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PC Gamer
PC Gamer
Nick Evanson

Microsoft adds full stereo Bluetooth LE Audio for gaming to Windows 11 because mono with mics is so last century

Bang & Olufsen Beoplay Portal headphones pictured on a white background.

Bluetooth, a short-range wireless communication system, has been around for so long that we expect every PC and accompanying peripheral to support it without fuss or bother. However, for transmitting multiple audio channels simultaneously, it's not been so great, making it a poor choice for gamers wanting to chat mid-battle. Well, Microsoft has finally done something about that, and Windows 11 now properly supports super wideband audio in stereo, even when using a mic at the same time.

If you're wondering what on Earth any of that means, Microsoft explains it rather nicely in a blog about the Bluetooth LE Audio update. Before we dig into that, let's start with a quick scenario where you have a wireless gaming headset paired with a gaming laptop, via Bluetooth.

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