According to reports, Sony's next-generation Xperia flagships could be the first devices to launch with Bluetooth LE Audio integration. Strictly speaking, Android 13 natively supports Bluetooth LE Audio. However, not even the Pixel 7 series offers the functionality yet. Purportedly, the Xperia 1 IV and Xperia 5 IV will receive Bluetooth LE Audio support via an update, though.
In short, Bluetooth LE Audio would allow the Xperia 1 V and Xperia 5 V to utilise Low Complexity Communications Codec (LC3), which features dynamic audio scaling like aptX Adaptive. Theoretically, BLE Audio and LC3 consume less power and provide greater range than other mainstream Bluetooth technologies, while offering reduced latency too.
Bluetooth LE Audio is not necessarily the be-all-and-end-all. For example, Bluetooth LE Audio is a lossy codec. Hence, Bluetooth LE Audio would be unsuitable for streaming music with Deezer HiFi or Tidal. Also, hardly any audio products support Bluetooth LE Audio for now. Currently, Samsung states that the Galaxy Buds2 Pro will support the technology eventually, as do OnePlus with its Buds Pro 2. The LinkBuds series and the WF-1000XM4 lack Bluetooth LE Audio integration, too.
Source(s)
SumahoDigest, GreenSmartphones & @OnLeaks - Image credit