LE Secure Connections compatible with Android

[VanNuru]

I have my own BLE application on the nRF52832 with SDK 11 and SD 2.0.0 that communicates to my own android app on a sony xperia z3 compact. The Android version is 6.0.1 and the tech-specs of the xperia say it's bt 4.0 compatible.

I'd like to implement Secure Connections Pairing because LE Legacy Pairing is insecure. As BT 4.2 is supposed to be only a software update from 4.1 and 4.0, I thought it could be possible with my Android version. Unfortunately, I cannot find any notes about any Android version supporting BT 4.2 and if I activate LE Secure Connections in my nRF, the pairing does not work.

Has anybody succeeded trying to implement LE Secure Connections for communication with an Android device?

[Hung Bui]

LESC is supported on our test Sony Z3 compact Android 6.0.1

What is the issue with yours ?

Note that if you are testing with the example ble_app_multirole_lesc, you would need to press button 1 when pairing. It's using Numeric confirmation as the MITM mechanism. You need to use UART to get the prompt.

Also if you are bonding using the Bluetooth Setting, the phone disconnect automatically right after bond process. If you want to keep the connection, please use an app, nRF Connect for example.

[Hung Bui]

I afraid you will have to check on each phone you want to work with. You don't have to actually test it with your device but can check on the Implementation Conformance Statement (ICS) on Bluetooth website for that specific phone. For example here is the ICS for Samsung Folder 2 code name : SM-G160N. In the ICS at table 25 and 35 LE Secure connection was marked as supported.

You can find other phone by searching its code name from here.