Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including The Android Show headlines, Googlebook debuts, Android 17 changes, Pixel 11 specs, Samsung expands Renewed program, Acer’s new mid-range tablet, Xiaomi 17 Max confirmed, and Apple supports Google in EU AI clash.
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.
The Android Show’s Android News
Ahead of next week’s Google I/O Developer conference, Google hosted “The Android Show” to promote many of the upcoming features and announcements to a wider audience. Naturally, much of the show was devoted to which features might appear in Android 17. The Verge sums up all the announcements, including those updates on your phone and in your car:
“including 3D emoji, custom AI-generated widgets, expanded access to Quick Share/AirDrop, the “Rambler” AI transcription tool, and a new “Pause Point” feature for helping manage screen time.
“Plus, Android Auto got “the biggest update in its 10-year history,” with improved support for different screen sizes (and shapes), support for Material 3 Expressive and widgets, the ability to stream content from YouTube to your car’s screen, and more.”
Finding More AI Opportunities In Your Next Laptop
Google’s big-ticket item at the show was the Googlebook, a successor to the Chromebook platform that brings more of Gemini AI to the laptop form factor. Trusted Reviews’ Jessica Gorringe previews the biggest visible change in this new laptop… the AI packed into the cursor:
“While you’ll find Gemini spread across multiple apps on your Googlebook, surprisingly it’s also built into the cursor. Coined Magic Pointer and built with Google Deepmind, the cursor can offer quick and contextual suggestions whenever you point at something on your screen. Google provides the example that you can point at a date in an email to set up a meeting, or select two different images and instantly visualise them together.”
Pixel 11 May Cut Memory Specs
Looking ahead to the Pixel 11 family launch this summer, the base model may get a significant camera upgrade, but that’s likely to be offset by a potential cut in memory. Driven in part by the rising price of memory and storage, and the increased cost of the camera, it’s going to be a fine balancing act, as Alex Valdes reports:
“There is a possible downside to the upgrade, however. Mystic Leaks said the Pixel 11 base model might have only 8GB of RAM on its starting configuration, which is a significant drop from the 12GB of RAM in the Pixel 10. Mystic Leaks suggested there could be a 12GB RAM version of the Pixel 11, but that may also mean a higher price for that configuration.”
Samsung Expands Renewed Program
As memory and storage supply chains become stretched and prices rise, expect to see a similar rise in reconditioned and second-hand devices going on sale from various smartphone manufacturers. Samsung’s “Renewed” program is one such endeavour, and its Indian branch has brought four handsets into its reach, including the Galaxy S25 and S25 Ultra GSM Arena picks up the story:
“Right now, you can buy a Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S25 Ultra with 256GB of storage for INR 97,499, a Galaxy S25 with 256GB of storage for INR 58,749, a Galaxy A56 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for INR 31,499, a Galaxy A56 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for INR 32,749, and a Galaxy A36 with 128GB of storage for INR 23,249.”
Acer Brings A New Tablet To The Mid-Range Indian Market
Acer has launched a new tablet in the Indian market. The Iconia iM11-22M5G (which trips of the tongue) features a 90 Hz 11.45-inch IPOS display, 8 GB of RAM backed up by 128 GB of storage, the MediaTek 8791 chipset and a 7,400 mAh battery, all for $475. Huzefa Baloch takes a closer look at the new hardware:
“The Acer Iconia iM11-22M5G comes with an 11.45-inch IPS LCD panel supporting a resolution of 2,220 x 1,440 pixels. It has a maximum refresh rate of 90Hz and supports up to 450 nits of brightness. The tablet features a metal body that measures 7.85mm in thickness and weighs 535 grams.
“Powering the tablet is the MediaTek 8791, an octa-core CPU based on a 6nm node. It features the Mali-G68 MC4 GPU, the same one used in the Dimensity 7050, a chip used in mid-range devices like the Lenovo Tab P12.”
Xiaomi Taking It To The Max
Xiaomi has confirmed that its powerhouse, the Xiaomi 17 Max, will launch later this month. Pre-orders are already open for the flagship, built around its Leica optics and a 6.9-inch flat display. Huzefa Baloch looks over the specs of the handset for NotebookCheck:
“Leaks also point to a large 8,000mAh battery with 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. For comparison, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max houses a 7,500mAh battery, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a 6,000mAh battery. The device may feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and symmetrical dual speakers. Prominent tipster Digital Chat Station estimates the starting price at around CNY 5,199 (~$765).”
And Finally…
Apple has warned EU regulators against forcing Google to open up its AI services to third-party providers. Responding to the proposals enabled by the Digital Markets Act that would allow AI providers to restrict Android capabilities to Google’s own service, Reuters reports on the submission:
“The DMs (draft measures) raise urgent and serious concerns. If confirmed, they would create profound risks for user privacy, security, and safety as well as device integrity and performance,” Apple said in its submission. “Those risks are especially acute in the context of rapidly evolving AI systems whose capabilities, behaviours, and threat vectors remain unpredictable as we are now seeing time and again.”
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!
