Comprehensive Comparison of QCA9882 and QCN6224 as WiFi Module SoCs
Qualcomm has consistently driven the evolution of wireless networking technology, from WiFi 5 to the latest WiFi 7, offering solutions that span enterprise, industrial, and consumer applications. This article provides a detailed comparison of two key Qualcomm WiFi SoCs: the QCA9882 (WiFi 5) and the QCN6224 (WiFi 7), analyzing their differences in architecture, performance, band support, application scenarios, and software ecosystem.
1. Product Positioning and Generational Differences
| Item | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| WiFi Generation | WiFi 5 (802.11ac) | WiFi 7 (802.11be) |
| Release Year | ~2014 | ~2023 |
| Architecture | 802.11ac Wave 2 | Next-gen WiFi 7 platform |
| Process Node | 28nm | 6nm / 7nm (depending on version) |
| Target Use Case | Entry-level enterprise APs / Industrial IoT | Mid-high-end APs / Industrial routers / WiFi 7 modules |
2. Wireless Specifications and Frequency Support
| Item | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| Supported Protocols | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be (WiFi 7) |
| Supported Bands | 2.4GHz / 5GHz | 2.4GHz / 5GHz / 6GHz (Tri-band) |
| MIMO Configuration | 2x2 MU-MIMO | 2x2 or 4x4 MU-MIMO |
| Channel Bandwidth | Up to 80MHz | Up to 320MHz (WiFi 7 feature) |
| OFDMA | Not supported | Supported (Uplink & Downlink) |
| MU-MIMO | Limited support | Enhanced MU-MIMO with high user density |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Not supported | Supported (key WiFi 7 feature) |
| Max Data Rate | 867 Mbps | Up to 9.6 Gbps (configuration dependent) |
3. Hardware Interfaces and Packaging
| Item | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| Host Interface | PCIe 2.0 | PCIe 3.0 / 4.0 |
| Common Form Factor | Mini PCIe module | M.2 / NGFF / Custom module |
| Antenna Support | 2 antennas | 2 or 4 antennas, supports advanced beamforming |
| Power Management | Basic | Advanced PMU, supports Target Wake Time (TWT) |
4. Software Support and Ecosystem Compatibility
| Item | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| Mainline Driver | ath10k / ath10k-ct | ath12k (WiFi 7 dedicated) |
| OpenWRT Support | Mature and stable | Emerging support (included in 2024 mainline) |
| OpenWiFi Compatibility | No | Yes (supported under OpenWiFi initiative) |
| SDK Ecosystem | Supported by QSDK/QCA SDK | Supports latest Qualcomm SDK and OpenSync |
| Recommended Kernel | Linux Kernel 4.x+ | Linux Kernel 5.15+ for optimal ath12k support |
5. Application Scenarios Comparison
| Scenario | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| Industrial Gateways / IoT Edge Devices | ✅ | ✅ (better for high concurrency & speed) |
| Enterprise AP (dense deployments) | Partially suitable | ✅ |
| Mesh Backhaul | Limited | ✅ (6GHz high-bandwidth backhaul) |
| Real-time apps (video conferencing / AR / XR) | ❌ | ✅ (low latency, QoS aware) |
6. Power and Thermal Design
| Item | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| Peak Power Consumption | ~5–7W | ~8–12W (depending on band and antenna config) |
| Cooling Requirements | Passive heatsink sufficient | Recommended: heatsink + thermal pad / casing |
| TWT Power Saving | Not supported | Supported (essential WiFi 7 power-saving) |
7. Cost and Availability
| Item | QCA9882 | QCN6224 |
|---|
| Market Availability | Widely available, mature stock | Increasing volume, often via B2B/custom modules |
| Cost Positioning | Low-cost (<$10 per module) | Mid-high-end (30–30–30–60 depending on configuration) |
| Future Viability | Nearing EOL in modern applications | WiFi 7 mainstream SoC over next 5+ years |
8. Summary and Selection Guidance
| Use Case | Recommended SoC |
|---|
| Cost-sensitive, basic functionality | QCA9882 (mature and affordable) |
| Developing WiFi 7 products, mesh backhaul, or high performance CPE | QCN6224 (tri-band, MLO, high concurrency) |
| OpenWiFi or TIP ecosystem integration | QCN6224 |
| Legacy system replacements | QCA9882 |
Additional Notes
- QCN6224 is part of Qualcomm’s WiFi 7 platform lineup, designed for low-to-mid power WiFi 7 applications, offering tri-band support, 320MHz bandwidth, MLO, and efficient OFDMA scheduling.
- QCA9882 remains popular in budget-friendly routers, industrial CPEs, and older wireless deployments but lacks future-facing features like 6GHz, MLO, or TWT.
