The 5 Bluetooth misconceptions I hear most often are completely backward

Published Sep 28, 2026, 8:15 AM EDT I am an author and features writer at Android Police. I primarily writes guides, how-tos, and roundups on the latest smartphone apps and features for Android Police since joining the team in early 2022. While my work often diversifies depending on the topic, you'll often find me writing about the newest entertainment or hidden utility Android apps or discussing my paranoia about digital privacy and poor smartphone practices. I will occasionally dabble in Samsung's latest features in One UI. On the games side, my area of expertise is in action RPGs and gacha games, but I will play and study the occasional competitive shooter. But most of all, my appetite for new stories still goes unquenched — as shown with my personal love for the Trails series. Before joining Android Police, I studied chemistry and graduated with an honors specialization in Chemistry in 2016, leading me to spend many hours toiling around the lab as an undergraduate. Eventually, all those hours spent at the lab led me to develop my analytical mindset. So now, if you give me a problem, I will relentlessly tackle it to find a solution. My favorite pastime as a student was always writing reports, presentations, tutorials, and literature reviews, which guided me into completing a graduate certificate in technical writing in 2019. Thanks to my current role with Android Police, I learned to appreciate user security and privacy, leading me into studying Cyber Security. My first Android phone was the Samsung Galaxy Note II in 2012, which gave me a taste of how a small piece of powerful hardware can open up endless opportunities for my favorite hobbies. Though if you ask about my purchasing regrets, I will always say missing out on the Google Nexus still stings to this very day. I've also been a gamer for over 20 years, starting with Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Thanks to those early influences, I now own over 15 devices for gaming, ranging from handhelds to consoles. Nowadays, you'll find me studying spreadsheets and assembling data to theorycraft new teams and builds for Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, Wuthering Waves, and Zenless Zone Zero. You'll also see me digging deeper to uncover the truth behind AI as a field: which part is actually useful, or it just a bunch of bloat being sold with your phone? Bluetooth paves the way to a cable-less future. It's an energy-efficient technology that has little to no impact when you pair the right devices and accessories. I used to rely on Bluetooth connectivity to reduce the power load my peripherals put on my computer (my power supply unit wasn't very good). Essentially, anyone with a solid working mobile phone should know how useful it can be. Still, even today, I find myself dispelling myths and misconceptions people believe about Bluetooth technology. Here are the ones that still surprise me most. Turning on Bluetooth kills your battery There are worse battery-killers out there The number of times I've been told to disable my Bluetooth to fix my battery drain issues is shocking. I even did it once to prove a point, and the battery drain that came from keeping it enabled was basically negligible (it also stays on permanently). This is because Bluetooth spends a lot of time idle rather than active. When it is used, it doesn't use much power. According to a study conducted by Android Authority, using Bluetooth while watching a four-hour video. Then, based on their graph, they had almost the same recorded battery drain at 22.6% and 22.8% when Bluetooth was off, versus when it was on with only audio. Leaving Bluetooth on, but not connected, increased battery consumption to 6.6%. Android Authority also tested this across five devices, meaning that the data you see is an average. The author also notes significant variation between smartphones. This is likely due to hardware differences, as well as the software optimization in the radios, Bluetooth wake-up, and scanning intervals. So basically, some phones can handle it better than others. Bluetooth devices all have the same range Not all Bluetooth devices are made the same My initial reaction when I hear that all Bluetooth devices have the same range is that this is absolutely not true. That's when my curiosity becomes piqued: why would someone believe this? So I did some quick research and saw that people usually think Bluetooth reaches about 33 feet, or about 10 meters. That's partially true. It does for Class 2 Bluetooth 4.0 radios. However, Bluetooth range varies based on "Class" and version. Class dictates the power class a Bluetooth device can reach. There are three classes: Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3. Class 1 has the longest range, around 330 feet (100 meters). Class 3 is the shortest, usually under 3 feet (about 1 meter). Most devices we use are under Class 2, which is why people think everything operates in the same range. But tacking on the versions also means they can reach even greater distances when you consider advanced protocol features like LE Coded PHY in Bluetooth 5.0. Environmental obstruction is still a factor; newer chips can go through walls better than older ones, but the signal can still weaken — which might be why people think range is being affected. