Taking a look back at seven days of news and headlines across the world of Android, this week’s Android Circuit includes a disappointing Galaxy S24 Ultra leak, S23 FE camera specs, three Pixel 8 Pro leaks, Pixel 8a surprise, Xiaomi 13T pricing, OnePlus Buds Pro 2R launch, Google’s smart home strategy.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple news digest here).
Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Downgrade
With so much stock placed on the imaging capability of a smartphone, it might be a courageous decision by Samsung to downgrade from the 10x optical zoom on the Galaxy S23 Ultra to just 5x for next year’s Galaxy S24 Ultra:
“Details on the new lens arrangement come from noted tipster Ice Universe on X (neé Twitter). They list the S24 Ultra’s two telephoto lenses as a 3x optical zoom on a 10-megapixel lens and a 5x optical zoom on a 50-megapixel lens. They also note that these numbers are trumped by the Xiaomi 13 Ultra which has a larger 50-megapixel sensor for its 3x optical zoom lens.”
(Forbes).
Galaxy S23 FE Details Ahead Of Indian Launch
Ahead of a presumed launch in October, Samsung has been delivering marketing posters to retailers in India. Naturally, one of the posters has leaked, detailing the camera lenses and LED flash arrangements:
“There’s not much to glean from this poster that we don’t already know, including the vertically arranged triple camera layout akin to the Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23+. However, the solitary LED flash could be positioned between the second and third sensors rather than the first one, at least as per a recent 360-degree video that detailed the phone’s design in its entirety.”
(Android Police).
Three Wonderful Pixel 8 Pro Leaks
We’re less than two weeks away from Google officially unveiling the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, and there’s a lot to look forward to. I’ve picked out three important updates to the Android phones, including the industry-leading commitment to software updates:
“…Google is modelling what the community would like to see from manufacturers regarding software support and security updates. Google is set to offer five years of Android updates to Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro owners. Given that the new smartphones will be the first to ship with Android 14 out of the box, this will be one of the longest support windows of a new mainstream Android device, surpassing the high-water mark currently held by Samsung for the Galaxy S handsets.”
(Forbes).
Pixel 8a Images Leak
Looking beyond the 8 and 8 Pro handsets, the mid-range “A” series, currently occupied by the Pixel 7a, is expected to be superseded by the Pixel 8a in late Q2 2024. And we’ve already got our first leak:
“Images posted by @yabhishekhd on Twitter/X this morning show off what is allegedly the Google Pixel 8a, in an early look that might just be the earliest we’ve ever seen a Google device in hands-on images. The leak shows a device that has two cameras in a pill-shaped cutout and with the entire device having a blue color similar to what we’ve seen in Pixel 8 Pro leaks.
(Abhishek Yadav via 9to5Google).
The Xiaomi 13T’s Surprising Difference
Xiaomi will be launching the titular Xiaomi 13T handset next week, and the late 2023 models come with a significant advantage over the vanilla-numbered models from earlier this year… a significant price cut.
“The Xiaomi 13T in an 8GB/256GB configurations will go for €650/£550, according to Ishan Agarwal. The Xiaomi 13T Pro will start at €800/£650 for the base 12GB/256GB model and will go up to €1,000 for a 16GB/1TB phone. For comparison, at launch the Xiaomi 13 prices in Europe were €1,000 for an 8GB/256GB phone and the 13 Pro started at €1,300 for a 12GB/256GB model.”
(GSM Arena).
New OnePlus Buds Pro 2R Are A More Affordable Alternative
This week, OnePlus released the next iteration of its true wireless earbuds with the OnePlus Buds Pro 2R. These follow the more expensive Buds Pro 2. What allows OnePlus to reach a more affordable price? Two features are no longer in the buds:
“You get the same 48dB active noise cancellation with adaptive modes, thanks to the large microphone cut-outs on each bud. Where the differences lie are cutting out some of the more premium features. You don’t get the gyroscope sensor for spatial audio, nor Google Fast Pair.”
(Stuff.tv).
And Finally…
You have Google Assistant, Nest Hub, the Pixel Tablet, Google Home… the various attempts at a Smart Home from Google have led to a landscape of missed opportunities and curtailed products. How open was the goal?
“I can’t help but feel that Google squandered its early start in the smart home just like it squandered its established Google Talk roots. Its smart home now sits in the same spot as the Google Messages app: It’s there and it does what it’s supposed to do. But it had the potential to be better, more widespread, and dominating. It could have captured the same magic as the early days of Search, Maps, Chrome, or Photos, but it didn’t.”
(Android Authority).
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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