Bluetooth SIG adopts high-throughput standard aimed at bringing lossless wireless audio to future headphones

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group has officially adopted High Data Throughput, a specification designed to dramatically increase wireless transmission speeds. The new standard boosts Bluetooth Low Energy speeds up to 7.5 Mbps, nearly four times the previous 2Mbps maximum limit. While the standard lays the groundwork for wireless lossless and high-resolution sound, the organization expects the first standardized version to debut in 2027. [1][2]

The feature requires brand-new radio chips, meaning existing smartphones and earbuds cannot receive it through software updates. HDT is also an optional capability within the Bluetooth 7.0 standard rather than a mandatory one, so a Bluetooth 7.0 badge alone will not guarantee support. Users will need both a matching phone and audio gear that explicitly list HDT to benefit from the higher bandwidth. [1][2]

Currently, wireless CD-quality playback largely relies on proprietary solutions like Qualcomm's aptX Lossless, which functions only with compatible Snapdragon Sound devices or dedicated dongles. Incorporating HDT directly into the core Bluetooth standard could eventually open native lossless audio and spatial surround sound to any supporting brand, though major handset makers like Apple, Google, and Samsung have not yet announced phone support. [1]