energy efficiency, and coexistence ability in complex radio frequency environments.

To address these challenges, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has been continuously promoting the evolution of specifications and technologies. For example, the Bluetooth core specification, which is updated twice a year, lays the foundation for the introduction of new Bluetooth functions in the future. Another example is the recently introduced Channel Sounding technology, which is used to achieve higher-precision positioning and creates new opportunities in applications such as digital keys and item tracking. Advanced audio coding is introduced in LE Audio, and the ability to implement Auracast broadcast audio is realized. At the same time, the ecological and development support systems are improved to ensure wide interoperability while enhancing performance, reliability, energy efficiency, and user experience.

In terms of the market, the global shipment volume of Bluetooth devices has been continuously increasing. It is expected to exceed 5.3 billion units in 2025. Bluetooth LE has become the mainstream, and the compound annual growth rate is expected to be about 22% in the next few years. The application of Bluetooth in key areas such as high-precision positioning, Auracast broadcast audio, low-power audio, and building automation continues to expand, and it is gradually extending from consumer electronics to diversified scenarios such as industrial and commercial applications.

In terms of ecological and organizational construction, given the importance of the Chinese market, the Bluetooth SIG strengthened its investment in the Chinese market in 2025, established an official entity, and set up a China Interest Group to promote local member enterprises and industry cooperation. Through activities such as the Bluetooth Asia Conference, it strengthened the ecological construction in the Asia-Pacific region and China. These measures not only accelerate the implementation of technologies but also provide a solid foundation for cross-industry collaboration and innovation. In general, in 2025, Bluetooth™ has achieved remarkable progress in technological innovation, market expansion, and ecological construction. Through the evolution of the core specification, the continuous promotion of the implementation of technologies such as Channel Sounding and Auracast, and the continuous increase in global shipment volume, as well as the strengthening of the ecological layout in China and the Asia-Pacific region, it has laid a solid foundation for cross-industry innovation and multi-scenario commercial implementation.

The shipment volume will break through the 7-billion mark in 2026.

Looking ahead to 2026 and the future, the Bluetooth market is expected to maintain continuous growth. According to the prediction of the Bluetooth SIG, the global annual shipment volume of Bluetooth devices will exceed 7 billion units by 2026, among which Bluetooth LE will continue to dominate the market, and about 95% of the devices will support Bluetooth LE. Positioning services and asset tracking are high-growth areas, and the shipment volume of related devices is expected to triple, while smart homes and the Internet of Things will also continue to be core markets.

In terms of market opportunities in specific segments, the SIG is particularly optimistic about several key directions:

• Positioning services and asset tracking: Using technologies such as Channel Sounding, Bluetooth can provide high-precision positioning, promoting new applications such as digital keys, item tracking, and enterprise asset management.
• Auracast broadcast audio: It provides reliable audio solutions for public spaces such as airports, stations, conference halls, and hearing aids.
• Smart homes and building automation: Bluetooth LE will welcome rapid growth in applications such as smart lighting, sensors, and network lighting control (NLC).
• Environmental Internet of Things: Through the use of ambient energy self-power supply, it enables emerging applications with ultra-low maintenance and long-term deployment.

With the popularization of Bluetooth LE, these specific segments will become important driving forces for the innovation and commercial implementation of the Bluetooth ecosystem.

In addition, in terms of organizational layout and strategy, the Bluetooth SIG will continue to promote the "global + local" strategy, paying special attention to the Asia-Pacific region and the Chinese market. In March 2025, it established a Chinese entity with its headquarters in Beijing and branches in Shanghai and Shenzhen, aiming to strengthen local member support and ecological construction. The China Interest Group established in October created a platform for collaboration, education, and market development to ensure that the unique needs and opportunities of the Chinese market are effectively reflected in the global ecosystem. In addition, the Bluetooth Asia Conference and Exhibition (Bluetooth Asia 2026) will be held in Shenzhen in April 2026. The Bluetooth SIG will bring together global innovation resources, promote technological exchanges and industrial cooperation, and facilitate the implementation of the new generation of Bluetooth solutions in local and global markets.

Overall, in 2026, the Bluetooth market will continue to show the trends of increasing device shipment volume, Bluetooth LE dominance, and the rapid development of positioning and asset tracking. At the same time, specific segments such as audio, positioning services, asset tracking, smart homes, building automation, and the environmental Internet of Things will also provide broad spaces for innovation and commercial implementation. By combining global standards with local ecological construction, the Bluetooth SIG will continue to support members and developers in accelerating product implementation and promote cross-industry connection and application expansion.