Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Pixel 10 design leaks, Samsung’s Exynos disappointment, Galaxy S25 Slim, Android XR arrives, Pixel Tablet’s missing pen, Epic’s next Android move, and a Minimal Phone preview.
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 .
A man plays Fortnite game on smartphone (Photo by Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesA Camera Bar For The Pixel 10
Details on Google’s next Pixel family of devices are coming out of the supply chain. First up is the Pixel 10, the standard handset due out in the summer of 2025. A new look at the case and the ‘blanks’ provided to manufacturers conform the basic dimensions and external features of the handset:
“This case suggests that the Pixel 10 will continue this rounded camera bar, in which case it’s safe to assume that the presumptively named Pixel 10 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro XL will follow the same design cue”
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More Galaxy Exynos Moments
Samsung’s community continues to flirt with the idea of an all-Snapdragon lineup for the Galaxy S25 when they launch early in Q1 2025. After promising noises from the supply chain in September, more details have come to light showing that Samsung’s own Exynos chipset will feature in the mix. The latest shows Samsung testing an Exynos-powered Galaxy S25+ :
“Following an earlier appearance of a Galaxy S25+ running an Exynos 2500 chipset in Geekbench, this week saw another appearance on the online benchmarking service of an Exynos handset, pointing towards continued testing by Samsung. It’s worth noting that the actual performance remains broadly similar to previous benchmarks.”
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Galaxy S25 Slim’s Big Camera
While there’s no word on the processor, we have more details on Samsung’s “thin” version of the Galaxy S25. I’s likely to launch a few months after the main S25 handsets (following the pattern set by the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Fold 6 Special Edition). Curiously, Samsung is going to focus on packing in more camera hardware and lenses compared to Apple’s iPhone 17 Air endeavours:
“…this would position the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim as a flagship-level device with, at the very least, a triple-lens camera. Apple, on the other hand, is expected to opt for just a single-lens camera in its hotly-anticipated iPhone 17 “Air” (or perhaps iPhone 17 “Slim”) in 2025, potentially giving Samsung’s device a distinct advantage in zoom capabilities and image quality.”
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Android XR Arrives
Google is opening up another front for Android. With the announcement of Android XR, and a partnership with Qualcomm and Samsung, XR will open up the system to actual, mixed, and augmented realities with support for hardware and software:
“However, glasses are the end goal and frames running Android XR are coming for “directions, translations or message summaries without reaching for your phone,” though they are paired like any other wearable.
(9to5Google and Google’s Keyword Blog).
The Pixel Tablet Pen
Following on from the news of Google’s cancellation of the upcoming and provisionally named Pixel Tablet 2, details on the potential peripherals also cancelled. While these all might show up in a revived Tablet 2, they’re no longer “coming soon”:
“While it’s cool to see Google make more accessories for its tablet line, the Pen doesn’t seem like it has anything particularly special to offer, other than the integration with the keyboard. If you want to use a stylus with your Pixel Tablet, just grab a USI 2.0 compatible Pen now, and you’ll get a very similar experience.”
(Android Authority).
Epic’s Next Android Move
If you buy a new Android phone from Telefonica (including O2 and Movistar) in certain Latin American or European countries (including the UK, Spain and Germany), you’ll find something rather curious pre0installed… the Epic Games store:
“It’s part of a “long term partnership” to bring the store and smash hit Fortnite to “millions” of the carrier’s devices, according to Telefónica and Epic. It’ll be the first time the Epic Games Store is preinstalled on consumer phones, and it could be the next big step in realizing Epic’s dreams of challenging Google’s app store monopoly and increasing its cut of revenue.”
(The Verge).
And Finally…
For all the talk of fast refreshing screen, more colors, more vibrancy, and more action, the Minimal Company is going in another direction. it’s early days in the project, but this eInk Android phone, with half an eye on reducing screen time, is a curious mix of an eBook reader and a lifestyle detox phone. Worth watching…
“This is the World’s First Look at the upcoming Minimal Phone, the e-ink display phone with a physical keyboard phone that is designed to keep up with you, and give you your life back!”
(Minimal Company and TechOdyssey).
Android Circuit rounds up the news from the Android world every weekend here on . 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!
