In announcing Bluetooth 4.2 support for iPhone 6s, iPad Pro and iPad mini 4 last month, Apple published product comparison charts suggesting that same technology was also activated in older hardware. The company recently confirmed that change by updating specific product pages for iPhone 6 and iPad Air 2.
Apple's iPad comparison chart (above) and iPad Air 2 specifications page as they appeared on Sept. 9.
As seen in the screenshots above, captured by AppleInsider reader Matthew on the day Apple unveiled its fall product lineup, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Air 2 are listed as supporting the new Bluetooth 4.2 standard. At the time, detailed product pages dedicated to those three devices did not reflect such a change, instead listing compatibility with Bluetooth 4.0, causing some confusion as to actual product capabilities.
Apple has since updated its tech specs pages for iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and iPad Air 2 to indicate support for Bluetooth 4.2. Interestingly, each product retains its original model number, suggesting Apple either modified the Bluetooth stack in iOS 9 or built in new chips without changing product designators. The distinction is an important one to make, as only newer components are capable of taking advantage of certain Bluetooth 4.2 features, specifically increases in data transfer speed.
AppleInsider reached out to Apple for clarification and will update this article when a response is received.
Bluetooth Core Specification 4.2 is well-suited for low-power connectivity solutions, especially Internet of Things devices, as it integrates the advanced IPv6/6LoWPAN Internet protocol, according to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. Compared to previous versions, the latest spec offers speed boosts, higher efficiency and improved security.