Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Pixel 8a details, Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon, Samsung’s cheaper chip option, an affordable Galaxy Z Fold, Honor reveals luxury Magic6, ignoring the AI buz, and Android 15 previewed.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Android in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Apple news here on Forbes.
Pixel 8a’s Good Look
Google’s mis-cycle tweak to the Pixel line-up has regularly included an “A” model with slightly reduced specs to capture the mid-range market. 2024 looks to be no different, with details on the Pixel 8a leaking this week, including some notes on what could be a stunning screen for this price point:
“The Pixel 8a will upgrade the A series display even further. While the resolution and size of the display are unchanged, the OLED panel now supports 120Hz refresh rates with 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness, which matches the specs of the higher-end Pixel 8. Also similar to the Pixel 8 is the fact that the panel is sourced from two manufacturers; most likely BOE and Samsung. Given all this, we can assume that the displays of the two devices are closely related and should perform similarly.”
(Android Authority).
Qualcomm’s Balance Of Power And AI
While not a mid-cycle update to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Qualcomm announced the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, a trimmed 8 Gen 3 that will offer flagship-like performance plus access to the latest AI hardware:
“The 8s Gen 3 is pitched slightly below the current Snapdragon 8, sports one less performance core, and runs at a slower speed. It’s clearly targeted towards the tier just below the flagship system-on-chip. Thanks to specs that almost match the top-line hardware but at a more affordable price, it will be perfect for handsets colloquially known as flagship killers.”
(Forbes).
Samsung’s Cheaper Chip Choice
Samsung is looking to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm and the cost of materials by equipping more of its smartphones with the homegrown Exynos chipset. It’s seen as a slightly weaker alternative to the equivalent Snapdragon, but will that small difference matter in mid-range handsets?
“We’ve already started seeing signs of this shift with the Exynos 2400’s inclusion in the galaxy S24 lineup. Rumor has it that Samsung may go Exynos-only for the Galaxy S25 series. The new Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55 feature Exynos chipsets as well, and the company is also looking to replace MediaTek chipsets in its low-range lineup with its own chipset.”
(SamMobile).
A More Affordable Foldable Model
Staying with cheaper Samsung options, the premium range of foldable phones looks set to introduce a Fan Edition. This summer’s Galaxy Unpacked event should see the Galaxy Z Fold 6 launch, with a Z Fold 6 FE model launched alongside it.
“The price of foldable phones in 2024 remains high, an issue the Fan Edition variants have been specifically designed to address. A Z Fold 6 FE would bring one of the most exciting technologies to a much wider audience and allow Samsung to capture more of the foldable market share… with Huawei threatening to become the world’s number one foldable manufacturer, Samsung needs to respond. The Fold FE will be that response.”
(Forbes).
Honor Magic6 Gets The Supercar Treatment
Following the release of the Porsche Design Magic V2 RSR, Honor’s next step in its partnership with the iconic design house is customising the regular Magic6 flagship (reviewed here on Forbes).
“Honor is proud to unveil the Porsche Design Honor Magic6 RSR, a technological icon fueled by the essence of Porsche DNA and created with the drive to go beyond the status quo,” said George Zhao, CEO of Honor Device Co., Ltd. “Our newest smart device comes from our shared pursuit of excellence with Porsche Design, a partnership built on the promise to deliver advanced human-centric technology with timeless aesthetics.”
(Honor).
Don’t Make An AI Choice Just Yet
It might be the big buzzword, but Conor Cawley is here to remind you that the jump from buzzword to killer app has not happened yet:
“But in 2024, AI features shouldn’t affect your purchasing decision, no matter how persuasive the marketing. The reality is that it’s going to be a few years before AI functionality makes significant strides that it will matter what tools are included by default on your smartphone; after all, Gemini and ChatGPT are both available in the Play Store right now. And until then, there are plenty of other features to worry about when it comes to buying your next device.”
(Android Police).
And Finally…
What happens next? Google has released the second developer preview of Android 15. While it is not expected to be available to consumers until late September, the extensive public testing allows the market to become au fait with the new features. One of the most intriguing is the use of satellite technology:
“Apps can use ServiceState.isUsingNonTerrestrialNetwork() to detect when a device is connected to a satellite, giving them more awareness of why full network services may be unavailable. Additionally, Android 15 provides support for SMS/ MMS applications as well as preloaded RCS applications to use satellite connectivity for sending and receiving messages.”
(Android Developer Blog).
Android Circuit rounds up the news from the Android world every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course, read the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have any news and links you’d like to see featured in Android Circuit, get in touch!
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