Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Android 17 launch, Galaxy S27 details, Oppo Find N6 released, smartphone market shrinks, smartwatch market grows, Gemini powers new Google Home Speaker, and Honor’s bigger battery…
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 Next Android Is Here
Google has begun rolling out Android 17, with the updated operating system making its first appearance on Google’s own Pixel devices, with a rollout across the wider Android ecosystem to follow. As expected, following Google I/O, there’s a big focus on security:
“Android 17 also brings new security and safety features. You can now grant an app temporary access to your precise location, and share only specific contacts — instead of your entire address book — for more control. An enhanced “Mark as lost” feature in Find Hub lets you lock a missing phone with your biometrics, so even if a thief has your passcode, they can’t access information on your phone or turn off tracking.”
A Minimal Galaxy S27 Upgrade
Although a release is not on the cards till at least January 2027, the design process of Samsung’s Galaxy S27 will be coming to an end; there needs to be enough time for testing, evaluation, prototype runs and all the other steps to bring it to market. So don’t take it as gospel, but Sammobile suggests that the Galaxy S27 is going to be a small and iterative step up from the vanilla S26:
“The leak suggests that the lack of display-related improvements could be one of the reasons Samsung is reportedly considering BOE over Samsung Display as a supplier for the Galaxy S27’s screen. If the display remains largely unchanged from that of its predecessor, Samsung may not need Samsung Display to develop a new panel and could instead source it from another supplier.”
Oppo Find N6 Foldable Released
The fascination with foldables drove the first designs, but 2026 is proving to be the year the category continues to mature in terms of specifications and capabilities. Next up is Oppo’s Find N6, and the team at NotebookCheck takes a closer look at what’s on offer:
“Overall, the camera is among the best in the foldable segment, with the main and telephoto lenses impressing in particular, while the ultra-wide-angle lens is weaker. The display offers strong colours and good brightness, although it does not reach the peak values stated in the datasheet. Points of criticism remain the rather weak speakers, the lack of full dust-protection certification, and limited repairability and sustainability information.”
A Smaller Yet More Expensive Smartphone Market
The latest report from CCSS Insights looks at the global smartphone market. As well as growing smaller by 4.4 percent year-on-year, prices are continuing to rise in the current economic conditions:
“The organized secondary smartphone market is filling the gap. Sales of second-hand devices grew 4% year-on-year in 1Q26, building momentum at the start of a potentially vital year for the sector. FDM CCS Insight forecasts the global organized secondary market to grow 15.4% in 2026.”
The Next Frontier For Gemini Is In The Home
Google has announced its next Google Home product, the Google Home Speaker. It’s the first to be built around the Gemini For Home agent with a natural voice interface. Pre-orders are now open, with UK pricing starting at £99.99
“The Google Home Speaker comes with Gemini for Home voice assistant, which features advanced natural language understanding and reasoning. Instead of having to memorize rigid command phrases, Gemini adapts to how you speak, making it easier and more intuitive to get the help you need.”
Honor Lifts Up The Battery Capacity
Quietly reaching the Chinese market is Honor’s latest mid-range Honor X model, except this one has a surprise in its battery capacity. Leveraging the new silicon-carbon technology seen in its premium devices, the X70 Pro Max sports an 8,560 mAh Battery alongside the Snapdragon 6 Gen 4 Enhanced chipset. GSM Arena has the full spec sheet:
“The Honor X70 Pro Max comes with a 6.79-inch AMOLED display that has a resolution of 2640×1200 pixels, a 120Hz refresh rate, up to 6,000 nits of peak brightness, and 1.3mm slim and uniform bezels…. Honor has packed an 8,560mAh battery in the X70 Pro Max, which supports 90W wired charging.
And Finally…
The smartwatch market continues to grow. Although the Apple Watch is one of the key drivers, the Chinese market is ∂delivering for other manufacturers. Counterpoint Research has more:
“The market growth was primarily driven by continued global adoption of Apple’s newest portfolio and growing demand for premium devices with advanced health tracking capabilities. Additionally, the growth of the China market, led by Huawei’s ecosystem push and government subsidies, encouraged consumer upgrades and strengthened overall demand. “
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!
