What if the smallest Bluetooth chip could also run faster and last longer? Learn how this new design is changing the way devices connect.
Many connected devices face limits in size, energy efficiency, and responsiveness. Swatch Group’s new Bluetooth chip addresses these issues for engineers developing wearables, IoT nodes, and compact electronic systems that must run longer and respond faster within tight design constraints.
The integrated circuit, designed entirely by EM Microelectronic, Swatch Group R&D, and the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), has achieved three major milestones. It is the smallest Bluetooth chip currently available, consumes the least energy across various operating conditions, and features an exceptionally fast start-up time. These capabilities together make it easier to integrate more functions into smaller devices, extend battery life, and enhance the user experience in real-world applications.
Ultra-miniaturization remains a key challenge for designers who want to add wireless communication to portable products without increasing size or reducing runtime. By setting a new benchmark for low-power performance, this chip helps extend the life of connected devices such as beacons, sensors, and wearables. Its rapid start-up capability also improves system responsiveness and reduces overall power draw during intermittent operation—an important factor for devices that transmit data only occasionally.
The chip has already been officially qualified for the latest Bluetooth 5.0 standard. It contains more than five million transistors on an area of about 5 mm². Designed with flexibility in mind, it can operate independently as a low-power microcontroller or be paired with a range of sensors to add Bluetooth connectivity to any portable electronic device.
This development highlights Swatch Group’s strength in ultra-low-power circuit design and its long-standing expertise in microtechnology. As connected products continue to shrink while demanding higher performance, innovations like this Bluetooth chip will play a central role in advancing compact and energy-efficient IoT systems.
