Apple launched a new ultra wideband chip that could render Bluetooth obsolete
Buried at the bottom of iPhone 11 promotional material detailing new cameras and improved battery life, Apple mentions Ultra Wideband (UWB) chips, a technology which could usher in a new era of connectivity. Crystal Cox/Business Insider
UWB chips boast highly accurate spatial awareness and can pinpoint objects within a 30-centimeter range, compared to the 1-meter range offered by existing Bluetooth technology, according to Wired. Apple only detailed one application of UWB chips involving improved AirDrop functionality, but it says the chips will broadly enable intra-device location sharing, creating a “GPS at the scale of your living room.”