Bluetooth 6.0 brings new technology that helps Apple improve Find My network

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) announced the specifications for the next generation of the technology, called “Bluetooth 6.0,” this week. The technology brings a number of improvements to the wireless protocol, but one of them will help Apple improve its Find My network for tracking devices.

Bluetooth 6.0 comes with true distance awareness

Bluetooth SIG has published a paper (via BGR) detailing all the new information about Bluetooth 6.0. One of the highlights is Bluetooth Channel Sounding, which is described as an improvement that brings “true proximity awareness.”

The description is pretty clear in saying that “Find My solutions can be significantly improved” with Bluetooth 6.0, as it unlocks “centimeter-level accuracy over significant distances.” In other words, Bluetooth 6.0 is expected to provide precise distance between devices.

Since Apple’s Find My network relies on Bluetooth, having improved proximity awareness technology would certainly make it easier for users to find their lost devices. Currently, Apple relies on ultra-wideband technology to accurately measure the distance between devices. It enables the Precision Finding feature for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirTag users.

Bluetooth Channel Sounding also adds an extra layer of security for authentication, which is useful for digital keys. Additionally, Bluetooth 6.0 can also transmit larger data frames and allows for lower latency for audio applications.

Unfortunately, there are no details on when Apple will adopt Bluetooth 6.0. Since the new protocol has just been announced, it could be at least a year before we see the first devices equipped with the new Bluetooth version.