Nordic's Broadcast Audio Demo with Auracast and Bluetooth LE at Embedded World 2025

At Embedded World 2025, Nordic Semiconductor demonstrated Auracast, the broadcast audio feature of Bluetooth LE Audio, now supported on mainstream smartphones like the Samsung S24 and Google Pixel series. This marks a key milestone-real-world compatibility without custom hardware.

The demo used a live music broadcast from a PC, routed through a development kit to multiple receivers. A standout feature was a high-priority interrupt that switched the audio feed from music to voice in real time, illustrating potential applications in public environments like airports or train stations. For example, travellers could tune into only the gate-specific updates relevant to them.

These use cases extend to home settings too—such as streaming the same film in multiple languages through a single TV setup. The flexibility offered by multiple simultaneous broadcasts opens new possibilities for accessibility and user experience.

Audio Quality and Efficiency Without Compromise

Auracast uses the LC3 codec—part of Bluetooth LE Audio—which delivers high audio quality at lower bitrates. In subjective tests, listeners rated LC3 nearly as high as uncompressed audio, making it hard to distinguish even for audiophiles.

Battery life is another area of improvement. Bluetooth LE Audio reduces power consumption by about half compared to Bluetooth Classic. In standby mode, devices consume significantly less power, enabling weeks of idle time without a recharge. This shift allows more reliable wearable audio products for everyday use.

Nordic's nRF5340 SoC and Audio Development Kit are designed to take full advantage of LE Audio’s capabilities, offering developers a practical path to market-ready devices with Auracast support.

Developer Flexibility and Widespread Device Support

The system supports multiple stereo streams from the same source without overloading the processor or radio—thanks to efficient codec architecture. While performance depends on the end devices (phones, headphones), many current-generation models already support Auracast broadcasts.

Bluetooth LE Audio also makes it easier to switch between idle and streaming modes, making battery usage more efficient across multiple devices. Nordic highlighted their upcoming nRF54L15 series as part of their 2025 focus, prioritising low power consumption across product lines.

With native phone support and proven developer tools, Auracast is moving from concept to mass-market integration.

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