Google tests dual-band hotspot for Android phones
The feature, spotted in the latest Android Canary build, is designed to solve one of the biggest frustrations for hotspot users: speed and compatibility.
Google is preparing a major upgrade to Android’s Wi-Fi hotspot system, introducing a dual-band option that broadcasts on both 2.4GHz and 6GHz.
The feature, spotted in the latest Android Canary build, is designed to solve one of the biggest frustrations for hotspot users: speed and compatibility.
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For years, Android phones have allowed tethering through 2.4GHz and, in some models, 5GHz.
However, with the rise of devices supporting Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, users increasingly expect faster hotspot speeds.
The catch has always been that enabling newer, high-frequency bands locks out older devices. Google’s new feature aims to eliminate that trade-off.
How the new hotspot option will work
The update adds a new setting under Hotspot and Tethering, click Speed and Compatibility, labelled “2.4GHz and 6GHz”.
When enabled, the phone simultaneously broadcasts two networks: 2.4GHz for older or low-power devices and 6GHz for modern smartphones, laptops, and tablets that support newer Wi-Fi standards.
This enables the mobile hotspot function to work more like a home router, automatically offering the best network depending on the device’s capabilities.
Early testers say the feature appears stable, even though it's only in pre-beta builds. It is expected to move into broader beta testing in early 2026 as part of the next Android Quarterly Platform Release (QPR).
The dual-band system addresses a long-standing complaint among frequent hotspot users, especially people who use their phone to share internet with multiple devices.
Benefits include:
- Higher speeds for users with Wi-Fi 6E/7-capable devices
- Guaranteed compatibility for older gadgets still stuck on 2.4GHz
- Fewer connection drops when switching between bands
- More efficient tethering for small workgroups, students, and travellers
Manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi already offer "Wi-Fi sharing," which allows users to stay connected to Wi-Fi while broadcasting a hotspot.
Google's dual-band system appears to build on that foundation, although the company has not officially announced the change.
Analysts say this is part of Google’s bigger push to modernise Android’s connectivity features ahead of the rollout of Wi-Fi 7 and increased adoption of 6GHz channels globally.
The dual-band hotspot mode is currently hidden in developmental builds and will require hardware that supports 6GHz Wi-Fi.
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