Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Galaxy S25 Edge launch date, Galaxy Z Flip 7 specs leak, Pixel 10 Pro display tech, Nothing Tech’s CMF Phone 2 Pro, Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 revealed, Ayaneo Ace Pocket launched, Google premiere’s The Android Show.
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.
Galaxy S25 Edge Launch Date
Teased during January’s Galaxy Unpacked, the fourth Galaxy S25 model is set to launch in the next few weeks. The slimline Galaxy S25 Edge will be one of the thinnest smartphones released this year. Noted industry watcher Evan Blass has shared a marketing image with a few key details:
“The teaser is pretty basic. The ‘Beyond slim’ tagline and the sleek phone silhouette likely allude to the Galaxy S25 Edge. “13 maggio 2025” means May 13, 2025. Joining the dots, this is a Save the Date teaser for the Galaxy S25 Edge’s Unpacked event, likely to be held on May 13, 2025.”
(EvLeaks via Android Authority).
Will There Be A Faster Foldable From Samsung?
Regulatory filings for Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy Z Flip 7 have revealed details on the charging speeds for the foldable handset. The current 25W wired charging is going to be maintained. In addition, other sources on the new specs for wireless charging support claim that Qi2.1 will be supported.
“Additionally, current rumors and leaks suggest that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 will feature the same 15W wireless charging speed and 4.5W reverse wireless charging speed as its predecessor. As 15W is required for the Qi2 wireless charging standard, it’s possible that the Galaxy Z Flip 7 has Qi2.1 support, similar to the Galaxy S25 series, which accommodates magnetic cases.
(Android Central).
New Display Technology For Pixel 10 Pro
Google’s recent Pixel handsets have suffered from slower PWM dimming rates. This reduces flicker on the display, an important consideration for a subset of users who find a flickering screen inducing headaches. With the Pixel 8’s 240 Hz now regarded a bare minimum. The Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro smartphones look to be in line for updated PWM hardware with a higher frequency:
“Improving the PWM frequency on the Pixel 10 is a crucial step if Google is to avoid falling behind the competition, especially given recent advancements made by iPhone and Samsung flagships. While the technical details of PWM dimming will mean little to most customers, a significant number who are sensitive to screen flicker will be less likely to return their devices if the flickering is reduced.”
(Forbes).
Bringing Telephoto To The Price-Conscious Market
Nothing Tech has notched up a potentially important first with its CMF Phone 2 Pro. The CMF range sits at the lower price points of smartphones, where the Pro designation focuses on the camera’s abilities. And that’s where consumers have an attractive offer:
“Most notably, it abandons the semi-useless depth sensor of the CMF Phone 1 and brings in both an 8MP ultrawide and a 50MP telephoto lens. That last bit is notable, as this is now the only phone from a major manufacturer with a telephoto lens in this price category.”
(Android Authority).
An Early Arrival For The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2
Sitting inside many of today’s flagship phones is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. Launched late last year and showing up in handsets just before Christmas, it set the standard for performance. The Elite 2 is expected to do the same, but with an earlier arrival, it should have a much more significant impact on the holiday market:
“Qualcomm is expected to show off the SoC sometime in late September, with smartphone launches to commence in October. Last year, the Snapdragon 8 Elite was shown off in late-October, with smartphone launches following shortly after. Chinese OEMs like Xiaomi will likely beat others to the punch, with devices like the Xiaomi 16 and maybe even the OnePlus 14 getting out of the door first.”
(NotebookCheck).
A New Ace Pocket Handheld Is In Town
A new Android-powered handheld for retro gaming was announced this week. Ayaneo’s Pocket Ace is available to order through Indiegogo. Retro gaming handhelds do not need top of the line chipsets to emulate an army of older systems and many Android titles, which helps keep the bill of materials down, contributing to the $399 entry-level model.
“In terms of power, it has the same Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 as the Pocket EVO and Pocket DMG. This isn’t one of the latest handheld-focused chipsets announced earlier this year, but it’s performed very well in our testing. It should be able to run any emulator you can throw at it, with the only slight drawback being a lack of community driver support. However, that might change as more handhelds adopt the new chips.”
(Android Authority).
And Finally…
Those expecting Android announcements at the upcoming I/O Developer Conference may be waiting too long. This week, Google confirmed it would hold an edition of “The Android Show” on YouTube ahead of I/O to talk about the mobile platform:
“Exciting updates are coming to Android. Tune in to The Android Show: I/O Edition on Tuesday May 13, 10 AM PT to hang out with Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem, and the Android team to be the first to learn about innovative new experiences.”
(YouTube).
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!
