Who talks to the device?
If users control the device from their phone, nearby, Bluetooth Low Energy is often the right starting point. If the device must send data without a phone, Wi-Fi or a long-range network becomes necessary. It’s the first question we ask on any connected device project.
How long on battery?
Wi-Fi uses more power: it suits devices with a permanent power supply. A battery-powered sensor will favour short, infrequent exchanges. Reading frequency is therefore decided with the use case, not afterwards.
What about setup?
Pairing a device with a customer’s Wi-Fi remains a tricky step. The pairing journey deserves early prototyping, like the rest of the mobile app. Read more: a connected device is a whole product.