Here’s a clear comparison of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in table format:
|
Feature |
Bluetooth |
Wi-Fi |
|
Purpose |
Short-range device connections (e.g.,
headphones, keyboards) |
High-speed internet access and networking |
|
Range |
Up to 10 meters (Class 2), up to 100 meters
(Class 1) |
Up to 50-100 meters (indoors), 150 meters
(outdoors) |
|
Speed |
Up to 3 Mbps (Bluetooth 5.0) |
Up to 9.6 Gbps (Wi-Fi 6E/7) |
|
Power Consumption |
Low (ideal for battery-powered devices) |
High (requires more power) |
|
Frequency Band |
2.4 GHz ISM band |
2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E/7) |
|
Topology |
Point-to-point or piconet (1 master, 7
slaves) |
Star topology (devices connect to a central
router) |
|
Security |
Pairing and encryption (vulnerable to
attacks like Bluejacking) |
WPA3, WPA2 encryption (more robust security) |
|
Cost |
Low cost and simple to implement |
Higher cost and more complex setup |
|
Use Cases |
Connecting peripherals (e.g., headphones,
mice) |
Internet access, streaming, file sharing |
|
Network Capacity |
Limited (up to 7 devices in a piconet) |
Supports many devices simultaneously |
|
Latency |
Low latency (suitable for audio streaming) |
Higher latency (depends on network
congestion) |
Key Takeaways:
- Bluetooth is
ideal for short-range, low-power connections between devices.
- Wi-Fi is
designed for high-speed internet access and networking over larger areas.
- Both technologies serve different purposes and are
often used together in modern devices.