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Taking a look at seven days of news and headlines around the Android world, this week’s Android Circuit includes an anticipated release date for the reviewed Galaxy S21, Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G, the launch of OnePlus 8T, the little Sony Xperia 5 I reviewed, the future of Honor and how to hum a musical quest.
Android Circuit is here to remind you of some of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find Apple’s weekly news roundup here).
The Galaxy S that arrives early
Samsung has a relatively predictable schedule for its flagship Galaxy S smartphones.Although there have been suspicions that the South Korean company would attempt an earlier launch, the Mobile World Congress anchor point in mid-February for an early launch and retail launch. March remained. Will that be the case for 2021? Maybe not. Gordon Kelly of Forbes reports:
“Going into more detail, SamMobile explains that sources in Samsung’s home country of South Korea report that mass production of key components begins next month. The motivation for this accelerated launch is said to be a combination of the low sales of the company’s flagships in 2020 and this low demand subsequently freeing up production lines, allowing Samsung to accelerate its plans.
“It goes without saying that there is a critical difference between announcing a phone and when it goes on sale. So even if Samsung announces the successor to the Galaxy S20 (tentatively known as the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S30), it may not yet come until the new year. “
More here on Forbes.
Samsung Galaxy S20 phones are on display at the Unpacked 2020 event in San Francisco on Tuesday, February. … [+]
Here come some pixel thoughts
Google’s Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G smartphones came under the reviewers’ microscope this week ahead of the retail launch. Like many manufacturers, Google’s Pixel launch has been interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, but the units are already here. It was worth the wait?
The Guardian’s Samuel Gibbs took a closer look at the Pixel 5, noting the back-to-basics approach, but has questions about the processor choice in the flagship phone:
“The Pixel 5 may be Google’s best smartphone, but it doesn’t have a high-spec processor. Instead, it uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G, which is a 5G-capable mid-range chip that was recently found in £ 379 OnePlus Nord and on the cheaper £ 499 Pixel 4a 5G.Most flagship smartphones use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 865 chip or similar, which is almost twice as fast on paper.
“In the real world, the Pixel 5 never felt sluggish or sluggish in everyday use. But when I took a lot of photos in rapid succession, the lower performance meant it took longer for the camera app to process after shooting. Games performance It also dropped, but not to a level most will notice. “
Meanwhile, the Pixel 4a 5G brings much of the Pixel 5’s feature set at a lower price point, while adding to the Pixel 4a’s offering, including the highlighted 5G, as well as a larger screen. Oliver Cragg for Android Authority:
“Concessions had to be made to reach a price below $ 500, but almost all trade-offs are justifiable. The main exception is the 60Hz display. While wireless charging, water resistance, and premium materials are “flagship” features, the lack of a 90Hz refresh rate feels arbitrary.
“However, the positives outweigh any complaints. There are the expected highs. The software is the best Android offering, while the camera sweeps other rivals in the price range. But there are also the little extras that make the Pixel 4a 5G feel special. These include the full suite of audio, pleasant haptics, and exclusive Pixel apps and services. “
OnePlus October Traditional Time
This week saw the launch of the latest OnePlus phone. Being October, the traditional ‘T’ update has arrived, although curiously there is no bump for the OnePlus 8 Pro; instead it has a standalone update to the vanilla number phone in the form of the OnePlus 8T. The specs haven’t changed much in the last six months, but there are some notable differences. I took a detailed look at the 8T earlier this week, highlighting the fast charging system employed by OnePlus:
“A genuine area of improvement over the two summer devices is fast charging capability. This has long been one of OnePlus’ brand associations, so the return of the Warp Charge brand is no surprise. By using two batteries, it offers a total nominal capacity of 4500 mAh, more power can be drawn for faster charging. That 65 represents 65 watts, which in practice offers fifty percent vacuum in less than fifteen minutes and vacuum one hundred percent in forty minutes.
“The theory here is that OnePlus users would rather recharge wired power for a short period, rather than sip power throughout the day. And if you’re looking for fast wireless charging alongside the Qi charging of the 8 Pro, you don’t have Luckily, OnePlus has decided that the 8T is only cabled. “
Read the full review here on Forbes.
OnePlus management changes
The departure of co-founder Carl Pei from OnePlus has been formally confirmed by the Shenzhen-based company. Writing on the OnePlus Forum, he notes, “I’m looking forward to taking some time off to decompress and catch up with my family and friends. And then follow my heart to what’s next.” Ben Schoon reports:
“According to various reports, Carl Pei and Pete Lau, the founders of OnePlus, were not getting along very well, and it seems that something related to OnePlus Nord pushed things to the limit.
“In any case, it’s hard not to be impressed by what Pei did in his time at OnePlus. The company, not so subtly backed by BBK and Oppo, started out in relative obscurity and quickly grew on the backs of enthusiasts. Affordable prices and top-of-the-line specifications. In recent years, prices have gone up a lot, but phones have also gotten better and better. “
More on 9to5Google.
Sony Xperia 5 II reviewed
Sony’s Xperia line of smartphones has always embraced the concept of smaller phones with similar specifications to larger phones. The Xperia 5 II with its 6.1-inch OLED screen in a 21: 9 ratio, is not the Xperia Compact of yesteryear, but it is closer than most. Eric Zeman sums up the phone:
“The Sony Xperia 5 II is a smaller, less expensive version of the Xperia 1 II. It offers most of the powerful features in a more convenient, pocket-sized size. It is an ideal choice for media lovers, gamers and gamers Budding photographers and cinematographers, even at $ 949. “
Read the full review on Android Authority.
A man takes a photo of an Honor 20 Pro smartphone at an Honor 20 Series launch event … [+]
Honor derived from Huawei
Is Huawei preparing to sell its Honor smartphone brand? That’s the intriguing Reuters report this week. Julie Zhu brings the question to the fore:
“Digital China, the main distributor of Honor phones, has become the pioneer, but other potential buyers include Chinese electronics maker TCL and rival smartphone maker Xiaomi Corp,” said the people, who declined to be identified because the conversations were confidential.
Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment provider and No. 2 smartphone maker, declined to comment, as did TCL. Digital China and Xiaomi did not respond to requests for comment. The Honor brand was established by Huawei in 2013, but the company primarily operates independently of its parent. “
How an Honor sale would interact with Huawei’s current listing on the US Entity List is an open question.
And finally…
Each one of you has a song stuck in your head and you aren’t quite sure what it was? Well, Google has (hopes) an answer for that, as it throws ‘hum to search’ in the Google Assistant. Chaim Gartenberg reports:
“Google says the feature works by using its machine learning models to” transform the audio into a numerical sequence that represents the melody of the song, “which it can then compare to existing songs. The company says it trains these models in “a variety of sources, including humans singing, whistling, or humming, as well as studio recordings,” removing elements such as instruments and vocal quality to focus only on that number sequence. Consequently, the hum search function should work without matter the pitch – deaf or pitch-perfect. “
More at The Verge.
Android Circuit summarizes the news from the Android world every weekend here at Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future, and of course read the sister column on Apple Loop! Last week’s Android Circuit can be found here, and if you have news and links you’d like to see on Android Circuit, get in touch!
