Bluetooth LE HDT Lossless and Hi-Res Audio Standard Is Coming in 2027

Bluetooth LE HDT Bluetooth is preparing to bring lossless and high-resolution audio into its core standard. At a press briefing in Tokyo, the Bluetooth SIG outlined plans to introduce Bluetooth LE High Data Throughput (HDT) with speeds of up to 7.5Mbps, followed by a standardized Hi-Res and Lossless Bluetooth audio framework in 2027. Today’s high-quality…

2026년 October 16일

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Bluetooth LE HDT

Bluetooth is preparing to bring lossless and high-resolution audio into its core standard. At a press briefing in Tokyo, the Bluetooth SIG outlined plans to introduce Bluetooth LE High Data Throughput (HDT) with speeds of up to 7.5Mbps, followed by a standardized Hi-Res and Lossless Bluetooth audio framework in 2027.

Today’s high-quality Bluetooth market is largely built around proprietary technologies such as LDAC, aptX Adaptive and aptX Lossless. If the Bluetooth SIG succeeds in establishing a common lossless and hi-res standard, future smartphones, headphones, earbuds and audio devices could become less dependent on manufacturer-specific codec support.

Bluetooth LE HDT Reaches Up to 7.5Mbps

The foundation of the new audio system is Bluetooth LE High Data Throughput (HDT).

Current Bluetooth LE tops out at around 2Mbps, while HDT is designed to raise maximum throughput to 7.5Mbps.

The Bluetooth SIG plans to finalize the HDT specification by the end of 2026. At its October 15 briefing in Tokyo, semiconductor company Bestechnic also demonstrated 24-bit/96kHz audio transmission over Bluetooth LE HDT.

That does not mean Bluetooth will simply transmit uncompressed 24-bit/96kHz PCM in every situation. Real-world wireless transmission also has to account for packet overhead, error correction, link management and changing radio conditions.

HLC Becomes the New Lossless Codec

Alongside HDT, the Bluetooth SIG is developing a new codec called HLC, or High-Resolution/Lossless Codec.

The latest publicly available version is HLC 0.9r05 Draft, and interoperability testing between member companies is already underway.

HLC is intended to support both high-resolution and lossless audio streaming. Previous Bluetooth SIG requirements for lossless audio specify that decoded output should be bit-exact compared with the original input.

The biggest difference compared with technologies such as LDAC or aptX Lossless is that HLC is being developed as part of the Bluetooth standard itself, rather than as a proprietary codec controlled by a single company.

If widely adopted, that could improve compatibility between devices from different manufacturers.

2027 Could Be a Turning Point

The Bluetooth SIG plans to complete HDT by the end of 2026 and introduce standardized Hi-Res and Lossless Bluetooth audio in 2027. The organization also plans to unveil new premium wireless audio technology at CES 2027.

That does not mean current Bluetooth devices will automatically gain lossless playback through a software update. Both the transmitting and receiving devices are likely to require hardware and software support for HDT and HLC.

For audiophiles, the most important part of the announcement is not simply the jump to 7.5Mbps. It is the move toward a common Bluetooth standard for high-quality wireless audio, reducing the fragmentation created by multiple proprietary codecs.

Actual sound quality, battery consumption, connection stability and device support will only become clear once commercial products arrive, but 2027 could mark a significant shift in the way Bluetooth audio is implemented.