QCA9882 and QCN6224 as WiFi Module SoCs Comprehensive Comparison

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.