Mario Bautista
Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Galaxy S25 release date, Galaxy S24’s free upgrade, Pixel 9 Pro Fold special offer, Pixel battery improvements, OnePlus 13 reviewed, Nubia Music details, Lenovo’s gaming tablet launched, and Google’s daily AI news.
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.
South-Korean Samsung President & Head of Mobile Communications Business Roh Tae-moon speaks during … [+]
Galaxy Unpacked Launch Date Confirmed
The excitement around the Galaxy S25 family was raised several notches this week as Samsung confirmed the time and date of its next Galaxy Unpacked event, which should see the new smartphones, wearables, and AI software announced.
“… the next Galaxy Unpacked launch event will take place on January 22 in San Jose, CA…As part of the invite, Samsung has also confirmed the event will be streamed through the Samsung Newsroom, the main Samsung website, and Samsung’s YouTube page. Galaxy Unpacked will start at 1300 Eastern / 1000 Pacific.
(Forbes).
Galaxy S24 Free Upgrade
One of the features of the Galaxy S25 family will be the new software, including Samsung’s implementation of Android. The company calls this OneUI, and version 7 is currently in beta. Not only will this benefit the S25, but it should also improve the performance of last year’s flagship S24 family:
“The speed boost is the most intriguing change and is down to the upcoming One UI 7 software Samsung is expected to unveil alongside the new S25 range. It’s one of the benefits of electronic goods — that with improved software, hardware can get better with age.”
(Forbes).
Pixel 9 Pro Fold Special Offer
Ahead of Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung offered discounts on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Google also offered discounts for its foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. UK consumers have something tasty:
“The deal applies to shoppers in the U.K. and knocks £200 ($248) off the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, bringing the final price down to £1,579 ($1,961). This is one of the bigger discounts the Pixel 9 Pro Fold has seen since its launch in August.”
(Forbes).
Pixel Battery Updates
Just as Samsung’s software update for the S25 will benefit the older handsets, Google has tweaked the Android software for the Pixel family, stretching back to 2018’s Pixel 3:
“Devices released between the Pixel 3 and Pixel 8 Pro should hold up to 80% capacity for roughly 800 charge cycles, revealing how much more power-efficient newer Google smartphones are. As with all other electronics, lithium-ion batteries used in smartphones have a finite lifespan.”
(Forbes)
OnePlus 13 Review
OnePlus has kicked down the doors of 2025 with the global launch of the OnePlus 13 and the OnePlus 13R. Reviews of both handsets are coming out, and I took a closer look at the OnePlus 13 earlier this week:
“The OnePlus 13 knows where it wants to be… at the top of a pile of premium smartphones. It has the looks to do so thanks to the vegan-friendly leather surrounding a well-defined camera Island. It has the specifications to match every other smartphone looking to achieve the same. It also has IP68 and IP69 certifications to protect it from water and dust when it gets there.”
(Forbes).
Nubia Music Review
At the other end of the pricing range is Nubia’s music-focused handset, which is simply named Nubia Music. The specifications are what you might expect for a phone priced at 150 euros, but the value is found not in the speed, but in the sound:
” The ZTE Nubia Music offers exceptional features for music fans for less than 150 euros: starting with the really cool design, the comprehensive DTS software for the sound settings and the high volume, and the dual audio jack. A radio receiver is also on board so that you can enjoy music even without the Internet.”
Lenovo Legion’s Gaming Tablet
Lenovo’s latest gaming hardware brings a larger screen to the Android gaming world with the Legion Tab. This gaming-focused tablet sports the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, backed up with a hefty 12 GB of RAM. Storage might be a bit tight for depending on how many of the more expansive titles you want to bring with you, but at just $499 it’ a solid companion to your smartphone when travelling and needing distractions:
“Under the hood, the Legion Tab is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage. It also has a 6,550 mAh battery with two USB-C ports and 45W charging. To keep the device cool while gaming, it features the “Legion Coldfront Vapor Chamber.””
(9to5Google).
And Finally
Google’s generative audio tools have been used by many to create an alternative to reading an article. Now google is taking that technology to sift through your likes and offer a five-minute personalised news bulletin at the end of the day.
“If you opt in to try this experiment, Google will pull from the same sort of stories that your interactions with Discover have indicated you’re interested in, and generate concise rundowns going over the latest developments. All told, your Daily Listen should pack everything you need to know into a five-minute-or-less summary.”
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!
