A Google WiFi successor may be coming with a new Qualcomm chip

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The Google WiFi router is a must have router in any technology enthusiast’s household. Its easy configuration plays a large part in its excellence—you place them in key areas of your home, scan a QR code, and you’re set. It supports all major features you’d expect a premium router to have, most notable is an easy-to-use app and QoS support. Now, according to several commits we found on the Chromium Gerrit, it seems that Google is working on a successor. That successor goes by the code-name of “Mistral,” and it runs on a currently unreleased Qualcomm chipset.

The code-name “Mistral” fits Google’s naming conventions for their previous WiFi products, all relating to wind. The Google WiFi’s code-name is “Gale” while the Google OnHub is code-name “Whirlwind.” It is also important to note that “Mistral”s kernel is using “Gale” as a base.

The currently unreleased Qualcomm chipset is the QCS405, a chipset made for Internet of Things devices. It stands to reason that it would go into a Google WiFi successor given that it too was powered by a Qualcomm chipset. If we are following Qualcomm’s typical naming conventions (4xx, 6xx, 7xx, 8xx), then it’s safe to assume that the QCS405 is lower-end when compared to the QCS605 released last year. We don’t have any information about it just yet, other than it’s already being used in a device that Google is making.

Google releasing a successor to the Google WiFi suggests that it will be an improved device. With a newer Qualcomm chipset to power it, it’s possible that we get new features over its predecessor. Information is scarce about what the QCS405 actually is other than that it follows the IoT SoC naming convention that Qualcomm has used in the past. The code-name mistral device first appeared publicly in November of 2018, which apparently was powered by the QCS404. It was soon upgraded to use the QCS405, and since then has received updates that have slowly improved upon its functionality. For example, it has confirmed Bluetooth support and even SD card support. On top of that, it appears it may also have USB ports.

The Google WiFi was a very basic device, but it worked well. With upgrades in the right places and support for SD cards and the like, Mistral could well be a worthy successor and can rightfully be described as the right direction for Google to go in. Modern routers typically have mass storage support so that you can stream content over your network, so it only makes sense for a more complete device that support would be implemented. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Mistral, and we’ll be sure to let you know of any further updates. One thing is for certain, this particular device is in the very early stages of development, and a lot could change before its release.