Apple is looking to move past Bluetooth’s limitations with a new wireless protocol that debuts alongside the iPhone 17 series. The feature, called Spatial Relay Audio-Visual Sync (SPR AVS), is designed to deliver lossless audio and near-instant responsiveness across Apple’s devices.

Apple AirPods Pro 3

According to reports, SPR AVS keeps latency under 10 milliseconds, a level that makes wireless audio viable even for gaming, video editing, and music production—areas where Bluetooth often struggles. This new protocol also adjusts bandwidth automatically depending on environmental noise or device conditions, which should help maintain a consistent signal.

Beyond audio, the protocol can handle biometric and sensor data, allowing for tighter integration with features like Spatial Audio, AR, and VR applications. Multi-device syncing is supported as well, making it possible to keep sound aligned across headphones, iPhones, and Apple’s Vision Pro headset.

Apple has been laying the groundwork for this move. Earlier this year, the AirPods Max gained support for 24-bit/48 kHz playback via USB-C, but wireless listening was still limited by Bluetooth compression. SPR AVS aims to close that gap, delivering wired-quality playback over a wireless connection.

Bluetooth will continue to serve as the universal option for compatibility, but SPR AVS signals Apple’s intent to push a more advanced in-house standard. Support is starting with the iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3, and Vision Pro, and will likely expand to Macs and future AirPods models.

If widely adopted, SPR AVS could set a new baseline for wireless audio, forcing rivals to rethink how they approach high-fidelity sound.

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