Z-Wave vs. Bluetooth

The tech industry is often rife with buzzwords and novel concepts. In fact, many people are starting to notice a trend in the frequency of one particular term: Z-Wave technology. Z-Wave may be the cool new thing in terms of wireless communication, but many information transmission experts are starting to champion it as an innovative form of mobile and wireless communication. Let’s take a closer look at Z-Wave technology and how well it compares to one of the industry staples: Bluetooth.

The Power of Z-Wave Technology

While Z-Wave isn’t a household name just yet, that may be about to change. Z-Wave technology, originally created in Copenhagen, Denmark in the year 1999, is a mesh transmission technology that allows devices to communicate wirelessly through RF waves.

Z-Wave is interoperable which allows consumers to mix and match products together — thus giving them the ultimate freedom when it comes to communication.   The primary benefit of Z-Wave technology is that consumers are getting a new era of interoperability. Customers want to know that they can mix and match products to get something that is uniquely tailored to their needs. Look at the many home security products that use Z-Wave, like Amazon’s Alexa. These devices all communicate and operate together thanks to the flexibility of Z-Wave tech. Let’s examine a few other benefits that Z-Wave technology can offer:

• Flexibility – Z-Wave is a broad-use technology which means that it is flexible to use with thousands of products.

• Efficiency – Operating at 908.42 MHz means that there is no interference with Wi-Fi or 2.4Ghz devices.

• Range – With a reduction in interference, Z-Wave has an enhanced range that is also optimized by the “device leaping” aspect of the tech. As you add Z-Wave products, you strengthen their network.

The Benefits of Bluetooth

Bluetooth is the standard in the world of wireless communication. Bluetooth can be found in just about every technological device created in the past decade. Bluetooth offers a low-energy consumption baseline along with an affordable rate and industry standardization. Conversely, Bluetooth struggles with many things — including scale and interference problems.

Making the Choice: Bluetooth or Z-Wave?

When it comes down to it, consumers must prioritize what they find most important in their home security or entertainment setups. While Bluetooth has many positive aspects, the technology struggles in the areas that Z-Wave is optimized. For most common needs, Z-Wave will be the more efficient and effective choice, particularly in the field of home security.

No matter what technology consumers choose to rely upon, it is imperative that they pursue some sort of home security system. For those that are interested in taking their home security to the next level, contact Brinks Home™ for a free quote on a home security system. Our latest panel is compatible with both Bluetooth and Z-Wave devices.

Lauren Slade is a Dallas-based writer and editor.