What are Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi Direct? Here are 5 Ways These Differ

Connected devices are the trend and it is going to dominate the future to make life convenient. But, we are yet to be there due to the lack of availability and power consumption of such devices.

From digital wallets to completely connected homes, all have a reliable, secure, and efficient way to transmit data that is the last piece to the puzzle of always-on connectivity. With the Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi Direct features, we can put these concerns to rest.

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Let's take a look at how these two specifications are different and what they can actually bring to the table.

Bluetooth 4.0

Bluetooth 4.0 involves three different protocols such as Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth High Speed, and Classic Bluetooth. Its true purpose is found when discovering what it can execute using a low energy signal in order to broadcast from one device to another without consuming a lot of your device's battery.

The always-on signal will beam back and forth between the devices to quickly communicate between them without using much power. The core idea behind this standard is to conserve the battery life without compromising on the always-on environment.

This is possible as it will remain dormant until data is shared. Besides conserving the battery usage, Bluetooth 4.0 is quite fast and so it enables really faster transmission of data.

Wi-Fi Direct

This standard is the main competitor of Bluetooth 4.0. Earlier, users relied on the latter to transfer data between devices that results in a slowed transfer speed and the headache of connecting the devices.

With Wi-Fi Direct, it is possible to establish a peer-to-peer and direct wireless connection without the assistance of any router. Also, the difficulties faced when you are trying to connect the devices is something that existed in the past. This standard has a discovery tool that makes the connectivity between devices a painless task.

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The major benefit of Wi-Fi Direct is the ease of use without the necessity of a third device or router. It does this by making each device as an access point and lets other devices that are Wi-Fi enabled to connect with it.

The fight between Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi Direct is fierce. Check out the five ways they are different from below.

Wi-Fi Direct is faster

Wi-Fi Direct standard offers speeds of up to 250 Mpbs, but the speed rendered by Bluetooth 4.0 is just 25 Mpbs. Obviously, Wi-Fi Direct is the ideal choice for streaming options including Miracast and AirPlay. These can transfer anything such as YouTube videos to internet browsing from the mobile screens to the larger ones without any device's help.

Both cover a decent range

Wi-Fi Direct has a maximum distance of over 600 feet. This is the maximum does not indicate the maximum range in the real world conditions. Even if the range was half of the stated maximum, it is quite impressive and within the reach of the connection between the devices even in the largest of the homes.

On the other hand, Bluetooth 4.0's maximum range differs from one device to another. As per Bluetooth SIG, we can expect distances of a minimum of 200 feet.

Though there is a difference in the ranges offered by these standards, most users need technology within their home and that requirement can be met with these specifications.

Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth 4.0 have adequate security

In both the specifications, security is a major benefit. Bluetooth 4.0 makes use of AES 128-bit encryption that will protect the data that is transmitted between devices.

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On the other hand, Wi-Fi Direct makes use of both WPA2 security and AES 256-bit encryption as well. Though Wi-Fi is clearly the winner in terms of security, Bluetooth 4.0 is outstandingly secure.

Backwards compatibility results in tie

Both the standards are backward compatible. Both are capable of connecting with the devices that precede with the current technology. The Bluetooth 4.0 standard is compatible with any old Bluetooth specification and Wi-Fi Direct can be connected to any old wireless protocol.

Bluetooth 4.0 wins consuming less power

Power consumption is very important. Wi-Fi Direct standard is claimed to extend the battery life of the device from 15 to 40 percent based on factors including device type, range, Wi-Fi protocol, and file size.

Bluetooth 4.0 has an impressive protocol - Bluetooth LE (Low Energy). This is claimed to let the battery to run for over a year before depleting it fully. But, the additional factors in the device might result in battery drain, so it might not be accurate.

Verdict

Bluetooth 4.0 vs Wi-Fi Direct! Well, Wi-Fi Direct excels Bluetooth 4.0 in many ways, but it falls short when it comes to battery life. This does not mean that Bluetooth 4.0 is not going to win the debate. If your concern is the battery life, then it can definitely be the clear winner.