Bluetooth vs Wifi - Difference and Comparison

Bluetooth and WiFi are different standards for wireless communication.

Bluetooth technology is useful when transferring information between two or more devices that are near each other when speed is not an issue, such as telephones, printers, modems and headsets. It is best suited to low-bandwidth applications like transfering sound data with telephones (i.e. with a Bluetooth headset) or byte data with hand-held computers (transferring files) or keyboard and mice.

Wi-Fi is better suited for operating full-scale networks because it enables a faster connection, better range from the base station, and better security (if configured properly) than Bluetooth.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	Bluetooth	Wifi
Frequency:	2.4 GHz	2.4, 3.6, 5 GHz
Security:	It is less secure	It is more secure
standard:	IEEE802.15	IEEE802.11
Cost:	Low	High
Hardware requirement:	Bluetooth adaptor on all the devices connecting with each other	Wireless adaptors on all the devices of the network, a wireless router and/or wireless access points
Bandwidth:	Low ( 800 Kbps )	High (11 Mbps )
Specifications authority:	Bluetooth SIG	IEEE, WECA
Year of development:	1994	1991
Primary Devices:	Mobile phones, mouse, keyboards, office and industrial automation devices	Notebook computers, desktop computers, servers, TV, Latest mobiles.
Ease of Use:	Fairly simple to use. Can be used to connect upto seven devices at a time. It is easy to switch between devices or find and connect to any device.	It is more complex and requires configuration of hardware and software.
Range:	5-30 meters	With 802.11b/g the typical range is 32 meters indoors and 95 meters (300 ft) outdoors. 802.11n has greater range. 2.5GHz Wi-Fi communication has greater range than 5GHz. Antennas can also increase range.
Power Consumption:	Low	High
Latency:	200ms	150ms
Bit-rate:	2.1Mbps	600 Mbps

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Comments: Bluetooth vs Wifi

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Anonymous comments

Thank you
122.✗.✗.47 on 2013-03-29 12:18:28

VERY HELPFUL
41.✗.✗.56 on 2013-01-24 01:52:46

Thanks, very helpful
173.✗.✗.124 on 2012-10-17 22:40:46

*if configured properly
212.✗.✗.130 on 2012-02-06 09:32:53

I noticed the same contradiction, too.
198.✗.✗.10 on 2012-01-11 18:53:05

Mind explaining an apparent contradiction? On the security chart, you state that Wi-fi is LESS secure than Bluetooth, but below in "Applications of..." you state that Wi-fi has "better security than Bluetooth."
76.✗.✗.82 on 2011-12-24 19:45:24