South African comic and author Trevor Noah speaks whereas internet hosting the “Made by Google” product launch occasion in New York Metropolis on August 12, 2026. (Picture by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Looking again at this week’s information and headlines throughout the Android world, together with Made By Google particulars, new Pixel 11 household, Pixel Watch 5 revealed, Gemini3.7 Flash launched, Galaxy Z Fold8 success, Samsung’s strategy to AI, Honor Robotic on sale, and third-party App Shops accessible in US.
Android Circuit is right here to remind you of some of the numerous discussions round Android within the final seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Apple news here on Forbes.
Pixel 11 Professional Lights Up The Mainstream
This week noticed the launch of the Pixel 11 household on the titular ‘Made By Google.’ The telephones’ are moving faster towards the mainstream as the brand new options illustrate. The cameras pack extra energy, the on-board AI processing is elevated, and the next-generation Tensor chipset provides all-round enhancements. But it’s the cluster of LED lights on the rear of the machine, a new approach to the ‘alert light’ of old, that’s capturing the column inches:
“On Pixel 11 Professional and Pixel 11 Professional XL, HiLight will show you how to keep knowledgeable with out having to have a look at your display screen. It’s a pleasant addition to our Professional units that may hold you related, not distracted, when your telephone is face down. Utilizing coloured LED lights constructed across the digital camera’s flash, HiLight will gently glow to inform you of well timed, glanceable data.”
Pixel Watch 5’s New Measurements
Google additionally debuted the Pixel Watch 5, its newest smartwatch. There’s a heavy give attention to well being and wellbeing. One of many standout options is blood stress monitoring – though Google is at pains to level out that this shouldn’t be utilized in isolation – it provides one other sensible use of the wearable. Alex Lee has more at The Independent:
“he largest new function is that the Google Pixel Watch 5 can observe blood stress developments with out an inflatable cuff. Whereas it doesn’t really offer you a conventional blood stress studying, and Google stresses that it isn’t a substitute for a blood stress monitor, it makes use of its sensors and machine studying to identify patterns in your blood stress over weeks and months. It then alerts you if it spots any regarding developments, corresponding to in case your blood stress is trending upward.”
The Subsequent Steps In AI Could Not At all times Be On Your Display
Whereas the Trevor Noah-hosted ‘Made By Google’ occasion introduced Google’s client {hardware} to the fore, the day after the New York present, Google announced Gemini 3.7 Flash, an AI mannequin centered on coding and brokers. Whereas it will not be forward-facing, Google is working to combine its Gemini fashions into functions at each degree, which can influence your expertise considerably, whether or not you may have a Pixel or one other smartphone:
“Gemini 3.7 Flash delivers a noticeably improved developer expertise over 3.6 Flash. It higher adapts to roadblocks, clarifies intent when wanted, and follows directions with higher constancy. It thinks extra diligently, placing in additional effort into multi-step planning and power calls. A extra disciplined execution means much less handbook oversight and fewer retries throughout engineering workflows.”
Samsung Finds Pre-Order Success With Galaxy Z Fold8 Household
Pre-orders for Samsung’s new foldables vary proceed to interrupt final 12 months’s information worldwide, with the UK now reporting outcomes just like these in different territories. The three fashions are all displaying important will increase in pre-orders
“However there’s extra: pre-orders for the non-flip fashions (Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Extremely) are up by 70% in comparison with the Z Fold7 figures. That’s a formidable determine, even with two fashions within the combine, and reveals that Samsung’s perception that foldables aren’t one-size-fits-all could also be on to one thing.”
Samsung CEO Explains AI Method
Over the previous couple of years, Samsung has positioned Galaxy AI on the coronary heart of its smartphone technique. That continues with the Galaxy Z Fold8 household. Forbes contributor David Phelan spoke with CEO TM Roh to seek out out extra in regards to the significance of synthetic intelligence and the way the South Korean firm integrates this right into a person’s way of life:
“AI will change into a core and fundamental part of our day by day lives and experiences,” Roh insisted. “This implies Samsung will be capable of perceive clients extra deeply, current extra potentialities and supply richer experiences, primarily based not solely on cell units however throughout all the Samsung product ecosystem.”
The Robots Are Dancing In China
Honor’s Robotic telephone is now on sale in China. Geared up with an AI-powered 4D digital camera that may react to its surroundings, observe objects and other people in its neighborhood, and be adjusted via voice instructions and subject-tracking. But the shifting lens goes past recording, as GSM Arena reports:
“However the gimbal on the Robotic Cellphone is not only for recording vlogs. It is also a robotic companion of types, dropped at life by way of Honor’s Yoyo AI assistant. It may observe and even work together along with your environment and execute duties by itself. Honor additionally applied over 100 facial expressions like nodding, peeking and it may even dance to music.”
And Lastly…
Google has opened the Google Play Retailer to third-party app shops, permitting their purchasers to be found and put in by way of the usual Android set up strategies. Presently, this addition is for US-based customers solely. Ben Schoon has more:
“…the primary retailer accessible is Aptoide Video games, a principally game-specific retailer stuffed with free and paid titles. Putting in the shop works kind of like every other Android app, and, as soon as put in, there are not any extra safety measures required for putting in apps. We examined this by downloading “Conflict of Kings” from Aptoide, and it really works fairly seamlessly. The one extra step is accepting the “Set up” immediate when it reveals up after the app is downloaded.”
Android Circuit rounds up the information from the Android world each weekend right here on Forbes. Don’t overlook to comply with 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 wish to see featured in Android Circuit, get in contact!
