Google’s Nest Hub may receive an update for the first time since its debut in 2018. The company has registered a new “interactive device” with the Federal Communications Commission, which includes a screen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Zigbee will provide support with what appears to be Google’s Soli radar gesture technology.
Collectively, it appears that Google has a new smart home device of some sort underway; as 9to5Google points out that the “interactive device” rating is similar to what Google uses for its other smart devices such as the original Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, Nest Mini, Nest Wifi and Nest Audio.
The addition of Zigbee – a popular standard for smart home networks – can help integrate all that the new device does even better into setting up smart homes. And Soli tech has previously appeared in Google’s smart home devices, such as the entry-level Nest Thermostat released last year, which uses the technology to detect when users are near.
According to the FCC filing, the unknown smart device is rated for the same, wider 58-63.5 GHz range of frequencies as the Pixel 4, which, unlike the Nest Thermostat, uses Soli technology for its Motion Sense gestures. It’s easy to imagine that Google is using radar technology for motion gestures on a next generation version of its smaller Nest Hub, which does not have the integrated camera that the larger Nest Hub Max already uses for similar gestures.
Lastly, the Nest Hub is one of Google’s oldest smart home products (launched in October 2018). This is actually prior to using the Nest brand for Google’s smart home products – the device was first released as the Google Home Hub – it’s probably due to a refresh.
Unfortunately, the FCC filing does not reveal many other details for the mysterious product. But if Google is already registering regulations, we may not have too long to wait.