Newsletter
Google may be preparing to launch a new flagship Nest Wifi mesh router in the coming months. An unannounced Google product recently popped up on the FCC database and all signs point to it being an upgraded Nest router.
The product in question bears the model number G6ZUC. The identifier is akin to other Nest products, though not limited to routers. Nest speakers and Thermostats also carry similar model numbers. But 9to5Google confirms that the upcoming product is a successor to the Nest Wifi router. The FCC documents reveal that the new model will bring one major upgrade to the table. It will offer Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
The previous Nest Wifi was disappointing limited to the older Wi-Fi 5 standard. It was a major letdown because Wi-Fi 6 routers were already shipping around that time. Thankfully, Google is now addressing that limitation and is going a step further by adding Wi-Fi 6E support. The biggest advantage of Wi-Fi 6E over Wi-Fi 6 is that it offers a third 6GHz band for compatible devices to connect to, o top of the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
Since not many devices support the 6GHz Wi-Fi band, it is less crowded. As such, there will be lesser signal interference, allowing for a more reliable internet connection. This may also result in faster speeds for other devices, though the theoretical top speed is unchanged from Wi-Fi 6 at 9.6Gbps.
This Nest router features six Wi-Fi antennas
Digging further into the FCC documents, we could find that this Nest product boasts Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support and is equipped with Thread mesh networking technology. Additionally, the documents reveal an “Internal Proprietary Antenna Solution” consisting of six antennas. These include two 2.4GHz/5GHz dual-band antennas for Bluetooth, Thread, and 5GHz Wi-Fi Primary, two 5GHz Wi-Fi Diversity antennas, and two 2.4GHz/6GHz dual-band antennas for Wi-Fi.
All in all, the upcoming Nest Wifi mesh router appears to be a major upgrade over Google’s current offering. Unfortunately, we can’t confirm when this product will arrive.
Not long ago, we spotted another unannounced Google product on the FCC database, with model number G28DR. It is simply referred to as a “Wireless Device” and there’s little info to tell what exactly it is. The product is Wi-Fi 5-certified and supports the 5GHz Wi-Fi band. It also boasts Bluetooth connectivity and features a 3.65V rechargeable battery. Based on this info, it could be anything from a Nest doorbell to a Nest camera, thermostat, and smart speaker. The two products may arrive together in the coming months. We will keep you posted.