Looking back on seven days of Android news and headlines, this week’s Android Circuit includes Samsung’s Android 13 delay, Pixel 7 Pro details confirmed, Pixel Watch price surprise , OnePlus 11 Pro leak, Asus ROG Phone 6D Ultimate review, Google’s new audio format and covet the dynamic island.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of some of the many things that happened around Android in the past week (and you can find Apple’s weekly news digest here).
Does Samsung need a Hero dev phone?
With Samsung’s leading position in the Android space, many would assume it would be in pole position to be the first OEM with an Android 13 update to the existing handset (it looks like the OnePlus 10 Pro and OxygenOS take that prize ). Either way, the scope of Samsung’s handsets means more testing is needed for a full rollout… but Abhijeet Mishra says the South Korean company needs a development track to speed up the process and become the “first”:
“For that, I – and many others here at SamMobile – just say: come on, Samsung, release the stable version of Android 13 on at least one device/series of devices already! And generally get those big updates faster upgrade the operating system to a stable form once Google releases them for Pixel devices.Yes, that could mean more bugs slipping through the cracks, but it’s an issue that should be easily fixed account given all the resources available to Samsung.
(SamMobile)
Pixel 7 Pro launch date confirmed
Google is doing a lot of the PR and pre-launch work ahead of the official Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro event on October 6. Since the culture of leaks isn’t going away, why not take control and make any potential leaks news you can post? As is the case with pre-order news… they open the same day as the main event, presumably by the end of the event we will have “pre-order yours now by following this link”.
“Devices will be available for pre-order on the same day as the event [on October 6th]. It had been rumored since early August, and now Google has confirmed the move with the fine print in the video. We’ll then assume that the supposed ship date of October 13 will also materialize, but let’s see what happens.”
(GSM Arena).
Pixel Watch price leak
Google doesn’t seem as forthcoming with Pixel Watch details – although the broad strokes emerged at I/O, Pixel Watch is a brand new product, so there’s still more of a story for consumers to tell. As for the price, well, that was secret…until some of the stories online leaked the price:
“9to5Google first reported that the price of the cellular model Pixel Watch was $399.99 in late August. Thanks to a retail source, we were able to further corroborate this price, while now being able to confirm pricing for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi model, which will start at $349.99.
(Forbes).
OnePlus 11 Pro specs leak
Following the news about the return of the Alert Slider, more details about the OnePlus 2023 flagship have been leaked. The high-end specs (including a welcome 5,000mAh battery) certainly suggest a flagship handset is on the way next spring:
“With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, we also see some demanding internal specs in the OnePlus 11 Pro. The device will feature up to 16GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. On the outside is a QHD+ AMOLED display 6.7” at 120Hz, similar to what its predecessor offered. The display is also said to hide a fingerprint sensor under the screen. The real boost comes from battery charging, where a 5000 mAh battery is inside.
(9to5Google).
ASUS ROG Phone 6D Ultimate Review
For the average consumer, the Asus Zenphone 9 is a great all-around Android device in a compact form factor. These are the Republic of Gamers (ROG) phones where the gaming action happens, and the latest ROG 6D Ultimate offers, as the GSM Arena review states:
“Asus is not only adopting a MediaTek chip this time around, but it’s also betting a little on it by giving it the ‘Ultimate’ moniker. Today we have the ROG Phone 6D Ultimate for review. Just like its historic predecessors, the Ultimate edition is largely based on the vanilla design, but with a few small additions here and there as a kind of “icing on the cake”.This year the Ultimate doesn’t get any additional entries but rather a new AeroActive portal – a motorized air duct that gives the AeroActive Cooler 6 accessory a channel to directly cool the device’s innards.”
(GSM Arena).
Google’s new audio format
Google is working on a new audio format that could challenge the power of Dolby’s various systems on the open market. Given the amount of media Google provides – notably via YouTube – any proposed alternative would have a large day one market that could establish the format:
“Google shared plans for the media formats, known internally as Project Caviar, at a closed-door event with hardware makers earlier this year. In a video of the presentation that was leaked to Protocol… The company’s primary focus for Project Caviar is YouTube, which currently does not support Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision, however Google is also aiming to onboard other industry players, including video makers. ‘devices and service providers.’
“Google did not respond to a request for comment.”
(Protocol).
And finally…
Apple’s new UI around the front camera cutout has been bravely dubbed “the dynamic island” and the faithful are loving it. The same goes for some voices in the Android OEM market with RealMe and Xiaomi checking in on social media about how this might be a desirable feature in the future:
“Realme asks members of its community if they want a ‘dream island.’ ….Weibing posted on the Weibo social network… to see if the company’s fans would like to see a “smart island” in future Xiaomi phones:
(android font).
Android Circuit rounds up 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, let us know!