Emir BardakçıRecently, the Xiaomi 17 series launched a massive technical discussion in the mobile world regarding connectivity standards. While the global Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes with revolutionary Bluetooth 6.0 technology, the variants sold in China appear to be stuck with Bluetooth 5.4. This regional difference is not related to saving hardware costs but rather originates in complex regulatory frameworks.
The Power of Snapdragon 8 Elite
The entire Xiaomi 17 lineup comes with the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 5) platform. This chipset features the FastConnect 7900 system, which is fully capable of supporting Bluetooth 6.0 and Ultra-Wideband UWB technologies on a hardware level.
Since the hardware is identical, this limitation is purely based on software. FastConnect 7900 comes with AI-optimized radio frequency management; it physically supports “Channel Sounding,” which is the core feature of the new Bluetooth standard. This indicates pretty clearly that Xiaomi hasn’t removed any antennas or chips from the Chinese models; they have just disabled the feature in the HyperOS software kernel for that region.
Regulatory Barriers and SRRC
Most of this difference falls between the shoulders of SRRC in China. Bluetooth 6.0 features a new feature, “Channel Sounding”, that enhances location accuracy.
- Spectrum Issues: This uses a 2.4 GHz band with transmissions of a continuous wave. It is also interference, where the current Chinese regulations on “Short Range Devices” are very strict about interference avoidance.
- Certification: The testing protocols for this new signal type were not ready in China at the time of the release.
This is why Xiaomi had to launch the device with Bluetooth 5.4 in China, as the certification process was not complete; to avoid more delays. But the Global version (Model 2512BPNDAG) has been certified by FCC, thus allowing these advanced features right away.
Benefits Accrued to Users Worldwide
With Bluetooth 6.0, global users will see considerable advantages. The most critical enhancement brings centimeter-level precision for digital car keys. If you happen to have a supported vehicle, the device could only unlock it when physically close to you, as compared to the relay attacks. It is pretty much safer compared to the older RSSI-based methods used in the Chinese firmware.
While Chinese users wait for a regulatory update, for the global users, all these features would be available right out of the box. Keeping system apps updated will ensure a smooth run on your device. You can easily update system components using our MemeOS Enhancer app from Play Store. This app will also help you access the hidden HyperOS features and manage advanced updates.
