Definitely something has improved. I have 3 x esp32 - one on each floor - the one on the top floor (which is probably 3 solid walls (besser block) and 50 metres away from my swimming pool - still picks up beacons from our solar pool cleaner !!
Our house has all internal solid block walls and each floor has 6 of the sensors with a central esp32 - the esp32 on each floor have no problems talking to the sensors continually on their floor and see 80% of the traffic from the ones not on their floor also
Give it a try you will be surprised
Craig
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To give you one more example, Apple's AirTag uses Nordic's nrf52832, a popular low cost BLE chip.
BLE is everywhere nowadays.
If you want to do serious BLE, forget about ESP32 series, its power consumption is way too high.
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I am using them as the central catcher of esp32 beacons - so they are always plugged in.
Craig
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That makes sense 
You may use a cell battery such as CR2032 for beacons with a BLE chip. The battery can last several years.
Yep - mine are pre-made XIAOMI beacons so come setup with LCD screen and hence use a AAA
battery
Craig
