Details of a smart display device with Google's Soli chip and enhanced motion gesture control have been filed with the FCC

As discovered by 9to5Google, the filing covers a screen-integrated "interactive device" and includes specific uses consistent with those of the current Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max If this turns out to be the all-new Nest Hub, it would be the first addition to the series since the Nest Hub Max was launched over a year ago

The most interesting aspect of this dry technical document is the inclusion of Google's Soli radar chip, developed to track hand gestures with extreme precision; the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth specs list a 58-635GHz transmitter, which is the same frequency used by the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 smartphones, matching the frequency range of the Soli chip in the Pixel 4 smartphone

Google removed Soli and its Motion Sense controls from the Pixel 5, but continues to explore applications for this technology by including Soli in the Nest Thermostat and now appears to be eyeing the more mainstream Nest Hub

A wider range of supported motion gestures would certainly be ideal for smart displays, and Google could build on the Nest Hub Max's existing but relatively limited gesture control For example, instead of simply pausing and playing music, one could swipe through the air to skip tracks or adjust volume

Improved motion controls in the Nest Hub would also allow messy hands to scroll through menus and assist with meal preparation Google could also copy Soli's existing gesture controls that Soli makes possible with the Nest Thermostat could be copied and made available on the Nest Hub Other smart home devices could be controlled with similar gestures

This filing with the FCC is the first and reasonably compelling evidence of a new Nest Hub The original Nest Hub was launched in 2018 as Google Home, but since Google has preferred to improve the smart display with new features through over-the-air updates rather than a brand new device, a new device that directly replaces it is has not been evident until now

This will change with the Soli-powered Nest Hub, as Google apparently cannot add entirely new hardware features via software updates The 9to5Google report also points to support for Zigbee, a standardized communication protocol for wireless smart home devices

In theory, this could further enhance the new Nest Hub's capabilities as a smart home controller, as it would provide seamless compatibility with a variety of Zigbee-compliant devices This, in turn, could help bridge the gap between Amazon's Echo device and the Nest Hub, which already supports Zigbee and is widely considered a more versatile option