What is Bluetooth multipoint?
One pair of headphones, two devices connected at once. How switching really works, the LDAC catch, and which of ours list it.
By Offerove Editorial TeamUpdated 2 min readResearch-based, not hands-on
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Bluetooth multipoint lets one pair of headphones stay connected to two devices at the same time, such as a laptop and a phone. Audio plays from one device at a time. You switch by pausing one and pressing play on the other, and calls from either device can still ring through.
Multipoint is the feature that saves you from re-pairing your headphones every time you move from laptop to phone. It sounds simple, but the details matter.
Here is how it works, the catch on sound quality, and which of our headphones list it. Specs are from each maker’s official page, as of November 2026.
What is multipoint?
Short answer: multipoint means your headphones keep a live Bluetooth link to two devices at once. You don’t re-pair or dig through Bluetooth menus to switch. Both stay connected, but sound comes from one at a time.
Without multipoint, headphones connect to one device. Switching means disconnecting from the first, then connecting to the second.
How switching works
Short answer: pause on one device, press play on the other. Sony’s WH-1000XM5 guide says starting playback on the second device doesn’t cut off the first. Once the first stops, the second takes over. Both devices stay on standby for calls.
More details from Sony’s guide:
- Setup: pair both devices, then turn on “Connect to 2 devices simultaneously” in the Sony app.
- Third device: the device that last played music stays connected, and the other drops.
- Stuck switching: some devices keep sending a silent signal after you stop playback, which can hold the headphones on that device.
The LDAC catch
Short answer: on the WH-1000XM5, Sony says LDAC can’t be used while multipoint is on. The headphones switch to AAC or SBC instead. If you mostly listen on one phone that supports LDAC, you may prefer multipoint off.
Multipoint is a convenience feature. On some headphones, you pay for it with your best codec.
Our headphones that list multipoint
Short answer: five of our headphones and earbuds list multipoint: three Sony models, the Soundcore Liberty 4 NC and the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen). The SteelSeries headset does something related, running its wireless base and Bluetooth at the same time.
| Product | Type | Multipoint | Bluetooth | LDAC listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Over-ear | Yes | 5.3 | Yes |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Over-ear | Yes | 5.2 | Yes |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | In-ear | Yes | 5.3 | Yes |
| Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | In-ear | Yes | 5.3 | Yes |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) | Over-ear | Yes | 5.4 | Not listed (aptX Adaptive) |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless | Gaming headset | Base station plus Bluetooth at once | Not listed | Not listed |
The LDAC catch above comes from Sony’s WH-1000XM5 guide. Check each model’s own guide before assuming it applies.
For picks, see best noise-cancelling headphones. Next, read Bluetooth codecs explained and what is ANC.
The picks, side by side
| Product | Type | Multipoint | Connectivity | Codecs | Spec score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony WH-1000XM6 | Over-ear | Yes | Bluetooth 5.3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 (LE Audio) | 8.0 |
| Sony WH-1000XM5 | Over-ear | Yes | Bluetooth 5.2 | SBC, AAC, LDAC | 8.1 |
| Sony WF-1000XM5 | In-ear | Yes | Bluetooth 5.3 | SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3 (LE Audio) | 8.8 |
| Soundcore Liberty 4 NC | In-ear | Yes | Bluetooth 5.3 | LDAC | 8.8 |
| Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) | Over-ear | Yes | Bluetooth 5.4, USB-C wired audio | aptX Adaptive (Snapdragon Sound) | 7.9 |
| SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (PC and PlayStation) | Not listed | Not listed | Wireless base station, Bluetooth (simultaneous) | Not listed | n/a |
Specs from each maker's official page, checked Nov 9, 2026. Spec score formula: methodology.
How we chose
We explain multipoint using Bose's official explainer and Sony's WH-1000XM5 Help Guide, then list the headphones in our catalog whose maker states multipoint. Research-based, not tested in person. Our methodology.
FAQ
Can multipoint play audio from two devices at once?
Not usually, since audio comes from one device at a time and Sony's guide has you stop the first device before the second plays.
What happens if I connect a third device?
On the WH-1000XM5, Sony says the device that last played music stays connected and the other one drops.
Does multipoint affect sound quality?
It can, since Sony says LDAC can't be used on the WH-1000XM5 with multipoint on, so it switches to AAC or SBC.
Do I need an app to turn multipoint on?
For Sony's WH-1000XM5 you switch it on in the Sony Headphones Connect app, and the WH-1000XM6 uses Sony Sound Connect.
Sources
- Bose: What is Bluetooth multipoint and how do I use it? (opens in a new tab)
- Sony: WH-1000XM5 Help Guide (connecting to 2 devices simultaneously) (opens in a new tab)
- Jabra: Multipoint explained (opens in a new tab)
- Sony WH-1000XM6: Sony official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Sony WH-1000XM5: Sony official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Sony WF-1000XM5: Sony official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Soundcore Liberty 4 NC: Soundcore official specs (opens in a new tab)
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen): Bose official specs (opens in a new tab)
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless (PC and PlayStation): SteelSeries official specs (opens in a new tab)
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