Programmable sensors must be programmed by a TPMS Tool to the specs of the vehicle they are being installed on. Once programmed most programmable sensors provide the same information that the OE sensors did.
Multi-Protocol sensors have several specific protocols preloaded into the sensor. In other words, they are made to fit different make, model, and year vehicles across different manufacturers. Typically, these sensors do not require programming but also require several different part numbers to attain the coverage of the programmable sensors.