Samsung wants to do away with Bluetooth in Galaxy Buds headphones
By ForGeeks According to recent reports, Samsung has filed a patent for headphones that use ultra-wideband (UWB) to transmit audio. The technology, known for its use in types of devices such as car unlocking systems and tracking tags, could also be adapted for audio applications. The question of whether Bluetooth could gradually fade into Samsung’s products is becoming a hot topic.
A recent patent published with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office concerns headphones that use UWB to transmit sound. While Bluetooth will remain necessary to establish a connection and pair devices, once a user plugs in a second headphone, the device will switch to UWB to process the audio data, thereby providing a higher quality audio experience.
At the same time, Bluetooth will remain necessary to establish a connection and pair devices.
Samsung is actively filing patents in its R&D labs in an effort to stay ahead of competitors who are also working on similar technologies. However, it should be noted that patent applications do not always lead to actual products, although current trends may indicate potential developments.
Samsung is actively pursuing patents in its R&D labs in an effort to stay ahead of competitors who are also working on similar technologies.
The technology of transmitting audio via UWB is relatively new, but has started gaining popularity over the past four years. Unlike Bluetooth, which does not provide “lossless” audio encoding and can lose data during transmission, UWB offers higher quality. It operates in the 6.5-9 GHz frequency range, which is far superior to the 2.4 GHz range used by Bluetooth, resulting in higher data and update rates. This reduces the amount of distortion that often occurs in audio streaming. In addition, UWB provides a data rate of up to 25 meters, as opposed to Bluetooth’s 10 meters. However, keep in mind that UWB is more sensitive to obstacles, which can negatively impact audio quality when being far away from the source of the stream.
If Samsung decides to go all-in on UWB, it will most likely be implemented in future generations of the Galaxy Buds Pro headphones. Last year, the company significantly redesigned its headphones, opting for more elongated shapes instead of the traditional design. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro have become one of the leading models of 2024. However, if Samsung does make the move to utilize UWB, it could drastically change the current view of wireless audio transmission. However, a move to UWB is unlikely anytime soon, as the technology is not yet available on most smartphones, but it’s worth considering in the context of future audio standards.
The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is the first of its kind in the world.
