Google Pixel 6 To Support UWB Chip

A lot of official information about the Google Pixel 6 was released a few weeks ago. So far, however, the device has not been presented in more detail. A code change in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) confirms that the device is equipped with a UWB chip.

The advantage of ultra-broadband technology is that a lot of data can be exchanged at high speed over a short distance. This puts UWB between NFC and Bluetooth. It was announced months ago that the Pixel 6 could have such a chip. As 9to5google writes, the search engine company mentioned in a comment on the AOSP that the Pixel 6 (Pro) will be equipped with UWB support. The technology should work in conjunction with Android 12.

Native support with Android 13

Google does not want to limit UWB support to individual smartphones in the future. For this reason, native support is to be introduced with Android version 13, which is planned for next year. For this purpose, the implementation of pixel 6 is taken over and brought to a generic hardware abstraction level. This should make it much easier for smartphone manufacturers to integrate UWB chips into their devices. Google had already mentioned a native API for UWB at the beginning of 2021. However, the interface was designed exclusively for system apps.

While ultra-broadband technology is a relatively unknown feature these days, the feature could become very important in the next few years. With UWB it is possible to see the location of tracking tags or to set up car access without a key. A UWB chip can currently be found in smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3, and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4.