Innovations in wireless audio have been largely dormant for the past decade, but that will likely change soon. Samsung has filed a patent for earbuds that use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology instead of traditional Bluetooth for audio transmission.
While Bluetooth would still handle the initial pairing, UWB would take over the heavy lifting of audio streaming once connected. UWB isn’t exactly new—you might recognize it as the technology that helps you find your lost AirTags or unlock your car door. But using it for audio streaming could be a game-changer.
Operating at 6.5-9 GHz (compared to Bluetooth’s modest 2.4 GHz), UWB would have several advantages, including higher-quality lossless audio, faster data transfer rates, and an impressive range of up to 25 meters—more than double Bluetooth’s reach.
The technology could also help eliminate those annoying skips and delays that plague Bluetooth connections. Samsung’s patent, which was first spotted by 91mobiles, suggests UWB could deliver speeds up to 20 Mbps while actually consuming less power than Bluetooth.
There is one catch, though: UWB signals don’t love obstacles, so maintaining a clear line of sight might be more important than with Bluetooth.
That said, don’t throw out your Bluetooth earbuds just yet. While Samsung frequently files patents to stay ahead of the curve, many never make it to market. Moreover, UWB hardware is currently limited to premium devices, and even recent mid-range phones like the $800 Pixel 9 and Galaxy S25 don’t include it.
Unsurprisingly, Samsung isn’t alone in looking beyond Bluetooth. Qualcomm has been developing its own alternative called XPAN, which uses Wi-Fi for audio transmission, with the first XPAN-enabled earbuds expected to launch soon.
