Having a look again at this week’s information and headlines throughout the Android world, together with a vital Google Pixel safety replace, Galaxy S25+ benchmarks, Pixel market share win, Magic7 Professional launch, Snapdragon 8 Elite efficiency points, China’s best-selling smartphone, and HarmonyOS halts Android assist.
Android Circuit is right here to remind you of some of the various discussions round Android within the final seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Apple news here on Forbes.
Pixel 9 Professional XL
Google Points Vital Replace
Google’s Android Safety Replace for November consists of patches for 2 zero-day vulnerabilities within the Pixel household of units. One exploit leverages Qualcomm’s {hardware}; the opposite is a matter contained in the Google Play system framework. Forbes contributor Zak Doffman explains the issues in additional element, together with a transparent suggestion:
“Placing that apart, all Pixel customers are urged to put in the brand new replace as quickly because it’s accessible on their telephones. Pixel gross sales are surging, and regardless of any Android 15 teething points, the pace with which that improve was accessible in comparison with Samsung, and the benefit Google has in operating each {hardware} and software program is now clear.”
(Forbes).
A Stunning Galaxy S25+ Benchmark
Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25+ smartphone (anticipated to launch mid-January 2025) has been noticed on Geekbench, and there’s a twist within the tail for the Samsung neighborhood. Earlier experiences that Samsung would transfer your complete Galaxy S25 household to the most recent Snapdragon chipset from Qualcomm at the moment are being questioned:
“The European variant of the Galaxy S25+ bearing mannequin quantity SM-S936B has been noticed in Geekbench’s database. It makes use of the S5E9955 chip, which is the mannequin quantity for the unannounced Exynos 2500 processor. The cellphone additionally seems to be utilizing 12GB RAM and operating Android 15 (One UI 7.x).
“The Exynos 2500’s CPU efficiency seems to be decrease than that of the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 and the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Nonetheless, you need to keep in mind that that is an inside check based mostly on early software program.”
(Geekbench through SamMobile).
Following the launch of the Pixel 9 household, the crew behind Google’s newest smartphone will welcome the most recent measure of success from StatCounter. It reveals a big rise in market share for the Pixel model. Whereas the methodology means there’s a bigger than anticipated margin of error, the brand new Pixel smartphones are actually registering with the market:
“Knowledge for October 2024 revealed by StatCounter reveals that Google Pixel now makes up a whopping 12.9% of the North American market, up from a mere 4.76% in September. That beats out Motorola, and makes up over half of Samsung’s share as nicely. The majority of the expansion appears to come back from iPhone, as Apple’s share fell by round 4%. Motorola, Xiaomi, and OnePlus additionally fell by slight margins, whereas Samsung noticed a really slight 0.25%~ achieve.”
(StatCounter through 9to5Google).
Seven Is The Magic Quantity (With A Sprint Of 8 Elite)
Honor has introduced the Magic7 and Magic7 Professional. Whereas these are Chinese language handsets, earlier Magic handsets have seen a worldwide launch just a few months after the debut (and the annual Cellular World Congress in February is just a few months away). Honor is as soon as extra leaning closely into the digicam {hardware} alongside the usage of the most recent Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset from Qualcomm:
“The gadget has a 6.8-inch FHD+ show with HDR brightness that peaks at 5,000 nits. It has 12GB of RAM at minimal, as much as 1TB of storage, and an enormous 5,850 mAh battery with 100W wired charging and 80W wi-fi charging.
“The digicam setup on Magic 7 Professional consists of 50MP sensors used for the principle and ultrawide shooters, and a 200MP digicam (upgraded from 180MP) for the telephoto lens. Optical zoom is simply 3x, however the added decision can stretch digital zoom out to 100x.”
(9to5Google).
8 Elite’s Thermal Journey
First out of the blocks with a Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered smartphone was Realme. The self-titled Realme GT7 Professional suffered heating points whereas reviewers put the chipset by way of graphical benchmarking. Following a small replace, the crew at Android Authority have put the silicon by way of its paces. Whether or not the surplus warmth manufacturing is right down to Realme, or Qualcomm, will probably be one thing that many will examine because the chip turns into extra prevalent
“The unhealthy information is that this stability comes on the expense of critically excessive peak temperatures. That’s clearly not sufficient to close down the app, however you’re a peak temperature of round 47 levels Celsius for every stress check. These temperatures are considerably increased than the Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely (42 to 43 levels Celsius) and OnePlus 12 (34.7 to 39.3 levels Celsius). Realme’s cellphone was additionally uncomfortably scorching after these assessments — you wouldn’t need to take a cellphone name when it’s this scorching.”
China’s Smartphone Podium
The most recent report from Canalys examines the smartphone market in China. Apple’s iPhone hasn’t made the highest three (in contrast to the highest lists within the US), with Vivo, Huawei and Honor making up the highest three:
“vivo maintained its lead with a 19% market share, due to new mid-range product launches that boosted offline gross sales and expanded its on-line presence. General, vivo’s shipments surged 25% yr on yr to 13.0 million models.
“Huawei ranked second with 10.8 million shipped models, capturing a 16% market share and rising 24%, pushed by an lively channel technique to assist its flagship merchandise.
“Honor got here in third with 10.3 million models shipped, although its general shipments fell 13% yr on yr because it confronted challenges regardless of the recognition of its new foldable telephones.”
(Canalys).
And Lastly…
Huawei has launched a big replace to its personal smartphone working system. Whereas HarmonyOS has been round for a while (and has grew to become extra vital to the corporate when it was added to the US Entities Listing), the brand new model is the primary not constructed across the Android Open Supply Undertaking and as such it won’t run any Android apps. An App Retailer is prepared, nevertheless it falls a way wanting the favored Android shops:
“Huawei additionally claimed that on the time of its announcement, over 15,000 HarmonyOS native purposes and meta-services had been additionally launched. That is a pleasant quantity, however nicely wanting the tens of millions of apps discovered on the Google Play Retailer and Apple’s App Retailer.
(The Register).
Android Circuit rounds up the information from the Android world each weekend right here on Forbes. Don’t overlook to observe me so that you don’t miss any protection sooner or later, and naturally, read the sister column in Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if in case you have any information and hyperlinks you’d prefer to see featured in Android Circuit, get in contact!
