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Bluetooth Audio Latency Test

Measure estimated latency of your Bluetooth audio device by timing audio round-trip delay. Compare results with wired connections.

This test plays short tones through your Bluetooth audio device and measures the round-trip delay using the Web AudioContext API across 5 samples, reporting the median latency.

Standard SBC Bluetooth codec adds 150-250 ms latency, while aptX Low Latency achieves under 40 ms — a 4-6x improvement critical for gaming and video sync.

What Do Your Results Mean?

Result Range Meaning
Good Below 80 ms Your Bluetooth audio has low latency suitable for video playback, casual gaming, and real-time communication without noticeable lip-sync issues.
Warning 80 – 150 ms Noticeable delay for gaming and video editing. Audio may feel slightly out of sync with visuals. Consider aptX or AAC codec if available.
Bad Above 150 ms Significant audio delay that causes visible lip-sync mismatch. Likely using SBC codec. Switch to a wired connection for latency-sensitive tasks.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Latency result shows 0 ms or unrealistically low values

The test may be detecting the local speaker instead of Bluetooth output. Verify your Bluetooth device is set as the default audio output in system sound settings before testing.

Results vary widely between test runs

Close other audio applications, ensure no background downloads are running, and keep the Bluetooth device within 2 meters. The test uses 5 samples and reports the median to reduce variance.

Test fails to produce any audio or measurement

Grant microphone permission when prompted, ensure your Bluetooth device supports audio output (not just calls), and try Chrome or Edge which have the best AudioContext support.

Related Tools

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Bluetooth latency measured?

The test plays a short tone and measures the time until the audio output is detected, estimating the round-trip delay introduced by Bluetooth encoding.

What is a good Bluetooth latency?

Under 100ms is good for general use. Under 40ms (aptX Low Latency) is ideal for gaming and video. Standard SBC codec is typically 150-250ms.

Why is my Bluetooth latency so high?

Common causes: SBC codec instead of aptX/AAC, distance from device, interference from other wireless devices, or an older Bluetooth version.

Can this test measure exact Bluetooth codec latency?

Browser APIs cannot directly measure codec latency. This test estimates total audio pipeline delay which includes Bluetooth overhead.