Taking a look at this week’s news and headlines across the world of Android, including Galaxy S25 release date, free Galaxy S24 upgrade, Pixel 9 Pro Fold special offer, Pixel battery upgrades, OnePlus 13 review , details of Nubia Music, Lenovo’s gaming tablet on the market, and Google’s daily AI news.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of some of the many discussions about Android in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly roundup of Apple news here on Forbes.
Samsung South Korea President and Head of Mobile Communications Business Roh Tae-moon speaks at length … [+]
Unboxed Galaxy release date confirmed
Excitement around the Galaxy S25 family kicked up a few notches this week as Samsung confirmed the time and date of its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event, which should showcase the new smartphones, wearables and AI software.
“… the next Galaxy Unpacked launch event will take place on January 22nd in San Jose, CA…As part of the invitation, Samsung has also confirmed that the event will be broadcast via Samsung Newsroom, Samsung’s main website and YouTube of Samsung. page. Galaxy Unpacked will begin at 1300 Eastern / 1000 Pacific.
(Forbes).
Free Galaxy S24 upgrade
One of the features of the Galaxy S25 family will be new software, including Samsung’s implementation of Android. The company calls this OneUI, and version 7 is currently in beta. This will not only benefit the S25, but should also improve on the performance of last year’s S24 family:
“The increase in speed is the most intriguing change and depends on the upcoming One UI 7 software that Samsung is expected to unveil alongside the new S25 range. It’s one of the benefits of electronic goods – that with improved software, the hardware can improve over time of age.”
(Forbes).
Special offer for Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Before Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung offered discounts on the Galaxy Z Fold 6. Google also offered discounts on its foldable device, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. UK consumers are in for a treat:
“The deal applies to UK buyers and takes £200 ($248) off the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, bringing the final price down to £1,579 ($1,961). This is one of the biggest 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 older handsets, Google has tweaked the Android software for the Pixel family, extending to 2018’s Pixel 3:
“Devices released between the Pixel 3 and Pixel 8 Pro should hold up to 80% capacity for approximately 800 charge cycles, revealing how much more efficient Google’s newest smartphones are. As with all other electronic devices, lithium batteries -ions used in smartphones have a limited lifespan.
(Forbes)
OnePlus 13 review
OnePlus has opened the doors to 2025 with the global launch of the OnePlus 13 and OnePlus 13R. Reviews of both handsets are coming out, and I took a closer look at the OnePlus 13 earlier this week:
“OnePlus 13 knows where it wants to be… at the top of a premium smartphone pile. It has the looks to do it thanks to the vegan-friendly skin surrounding a well-defined camera island. It has specs to match any 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 price range is Nubia’s music-focused handset, simply called the Nubia Music. The specifications are what you would expect for a phone at the price of 150 euros, but the value is not found in speed, but in sound:
” ZTE Nubia Music offers incredible features for music fans for less than 150 euros: starting with the really cool design, comprehensive DTS software for sound settings and high volume, and dual audio jack. A radio receiver is also on board so you can enjoy music even without internet.”
(Notebook check).
Lenovo Legion gaming tablet
Lenovo’s latest gaming device brings a bigger screen to the world of Android gaming with the Legion Tab. This gaming-focused tablet packs the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, backed by a solid 12GB of RAM. Storage may be a little tight, depending on how many wider titles you want to bring with you, but at just $499 it’s a solid smartphone companion when you’re traveling and need 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 packs a 6,550mAh battery with dual USB-C ports and 45W charging. To keep cool gear during the game, it features the “Legion Coldfront Steam Room”.
(9to5Google).
And at the end
Google’s audio generator tools have been used by many to create an alternative to reading an article. Now Google is using that technology to analyze your likes and deliver a personalized five-minute newsletter at the end of the day.
“If you choose to try this experiment, Google will pull from the same types of stories that your interactions with Discover have shown you’re interested in and generate concise summaries of the latest developments. All in all, your Daily Listen should packed everything you need to know into a five minute or less summary.”
(Android Authority).
Android Circuit collects the news from the world of Android every weekend here at Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any future coverage and of course, read the sister column on 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 on Android Circuit, get in touch!
