AirPods are one of many Bluetooth-enabled products that connect with mobile devices.
The introduction of Bluetooth 6.1 specifications will enhance user privacy and extend battery life for Apple accessories, expected to roll out around 2026.
Building on the high-accuracy distance tracking of Bluetooth 6.0—similar to the iPhone’s Ultra Wideband feature—Bluetooth 6.1 prioritizes improved privacy. It will enable devices to frequently change their addresses, making tracking much harder.
This new capability is known as Randomized Resolvable Private Addresses (Randomized RPA).
Unlike version 6.0, which had predictable refresh intervals for the RPA, Bluetooth 6.1 randomizes these updates between eight and 15 minutes and allows for customizable timing settings.
Additionally, the address-changing process can be managed by the Bluetooth controller instead of the device’s CPU, which is expected to decrease battery consumption due to lower CPU workload.
It’s possible that the upcoming iPhone 17 series, set to launch this fall, might support Bluetooth 6, and potentially the 6.1 update, as Apple generally embraces new standards with its product launches. However, there can be delays in their implementation.
On the other hand, it seems unlikely that third-party devices supporting Bluetooth 6 or later versions will be available before 2026. Some devices with upgradable Bluetooth firmware may become compatible sooner.
For older Bluetooth devices that cannot upgrade to version 6, there remains a risk of vulnerabilities. Users should check if their legacy devices can be updated to newer standards.
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), which oversees the advancement of Bluetooth specifications, operates on a biannual update schedule, with the next anticipated revision—Bluetooth 6.2—expected by the end of 2025.