Looking back on seven days of news and headlines across the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit includes the final Galaxy Z Fold leaks, Pixel 7 Pro launch dates, OnePlus 10T and Black Shark reviews 5 Pro, iFixit offers official Samsung repairs, a new version of Outlook, and the hit Galaxy Note series.
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).
Samsung’s Final Leaks
With Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event next week, there’s a final round of leaks and details to get us excited. For the final round, we have the materials used for the phone and details on fast charging:
“…the Galaxy Z Fold 4 features Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection on the front (cover screen) and back. This new protective panel first appeared on the Galaxy S22. The The next foldable phone also appears to offer faster charging despite using the same 25W mechanism. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 can reach a 0-50% charge in just 30 minutes. up to 33% in half an hour.
(Ahmed Qwaider via SamMobile).
A visitor takes pictures of a Galaxy Z Fold 3 foldable smartphone at the South Korean tech giant … [+]
Pixel 7 and 7 Pro launch dates
After the repositioning of the Pixel phone brand last year (and the launch of the Google-designed Tensor Mobile chip), the seventh iteration of Pixels could be considered the second tough album. This is an album you’re going to be waiting a little longer as the launch and release event has been pushed back to October:
“According to sources (very reputable sources), the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro will be available for pre-order on October 6th – which probably means the event will take place on the same day – and the devices will officially launch and be available on October 13…Google has a habit of moving the dates around sometimes, but if that were to happen, we’ll know – and you’ll know.”
(FrontPageTech).
OnePlus 10T review
After a year’s absence, OnePlus returned to a “T” handset and launched a new handset in the second half. The OnePlus 10T builds on the power and performance specs that T marketing has become known for. As part of my review of the new handset, I took a look at the history around the T:
“Some smartphones seek to cover all the bases, to be the smartphone that will end all smartphones. The OnePlus 10T 5G is not such a phone. It has made some compromises, but these are made to serve the phone purpose… to deliver as This has been the implicit goal of OnePlus’ “T” models since their debut with the OnePlus 3T, and after a few years away (when OnePlus was struggling with a “Pro” definition ), the 10T brings power back into the second half of the year.”
(Forbes).
Samsung and iFixit partner for spare parts program
Following Google’s lead with the Pixel, independent repair service iFixit announced that it is working with Samsung to offer genuine parts and tools so users can perform some essential repairs on their own handsets:
“Starting today, replacement screens*, rear glass and charging ports are available on iFixit.com as individual components or in repair kits with all the parts and tools needed to fix it. get your Galaxy back to pristine condition.Our collection of genuine parts keeps expanding, and of course our repair guides are too: every new part has a polished guide to help you complete your latest Galaxy repair… Initially, These genuine Samsung Galaxy parts are only available in the United States, but we are working on more devices and additional complete parts.”
(I fix it).
Subtle Black Shark 5 Pro review
Sometimes gaming smartphones come with all sorts of accessories, add-ons and advanced ideas that seem futuristic and out of the norm for a smartphone. Sometimes they look like a normal smartphone until you start playing Genshin Impact. I reviewed the Black Shark 5 Pro, where the latter is true:
“What I find interesting about the Black Shark 5 Pro is that even though it’s a gaming phone, it doesn’t go crazy with the gaming aspect. This is a high-end phone optimized for gaming, as opposed to a gaming phone that goes all out and sacrifices features that aren’t 100% focused on gaming.”
(Forbes).
Outlook turns on the Lite
Microsoft may not have conquered the mobile operating system market with Windows Phone, but it has adapted its software to sit above Android and iOS. This allows those using its cloud-based services easy access no matter what mobile device they are on. That reach expands once again, as the mobile team releases a “lite” version of Outlook for phones lower in wallets
“Knowing this, Microsoft has announced a new version of Outlook designed specifically for downlevel devices called ‘Outlook Lite’. This application works much the same as the full version, allowing users to use the same basic calendar and email features that make Outlook what it is. The main difference here is that the size of the app itself is only around 5MB and optimized for devices with as as little as 1 GB of RAM The new Outlook Lite is designed to run smoothly on just about any phone without compromising performance or battery life.
(Microsoft blog via 9to5Google).
And finally…
A year after the confirmed cancellation of the Galaxy Note series, Mihai Matei reflects on the rise, innovation and fall of the phablet; and how the death of the Note led to the success of the Ultra:
“For better or worse, the Galaxy Note series and accompanying S Pen have always been shrouded in an air of exclusivity. But the Galaxy S22 Ultra seems to have achieved its goal. It brought the Galaxy Note formula and the S Pen to the masses, and now the S Pen is free from those imagined barriers.
(SamMobile).
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!
