According to a recent FCC filing, Google looks to be planning to release an upgraded Nest router featuring Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Thread mesh networking radios later this year. It carries the model number A4R-G6ZUC, which is comparable to the IDs issued to the previous Nest Wifi, as well as the Nest Mini, Thermostat, and even Google Glass.
A source verified to 9to5Google in June that a new Google / Nest router was on the way, and the outlet now claims to have confirmed this is the model number for that gadget.
Internal and exterior images in the application remain classified and unlisted, but they do detail the wireless equipment aboard as well as an “Internal Proprietary Antenna Solution consisting of 6 antennae.”
- 2 x 2.4GHz / 5GHz dual band antennas for BT, Thread, 5GHz Wi-Fi Primary
- 2 x 5GHz Wi-Fi Diversity
- 2 x 2.4GHz / 6GHz dual band antennas for Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6E routers, unlike their Wi-Fi 6 predecessors, include a new 6GHz band for compatible devices to connect to, in addition to 2.4GHz and 5GHz, decreasing signal interference and delivering better speeds. Even though there aren’t many devices that can connect on 6GHz currently, the band can be utilized to backhaul local communications between access points, removing some of the noise from the network and improving performance for other connected devices.
While the theoretical maximal speed of 9.6Gbps remains unchanged from Wi-Fi 6, the expanded spectrum should enable devices to employ the maximum permissible channel size and achieve better speeds in real-world scenarios, maybe around 1-2Gbps with reduced latency than you’re accustomed to from a wireless connection.
Since the initial Nest Wifi, smart home products such as the HomePod Mini have used Thread — a component of Google’s Matter smart home interoperability standard. Thread can build a separate network exclusively for smart home devices, increasing their reliability and responsiveness regardless of manufacturer.
