Bluetooth accessories, especially wireless headphones and speakers, may be getting a serious facelift thanks to some upgrades under their shells, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG for short) at CES 2020, announced the latest version of its wireless transmission standard, Bluetooth LE Audio.

LE Audio operates on Bluetooth Low Energy wireless technology, which allows for longer battery life. Bluetooth LE Audio also features a new audio codec, Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3), which provides high quality sound with low power consumption for devices.

The SIG quotes Manfred Lutzky, head of Audio for Communications at Fraunhofer IIS in Germany, as saying, "LC3 provides improved audio quality even with files with "50% lower bit rates."

Lutzky stated.

Lutzky also noted that developers could take advantage of this power savings to enable smaller products that last longer per charge and smaller enclosures with less bulky batteries.

Such improvements could be a boon for hearing aids, and according to SIG, Bluetooth connectivity will soon be available in this category.

Bluetooth LE Audio also allows one audio device to broadcast to multiple gadgets, so you can share what you are listening to. People traveling together can even use this trick to listen to a movie at the same time.

CES is filled with many gadgets that work independently of each other, but some of the Bluetooth news may leave more impact than any of the cool-looking concept designs on the show floor.

According to the SIG, Bluetooth LE Audio and LC3 are expected within the next two years.

For the latest news and hands-on impressions from Las Vegas, be sure to visit our CES 2020 hub.