Bluetooth

wireless · technology · everyday gadgets

Super short range. Bluetooth only works within about 33 feet (10 meters), which is why it's perfect for connecting your phone to your headphones or a speaker right next to you.

Radio waves in action. Bluetooth uses special radio waves called UHF that bounce through the air at frequencies between 2.402 and 2.48 gigahertz, the same kind of invisible waves that carry other wireless signals.

Sips power gently. Bluetooth devices use very little power, only about 2.5 milliwatts at most, which is why your wireless earbuds can last for hours on a tiny battery.

Replaces the cables. Instead of plugging in messy wires, Bluetooth lets you connect your phone to headphones, speakers, car stereos, and even TVs wirelessly and instantly.

Personal networks made easy. Bluetooth creates what engineers call a personal area network, which is just a fancy way of saying multiple gadgets around you can all share information with each other.