Backward compatibility of Bluetooth 5.2

[JPSvanderWalt]

Hi, I am starting to developing applications for the nRF5340.  I am interested in exploiting the added functionality that Bluetooth 5.2 provides.  I want to use a smartphone to set up Bluetooth networks and for diagnostic purposes.  Will the Bluetooth 5.2 device be backward compatible with a smartphone having Bluetooth 5.0?

[Ivan Herrera]

Yes, the nRF5340 is perfectly capable of talking to any BLE-phone, even if the phone only has Bluetooth 4.0. Just make sure that you're not using BLE 5.2-only features in communication with the phone. 

[JPSvanderWalt]

Thank you for your reply.  From reading through the posts, it seems that there is no software stack that supports Bluetooth 5.2 features.  Rather it is only the hardware that is ready to support Bluetooth 5.2.  So correct me if I am wrong.  The Bluetooth 5.2 software stack with its new features and examples is yet to be released?

[Andreas]

Hi,

 

Correct, 5.2 features are not available yet. nRF5340 is designed with this in mind though and you should expect more SW to be available closer to the transfer to production date. As Ivan says, Bluetooth Low Energy will be backwards compatible, but you will not be able to make use of the 5.2 extensions unless supported by both devices.

 

Best regards,

Andreas