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi can't be used at the same time This limitation is a relic of the past Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police | Bits And Splits / Shutterstock Being told to turn off my Wi-Fi to fix my Bluetooth connection issues is likely the most baffling myth on this list. If that were still the case, no one would be comfortable using Bluetooth headphones, earbuds, or controllers at the same time as their smartphones and computers. If I want to listen to music on my work laptop, I need to pair it with Bluetooth because my port is broken. I have no issues with this, and I have remotes and controllers piled up in my office. So I have a whole swarm of Bluetooth devices and accessories that can be powered on at any moment, and I have six devices that primarily need Wi-Fi to function, like my smart TV. People think you can't use both because they traditionally share the same 2.4GHz radio frequency band, which causes signal interference. However, technology has evolved. Plus, Bluetooth already uses Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) to avoid the specific channels Wi-Fi is using. Routers have also improved, since they operate in higher frequency bands, meaning they aren't as dependent on the 2.4 GHz band. If you are still rocking an ancient router that only supports this, you may want to consider a change. Because at that point, Bluetooth isn't the only source of interference you'd have to worry about. Bluetooth can make you very sick If this were true, it wouldn't exist Credit: Sennheiser The old scare that Bluetooth can be a cause of a terminal illness (cancer) isn't one I hear too often anymore. Yes, it does emit radiation (non-ionizing), but at a safe level set by major health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), which has studied links between wireless technologies and various cancers. These organizations haven't found a direct connection. The most that has been reported is that it is "possibly carcinogenic to humans," and they note that wireless headphones (Bluetooth) have lower power densities than mobile devices (so even less worrisome than you get from a phone), as referenced in the main study. Plus, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) also regulates the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR); Bluetooth devices have scored well below the maximum safety threshold. The only question is whether long-term exposure does anything. Still, the results are not conclusive either way. In actuality, you should focus more on your auditory health, since overexposure to headphones at the wrong level can damage your hearing. To avoid problems, consider the 60/60 rule and take breaks in between. Moreover, dizziness and headaches are likely the result of poor accessory fit, especially with headsets. I know this because it's been my uphill battle for the last 10 years. Bluetooth is 100% safe from hackers Wireless tech is rarely ever foolproof Credit: Lucas Gouveia / Android Police Think of the concerns you might have about an old router being hit by cyberattacks because of outdated protocols and predictable credentials, and apply that to Bluetooth. It's not a fun thought, but it's the truth. Hackers can exploit backdoors to spy on your device usage, make phone calls, or even listen in. Thankfully, this isn't common if you keep up with technology, as this is mostly a concern if you use Bluetooth at longer ranges and with outdated protocols. Generally, Bluetooth 5.0 and newer have robust encryption methods. Plus, manufacturers usually patch regularly when they find security vulnerabilities. If you encounter it, common Bluetooth attacks cybercriminals may use include Bluebugging, Bluesnarfing, Bluejacking, Bluesmacking, and car whispering. If your Bluetooth tech is out of date, be wary when you are connected, and turn off Discoverable Mode to reduce visibility in public places — if that's even an option. You'd be surprised what Bluetooth can do Bluetooth technology is prominent. But it doesn't need to keep you on a leash. You'd be surprised how much one device uses it. I recently read an article that my colleague wrote about how his Google Pixel would broadcast its location even after it was turned off. It turns out that this is because his phone sends a Bluetooth signal for hours in the background due to a security and privacy feature for Find Hub. It's technically helpful if your device is ever lost or stolen, but it does this without your consent, which is why it is concerning.