I'm tethering a Galaxy Nexus (running Android 4.0) with my Macbook Pro (2009 model, running Mac OS X 10.7). What's the difference between Bluetooth and WiFi tethering in terms of:
- latency
- bandwidth
- power consumption on the phone?
I understand that Android does not support USB tethering with a Mac. Is that correct? Thanks.
Best Answer
In practical terms there is no speed difference between Bluetooth and WiFi when used for tethering cellular data. The reason being typical cellular data service data transfer rates are much slower than the theoretical limits of Bluetooth, making the potential higher bandwidth of WiFi irrelevant.
In addition, Bluetooth tethering is more convenient than WiFi, since in a number of notable phones (the iPhone being one) you can initiate tethering from the other device (as in your Laptop) when the phone is off (technically, in Standby with the screen is turned off).
I've done some tests and compared the various tethering options of an iPhone tethered to a Mac or iPad with the difference in real data transfer rates of each.