bluetooth range is awful

[dov1978]

Yeah people are quick to shoot you down if you say you don't have Bluetooth 5.0 devices connected to it but for everything I've read one of the main highlights of 5.0 is that it's supposedly twice the range of 4.0 so it shouldn't matter what type of device is connected

 

[jeffmd]

Yeah people are quick to shoot you down if you say you don't have Bluetooth 5.0 devices connected to it but for everything I've read one of the main highlights of 5.0 is that it's supposedly twice the range of 4.0 so it shouldn't matter what type of device is connected

Let me nip this in the bud, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=756lbLk3Aqw&t=617s

You will not see much additional range even with 5.0 earbuds. 5.0 introduces enhanced speeds and extended range, but the extended range functionality requires the data mode to go into a very low transfer rate. The transfer rate is so low that it is only suitable for things like sensors and smartwatches, not audio and video streams.

 

[dejanh]

so not sure if its a bad phone or not, but bluetooth range seems weaker than my S7E, I cant get too far from my Gear S3 without it dropping the bluetooth connection, bluetooth 5.0 was said to offer a stronger connection, Im not seeing it...........

Same exact problem here. I would say the range is about half of what the S7 Edge was able to do.

 

[Gsxr151]

This is not cool. Is there a fix???

 

[racedog]

I had great connectivity with my Gear S3 and my S7 phone. I could go almost 50 feet away and stay connected. Since I got the S8 a little over a week ago I've noticed that the connectivity range between the Gear S3 and my S8 is dramatically less. I can have my phone sitting on a coffee table and step just outside the front door to have a cigarette (about 12 feet) and when I get outside the phone/watch lose their connection.

Its definitely a problem but not a dealbreaker. If the connection distance were any less than this, however, I would be returning the phone for a replacement and it the replacement had the same issue I would be moving on to another phone.

 

[aokusman1]

A little off the beaten path, but I'm really looking forward to attaching two devices at once.

I did that with two speakers.

 

[scorpiodsu]

I will say Bluetooth performance isn't as strong as the S7 edge or iPhones I've been using over the last year. Range isn't as good and would disconnect from my headphones while playing music when my phone is in my pocket. Not many times but considering the other phones never did that lets me know how much Bluetooth is worst on this device. Want to state I don't think it's horrible. Just not as good as previous devices. I'm guessing it has something to do with that new protocol that's only available in this device.

 

[scorpiodsu]

So after playing around for a couple days my opinion on the range is pretty much the same. I noticed that at times my music would start to get choppy with my phone in my pocket. This was another thing I didn't have a problem with other devices. I found that by turning the headset off and then back on it would be fixed. Sometimes I would have to do this a couple times. So it's like it doesn't always get a good connection to the phone initially and have to start over. Want to mention it wouldn't always start with the problem. So there's no consistency with it. I just know what to do when it happens. Maybe there's an update at some future date that can fix some of the Bluetooth woes.

 

[balloch]

I put an S8+ back to Samsung due to bluetooth range and got a 100% brand new handset back, the bluetooth range is exactly the same.

That's given me hope that a software fix will correct the issue.

 

[Nakrohtap]

Same exact problem here. I would say the range is about half of what the S7 Edge was able to do.

Same here. I use a BT speaker and I hear hiccups now I never heard before with the S7E. When I walk out of the room, the audio stops. No range at all.

 

[webwevers]

I am seeing the same issues with Bluetooth on my S8, both the range issue with my Gear S3 Frontier watch and also with audio that skips. Hopefully a software fix is being worked on. My S6 had no issues with Bluetooth like these.

 

[Lodingi]

I did that with two speakers.

As did I, but the audio was not synced between the 2 speakers. It was more annoying than cool.

 

[dejanh]

I'm not going to hold my breath on a fix. Samsung is slow as molasses.

 

[theelite1x87]

I currently only got one bluetooth device. It's a water resistant speaker from Victsing. Line of sight i can maintain audio clearly as far as 35ft (have not tested further as that is furthest line of sight point i can make in my apartment). With walls in between I have kept signal with 1 interior wall between me and phone at a distance of about 15ft. Still worked fine. I hit the limit when I went into kitchen and had 2 interior walls (about same distance). It worked but audio cut out every 10 to 15seconds. I then tried same 1 interior wall but went further away. I'd say I got slightly further (maybe 20ft total with 1 wall) before audio started to cut out. After testing this, and then doing same stuff with my V10, I'd say this phone does have slightly less range bluetooth then my V10, but It's still pretty good. At least for my usage. Not nearly short enough that I'd call it defective. Oddly, this limitation doesn't seem to hit other radios. I have so far gotten same or better cell signal rentention versus my V10, and wifi holds up to longer as well. Must just be a bluetooth thing.

 

[cmb713]

I'll say this much, the connection is solid for me after the latest update. The range is the same, but certain headsets seem to have better ranges than others. Also tried using two in the ear headsets, each $12 on Amazon. The dual audio isn't bad at all and seems to sync up better after a minute. It sounds as good as the icons almost but about 4 hours of battery life.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I was dropping audio to my MDR-1000X with open air line of sight at 20 feet. This is not a typical use case for me so it's not a deal breaker, but it's also not great.

 

[theelite1x87]

I don't have those headphones so it's not a direct comparison. But I can listen to my Bluetooth speaker at range of 20 ft (line of sight) and it works fine with no cut outs. If nothing is obstructing the signal your headphones should work fine at that range.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I don't have those headphones so it's not a direct comparison. But I can listen to my Bluetooth speaker at range of 20 ft (line of sight) and it works fine with no cut outs. If nothing is obstructing the signal your headphones should work fine at that range.

I agree, they definitely should.

I'll do some more testing with other devices. Right now I've really only used the Sony headphones and the Gear S3 Frontier with it, neither of which has had impressive range IMO.

 

[REMF Almighty]

I'm having the same issue, I have a Gear iConX and Gear S connected to phone but once i put it on my pocket the connection drops or the music skip. Also my Gear S disconnect in not more than 10 meters. I thought bluetooh 5.0 will increase the range