Forgotten Google Feature Poised to Make a Comeback According to FCC Listing

According to an FCC filing, a Google device with Soli Radar has been discovered, but its purpose remains a mystery. Is it a thermostat or a wearable device?

An upcoming device, possibly from Google, has recently appeared on FCC listings. While there is limited information available about this “wireless device,”it is believed to potentially include Google’s Soli Radar technology, which has been previously delayed.

The application for A4R-GJQ8U contains test results and various documentation pertaining to the wireless connections of this device.

Based on the filing, this device includes 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a “base plate”, and a crucial short-range 60GHz radar technology.

Despite the self-explanatory nature of the other tech, such as Bluetooth and 2.4GHz LAN, the 60GHz radar is similar to the Soli radar that made its debut in 2015 and was subsequently utilized by Google on the Pixel 4 smartphone in 2019.

Soli Radar is a small and energy-efficient radar capable of monitoring hand movements as small as sub-millimeters, allowing for hands-free management of devices, in case anyone was not familiar with it.

Despite not being utilized in later Google smartphones, the radar was recently observed on a Nest Thermostat in 2020. Its purpose was to sense any human presence near the thermostat and automatically turn on the display.

Despite the lack of clarity on this device and its features, 9to5Google speculates that it may be an entry-level thermostat. This speculation is based on the fact that a high-end Nest Thermostat is expected to be released soon, but this 2024 version appears to be missing necessary sensors and may just serve as a base model.

The Verge reports that this device is unlikely to be a smart speaker or smart display due to its lack of Thread or Zigbee, which are essential for controlling other smart home devices in 2024. The publication speculates that it could instead be a smoke alarm, thermostat, or another type of device.

According to the listing, Google states that the device must be kept at a minimum distance of 20 cm from a human being, making it unlikely for this to be the Pixel Watch 3. We will have to wait for further information on how Google plans to utilize this radar technology by 2024.