Does my iOS Device have Bluetooth 4.0?
STOMP Uses Bluetooth 4.0. Is your iPhone, iPad, or Mac Bluetooth 4.0 Compatible?
Spoiler: As long as your phone is at least an iPhone 4s, iPad is third generation or any Mini/Air, and iPod Touch is fifth generation, you’ll be OK. iPad 1 and iPad 2 are NOT compatible with STOMP. For a breakdown of the iMac and Macbook compatibility, scroll down to the bottom.
While Bluetooth has been around since the 90s (seriously, it’s that old), it’s only been a part of our daily lives in the past 10 or so years. And in that short amount of time it’s become an absolute staple. When we shop for Bluetooth items we naturally assume it’s going to work with our device.
But what if it didn’t? Basically everything manufactured in the last few years requires Bluetooth 4.0 compatibility. Can you say with confidence that your iPhone, iPad, iMac, or MacBook have Bluetooth 4.0?
Technology like this (and USB, Firewire, etc) often changes with little public knowledge or fanfare. But devices and their software change with it. If you don’t pay close attention you'll miss the update.
So how are we supposed to know what our devices have?
Before getting into compatibility, it's important to understand what Bluetooth actually is.
What is Bluetooth?
To put it very simply, Bluetooth is wireless communication between compatible electronic devices. It’s wireless technology. Like a wireless guitar or microphone system, but smarter and more integrated.
Wireless technology itself is actually quite old. Think about radio waves transmitting to a home or car radio. And the antennas on old television sets. The difference with Bluetooth is in the specific technology and application: connecting nearby electronic devices. We use these applications daily:
- Linking your smartphone to a Bluetooth speaker or headphones
- Wirelessly printing from your laptop
- (Safely) talking on the phone while driving (though maybe you should call them back anyway)
- And of course connecting your smart device to STOMP ;)
The real benefit is how easy it is to use and how many devices you can use it with (in general and concurrently). Without impacting that all-too-fleeting battery life. Speeds don’t (yet) reach WiFi speeds, but they don’t need to. For our daily applications (and STOMP) it can’t be beat.
(For a fun and surprising history of the Bluetooth name, check out this PC World article)
Does It Work With My Device?
If you're reading this on your iPhone or iPad, then most likely. Bluetooth 4.0 was introduced on smart devices in 2011 with the iPhone 4s. Shortly after it was being used on all smart phones, tablets, and laptops. Including Samsung Galaxy / Android / Windows devices.
Since the technology has been around for several years now, you shouldn't have to worry. Here’s the full breakdown of Apple devices with Bluetooth 4.0 capabilities:
iPhone
- iPhone 4s or newer
iPad
- iPad, 3rd generation or newer
- iPad mini (all generations)
- iPad Air (all generations)
- iPad Pro (all generations and sizes) (also our absolute favorite for reading sheet music and chord charts)
iPod Touch
- iPod Touch 5th generation or newer
iMac and Macbook integration gets a little more complicated. There were staggered cutovers that looked something like this:
- The Mac Mini and Macbook Air were updated with Bluetooth 4.0 in 2011
- The Macbook Pro and iMac were updated in 2012
- The Mac Pro was updated in 2013
If your computer was manufactured in the cutover years listed above, you should check your computer to be sure. Go to Apple>About This Mac>More Info>System Report>Bluetooth (underneath ‘Hardware’). Scan down the list until you see “LMP Version”.
Pair Away!
Just about every consumer electronic device manufactured today is Bluetooth capable. This gives us the ability to live in a world without wires, tethers, and clutter.
And when you have that freedom, you’re free to create.
STOMP requires Bluetooth 4.0, and is forward compatible with Bluetooth 5.0.
If you have any questions on compatibility or STOMP in general, send us an e-mail and we’ll get back to you ASAP.
