Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Galaxy S25 Edge launch dates, Pixel 9 Pro photo problems, Google holds back battery health tools, Honor 400 details confirmed, the hidden costs of tariffs, and Google’s cutest Pixel challenges iPhone.
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.
Tune In For The Edge
Samsung has confirmed that the fashionably thin Galaxy S25 Edge will launch on May 13th. It was previewed in January alongside the three main S25 handsets, but only now will it get the full launch experience before heading out to consumers later in the month:
“It’s not going to be an Unpacked event, there’s no need for it since Samsung has already shown off this device on multiple occasions. Samsung will simply conduct the ceremonial launch of this device on YouTube.”
(SamMobile).
Pixel 9 Photo Problems
Is Google oversaturating photos taken on the latest Pixel smartphone? Users are reporting aggressive changes being made in post-production, with no easy way to turn it down. With monthly patches arriving on the Pixel platform, it’s an issue that could be addressed in the next week or so. Until then it remains an annoyance for many.
” A thread on the Google Pixel subreddit is full of users reporting odd, incorrect experiences with the phone and the processing software (via Android Authority). The OP (original poster) called attention to the processing applied to photos taken on the Pixel 9 Pro. The user gives an example, using a photo of their Ford Mustang Shelby. The post shows two instances: Google’s processing (left) and the correct image (right, what the viewfinder shows).”
(Android Central).
Older Pixels Miss Out On Battery Health
With Android 16, Google is introducing Battery Health monitoring. It’s currently public in Bea 3 of the operating system, which targets the Pixel platform and a handful of others. Yet anything older than a Pixel 8a is not going to get the useful utility. Google has confirmed that only phones from 2024 and later will have the options:
“Google has replied in the Google Issue Tracker that the Battery Health Indicator feature will not be available on older Pixels; “Thank you for reporting this. The Battery Health Indicator feature is currently supported in Beta 3 on Pixel 8a and Pixel 9 products including 9 Pro Fold. Due to product limitations, this feature will not be available on older in-market Pixel devices.”
(Android Authority).
Coming Soon, 200 Megapixels For The Honor 400
Honor has confirmed that the Honor 400 and 400 Pro smartphones will launch on May 22nd. Honor will be leaning into photography and generative AI with an AI Camera equipped with a 200 MP sensor. GSM Arena takes a look at the potential specs of a handset that is expected to be competitive in the mid-range, including the higher specced 400 Pro::
“[it] should have a 6.7-inch 1080×2412 OLED display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 5,000-nit peak brightness, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC powering it, 12GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, a 200 MP main camera with OIS, a 12 MP ultrawide, a 50 MP telephoto, and a 50 MP selfie camera with a depth sensor next to it. This one will also get a 5,300 mAh battery but will have support for 100W wired charging.”
(GSM Arena).
The Impact Of Tariffs
With US President Donald Trump imposing significant tariffs on imports from China, many have wondered what impact it will have on consumer electronics. Eric Migicovsky is busy launching a new crowdfunded Pebble smartwatch, and has laid out the impact on the project’s supporters.
“As it stands today, smartwatches are exempt from the most expensive tariffs, with the current rate being 27.5%. The plan, though, is to “bulk import” these smartwatches to further lessen the tariff impact as the fees paid on each watch will be at a rate lower than the final $149 price. It’s estimated that customers will see a $10-25 added cost for these import fees. But that could all change, as tariffs are changing constantly, and the current rate is only due to a 90-day pause on the smartwatch category (as well as smartphones).”
(9to5Google).
And Finally…
The latest video in Google’s #BestPhonesForever once more sees the comedy pairing of an anthropomorphic iPhone and Pixel talking to each other and comparing features. It won’t come as a surprise that the Pixel notes how long it has had the features that are heralded as new on the iPhone.
“In Google’s “Responding to the Rumors” video, Pixel and iPhone record a podcast episode about rumors of the next iPhone 17’s design and how it is “doing the same thing [Pixel] did first, years later.” The conversation then goes back and forth around Pixel features that later showed up on iPhone, such as Night Sight and Night Mode, Magic Eraser and Cleanup, and homescreen widgets.”
(YouTube via 9to5Google).
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!
