Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including all the releases from the ‘Made By Google’ event, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel Buds 2a and Pixel Watch 4, Samsung Galaxy S26 Pro leaks, Google’s mandatory battery health monitoring, HMD Fuse is you next Child’s phone, OnePlius 15’s new look, and Google Play store changes in EU.
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.
Google Launches Tenth Anniversary Pixel Phones
The big news this week is clear: “Made By Google” launched a raft of new Pixel products while subtly shaping the smartphone world towards a landscape best suited to Google. The core comes from the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, and Pixel 10 Pro XL. The tweaked design is noted, as is the muse of Material 3 Expressive and the increased use of AI, but the key change might be deep inside the handset… the move to TSMC to build the new Tensor G5 chipset:
“Tensor G5, our new custom silicon, is the most significant upgrade to our chip since Tensor’s debut. It delivers snappy performance while bringing deeply helpful experiences to Pixel users first. And thanks to co-design with Google DeepMind, the newest Gemini Nano model will run first on Tensor G5 to unlock many on-device generative AI experiences that make everyday life easier.”
(Google Keyword Blog).
Pixel Watch 4 Brings Upgrades Across Your Wrist
Also launching was the fourth generation of the Pixel Watch. Battery life has been improved, as well as the ergonomics of the screen, and sleep and fitness tracking have been enhanced. Crucially, it’s one of the first smartwatches to ship with standalone satellite connectivity:
“Pixel Watch 4 LTE is the first-ever smartwatch with standalone emergency satellite communications. Powered by the Snapdragon W5 Gen 2, it can connect you to emergency services through a series of geo-stationary satellites, dispatching help to your location, even when you’re off the grid.”
(Google Keyword Blog).
Pixel Buds 2a Bring AI To Your Ears
The final key product is the Pixel Buds 2a. The latest A-Series true wireless buds bring many of the features of the Pixel Buds 2 to your ears. They have been packed with more AI software to enhance the experience:
“Pixel Buds 2a come with your new smart companion: Gemini. With hands-free help from AI, you can get things done, summarize messages, and even ask for coffee recommendations during your walk — all without taking out your phone. Just say, “Hey Google” or customize press and hold gestures to reach your digital assistant.”
(Google Keyword Blog).
Galaxy S26 Pro Details Leak
Samsung’s new brand for 2026, the Galaxy S Pro, will debut as part of the S26 family. The vanilla Galaxy S26 will leave the line-up, to be replaced by the S26 Pro, the S26 Edge and the S26 Ultra. It’s the Pro that will lift the specs (and could well allow Samsung to lift the price as well):
“Galaxy S26 Pro (SM-S9420) will feature a 6.27-inch screen alongside a 4,300 mAh battery. This is the second time we’re hearing about the S26 Pro’s updated battery capacity. This would be a minor update over the Galaxy S25’s 4,000 mAh cell.
(GSM Arena).
Beating The Battery Blues
Tucked away in the code for the Pixel 10 family is Google’s Battery Health Assistance. This has been an optional feature to reduce battery voltage and current speeds to preserve your battery. Notably, Google made this a mandatory feature on the Pixel 9a. Replying to Android Authority, Google confirmed the decision for the Pixel 10 family:
“This software will adjust the battery’s maximum voltage in stages that start at 200 charge cycles and continue gradually until 1000 charge cycles to help stabilize battery performance and aging,” the company explained earlier this year during the Pixel 9a’s release. “You may notice small decreases in your battery’s runtime as your battery ages. Battery health assistance will also tune the phone’s charging speed based on adjusted capacity. You may notice a slight change in battery charging performance.”
(Android Authority).
HMD Fuse, Your Child’s Next Phone?
HMD has launched a new feature alongside the HMD Fuse. Following on from the recent HMD Fusion and a bundled monitoring solution from a parent’s handset, the Fuse works with third-party services to provide on-device detection of nude images and blocks them before they are processed and seen by the user:
“HarmBlock+ is embedded at the OS level, can’t be switched off or worked around, and works across any app or content type by scanning for nude imagery at the screen rendering stage. When such imagery is detected, the entire screen is blocked, and any communications apps are closed, severing calls or live streams.”
(HMD via TechRadar).
OnePlus 15’s New Look
Details on the upcoming OnePlus 15 highlight the new specs on the display, along with the expected use of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. But it’s going to be the visible advances that will immediately be noticed:
“OnePlus 15 will come with a 165Hz refresh rate display with 1.5K resolution, according to a tipster. The phone is also said to sport a new performance engine that’ll enable 165FPS gaming.”
(GSM Arena).
And Finally…
Google is offering concessions to the European Union’s Competition Authorities to head off a fine or market restrictions being applied to the Google Play app store:
“The proposed changes, announced Tuesday, make it easier for third-party developers to direct customers away from the Android ecosystem to make app purchases — a concern EU watchdogs highlighted in March when they cautioned that Google was preventing developers from doing so.
“As part of the overhaul, which will apply across 30 countries in Europe, Google will allow apps to direct users to the web to transact purchases away from the Play Store, according to an update published on its website. The change comes with a new fee structure to cover its costs.”
(Bloomberg).
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!
