New Bluetooth 5.4 Headphones: What’s Different
Published: June 25, 2025 | Category: News
Bluetooth 5.4 is the latest wireless standard, bringing LE Audio support, lower latency, and better multipoint switching. The first 5.4 headphones launched in 2025 include the Sony WH-1000XM6 (rumored) and the Bose QC Ultra 2 (announced). Here’s what 5.4 actually changes for your listening experience.
LE Audio: The Real Upgrade
LE Audio (Low Energy Audio) is Bluetooth 5.2’s promise finally realized in 5.4. It uses the LC3 codec, which delivers better sound quality at lower bitrates than SBC. LC3 at 280kbps sounds as good as AAC at 256kbps but uses less battery. LE Audio also enables Auracast broadcasting — one headphone can stream audio to multiple pairs simultaneously. Imagine a stadium where everyone hears the game through their own headphones, broadcast from a single transmitter.
Latency Improvements
Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio reduces latency to 20ms — down from 40-200ms on older versions. This is barely noticeable for music but meaningful for gaming. The Sony WH-1000XM6 (if it ships with BT 5.4) will have gaming-mode latency under 40ms, competitive enough for casual FPS games.
Multipoint Switching
BT 5.4 improves multipoint switching — the ability to connect to multiple devices simultaneously. Previous generations had slow switching (2-3 seconds between phone and laptop). BT 5.4 reduces this to under 500ms. The Bose QC Ultra 2 switches between devices in 300ms — imperceptible in normal use.
My Take
Here’s my take: Bluetooth 5.4 is an incremental upgrade, not a revolution. LE Audio is the real benefit, but adoption is slow — most phones and computers still use BT 5.2 or earlier. If your current headphones work fine, don’t upgrade just for 5.4. Wait for the ecosystem to catch up. The first 5.4 headphones will cost more for marginal gains.
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