Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s missing feature, Samsung’s new smart glasses, Anker’s AI earbuds, OnePlus Ace 8 details, RedMagic 11S Pro launch, Walmart’s affordable tablets and new Google Health widgets for Fitbit.
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 Galaxy Z Fold 8’s Missing Feature
One of the key features in the Galaxy S26 Ultra was the privacy screen. As Forbes contributor Janhoi McGregor reports, this won’t make it to the flagship foldable. Given the robust nature of a folding screen, it’s understandable that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is not going to add another layer of complexity:
“The privacy screen works by using a polarised filter layer built directly into the display hardware that restricts the viewing angle of the screen. At its most aggressive setting the display blacks out sharply when viewed from the side, making it difficult for someone sitting next to you to read your screen. The strength of the effect can be adjusted to suit the user’s needs too, and it can also be set to activate only for specific apps or when a password is entered.”
Samsung’s Three New Lifestyle Wearables
Samsung has announced three new wearables this week with upgraded versions of the Galaxy Watch Active, Galaxy Fit, and Galaxy Buds. The South Korean company is leaning into small moments of motivation alongside the usual wins in a wearable. It’s another announcement this week that is literally catching everyone’s eyes; Samsung’s Intelligent Eyewear. Launched at Google I/O in partnership with glasses fashion houses Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, they look set to challenge Meta’s approach with Ray-Ban. Yash Rathore looks at the financial targets ahead:
“Smart Analytics Global forecasts AI smart glasses shipments will clear 15 million units globally in 2026, up 85% year on year. Audio models will carry almost all of that volume, around 91% of total shipments. SAG expects the Samsung Intelligent Eyewear to ship over 2 million units in 2026, which would hand it roughly 18% market share and the number two spot, behind Meta and ahead of Chinese players like Rokid, Xiaomi, and Huawei.”
Anker Brings More AI To Your Ears
This week also saw Anker host its very own ‘Anker Day’ to launch a raft of new products. One of those key launches is the Liberty 5 Pro Max wireless earbuds. As well as a smart screen in the charger case, these Liberty buds ship with Anker’s new Thus chipset, which offers on-device AI features for audio processing. David Carony listens to the push for vocal clarity:
“When testing headphones and earbuds, I typically call fellow CNET editor Josh Goldman from the same spot in the noisy streets of New York near my apartment. He was truly impressed with both the level of noise reduction and the clarity of my voice. He heard virtually no background sound, and my voice warbled only very occasionally, just when I would start talking.”
OnePlus Prepares New Offer For Games
Details on OnePlus’ upcoming refresh of the OnePlus Ace have appeared this week. The presumptively named OnePlus Ace 8 features a 1.5K-resolution flat-screen with a 185 Hz refresh rate. This, and the addition of an active cooling fan, suggests a continued focus by the Ace series on gamers. Huzefa Baloch looks over the details:
“The upcoming OnePlus phone is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, a flagship chipset that powers the OnePlus 15 (curr. $849 on Amazon). Notably, it may feature an active cooling system with a built-in fan. Additionally, the phone is expected to have a battery capacity of around 9,000mAh with 100W fast charging. For a comparison, the OnePlus Ace 6 comes with a 165Hz display, a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a 7,800mAh battery.”
RedMagic Keeps Turning Up The Gaming Power On Its Smartphones
Staying with gaming smartphones, RedMagic continues to deliver high-performance devices specifically for gamers, sacrificing other design areas to offer the best options in a niche but popular space. The recently released RedMMagic 11S Pro and 11S Pro+ demonstrate that, as GSMArena reports on the topline specs:
“The new models feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen5 Leading Version chipset, which features overclocked prime cores clocked at 4.74GHz, just like the “for Galaxy” edition of the 8 Elite Gen 5 found on the Galaxy S26 series. That’s paired with 12GB RAM and 256GB storage on the 11S Pro and up to 16GB LPDDR5X Ultra RAM and 1TB UFS 4.1 storage on the Pro+ model.”
What Are The Specs On Walmart’s New Android Tablets?
At the other end of the scale are six new Android tablets from Walmart. Shipping under the Onn brand name, these entry level tablets start at just $97 for the 7-inch model, with the highest priced 13-inch Onn 13 Pro tablet at $288. Ben Schoon has more details on the specs:
“Starting with the Onn 13 Pro Tablet, Walmart’s “flagship” has a 13-inch 2400×1600 IPS LCD display and is powered by an undisclosed MediaTek processor at 2.6GHz, which could be any number of options. It has 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, an 8MP front-facing camera, and a 13MP rear-facing camera. The display has stylus support and there’s both a stylus and a folio case included in the box. Early reviews of the tablet also showcase an IP54 dust/water resistance rating, “Extended Display Mode,” and “face recognition.”
And Finally…
As Google continues migrating the Fitbit brand to Google-branded services, the new Google Health widget is bringing that information to offer quick-access widgets, ensuring some of the Fitbit feature set remains easily available. Abner Li picks up the news:
“The max homescreen layout is 5×3, with the Quick Access Widget surfacing up to six metrics. (Tip: You can remove the Steps or Weekly cardio ring for a more dense interface.) Tapping takes you to the full stats page. You can also shrink this widget to only show one stat. The heart in the top-left corner opens the app, while you can quickly jump to the Health Coach at the right or refresh. This widget notes the last update time at the center.”
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!
