iOS: Supported Bluetooth profiles
Summary
iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch support multiple Bluetooth profiles when running the latest version of iOS. This document details the differences in Bluetooth-profile support from one device to the next.
Products Affected
iPad, iPhone, iPod touch
The following table details supported Bluetooth profiles by device when using the latest version of iOS.
| Device |
Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5) |
Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) | Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) | Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) | Personal Area Network Profile (PAN) |
Human Interface Device Profile (HID) |
| iPhone 3GS and later | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| iPhone 3G | √ | √ | √ | √ | √ | - |
| Original iPhone | √ | √ | - | - | - | - |
| iPad 2 | √ | - | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| iPad | - | - | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| iPod touch (4th generation) |
√ | - | √ | √ | √ | √ |
| iPod touch (2nd and 3rd generation) |
- | - | √ | √ | √ | √ |
Additional Information
Here are some common uses for each of the Bluetooth profiles listed above.
Hands-Free Profile (HFP 1.5)
Hands-Free Profile allows Bluetooth headsets and car hands-free kits to communicate with mobile phones.
Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP)
Phone Book Access Profile allows the exchange of Phone Book Objects between iPhone and other Bluetooth devices.
It is often used between a car kit and a mobile phone to:
- Allow the car kit to display the name of the incoming caller
- Allow the car kit to download the phone book so the user can initiate a call from the car display
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)
Advanced Audio Distribution Profile allows high quality audio (stereo or mono) to be streamed from one device to another over a Bluetooth connection. This is commonly used to play music wirelessly from iOS to a wireless headset or a compatible car audio system.
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP)
Audio/Video Remote Control Profile allows remote control of playback functions on the iOS device from compatible devices (commonly Bluetooth devices that use the A2DP profile). iOS supports the following commands: pause, play, stop, next track, and previous track.
Personal Area Network Profile (PAN)
Personal Area Network Profile provides network connectivity over Bluetooth. With iOS this is common with multiplayer games and Personal Hotspot on iPhone. See this article for additional information.
iPod touch and iPad with iOS 4.3 or later support Internet tethering from an iPhone with iOS 4.2.6 or later, through PAN.
Human Interface Device Profile (HID)
Human Interface Device Profile allows communication between iOS and Bluetooth keyboards.
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