Android Circuit: Galaxy S25 Edge Released, Pixel 10 Pro Tensor Secrets, Qualcomm's Flagship Killer

Forbes

16-05-2025

Taking a look back at this week's news and headlines across the Android world, including Galaxy S25 Edge launch, leaked Galaxy Z Flip7 details, secrets of Pixel 10 Pro chipset, Qualcom's flagship killer option, Honor Magic V3 details, and a change for Google's G.
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.
This week saw Samsung launch the fourth Galaxy S25 model. The S25 Edge was previewed in January, but the fashionably thin smartphone is only now picking up an official launch. At 5.8mm, it's svelte form is a big selling point, although Samsung is sweetening the deal with offers and trade-ins that will potentially allow you a free upgrade. Forbes Senior Contributor David Phelan rounds up the deals, but also the key details of the S25 Edge:
"Its 5.8mm thinness is eye-catching enough on paper, but doesn't prepare you for just how remarkably different it feels compared to other handsets. Its light weight is also impressive, just 163g, in part down to the titanium build.
(Forbes).
Samsung looks set to increase the size of the outside screen of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 so it takes up the entire front side of the closed phone. Details on the new resolution of the screen have been found inside the developer beta of Samsung's OneUI software:
"Through leaked One UI 8 firmware, we can corroborate that Samsung could indeed switch to a larger display. Animation files within the leaked firmware showcase the Galaxy Z Flip 5, Flip 6, and Flip 7. The Flip 5 and 6 designs are pretty much what we see for the devices currently, while the Flip 7 design shows off the larger cover display, in line with the revised leaked renders."
(Android Authority).
One of the biggest changes for Google's Pixel 10 family is the Tensor G5 chip, and one of the most significant changes in the Tensor chipset is that this will be the first to be manufactured by TSMC rather than Samsung. Kamila Wojciechowska looks at the path Google has taken to switch between partners:
"Even years after first setting out with Tensor, Google still has to rely on 3rd party IP for most of its interfaces and functions. Besides the fact that it will be built on TSMC's process, the Tensor G5 won't be all that different from the previous Tensor chips. It still only has certain bits and pieces by Google, whereas the rest is generic and built by someone else, with the minor difference of who that someone is."
(Android Authority).
Staying with chipsets for Android smartphones, Qualcomm has announced the fourth version of the SnapDragon 7 series. You should expect to see these turn up in mid-range phones designed for power and performance—'flagship killer' styled phones:
"Qualcomm is still using a 4nm fabrication process for the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4, the same as the prior generation. However, the newer chipset has a revamped configuration, with one Prime core with a faster 2.8GHz clock speed, four performance cores clocked at up to 2.4GHz, and three efficiency cores clocked at up to 1.8GHz. Compared to the Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 processor, the latest version has a higher-clocked Prime core and an extra performance, with one fewer efficiency core."
(Android Central).
Honor broke new ground with the Honor Magic V3 foldable phone, which is set to continue with the Honor Magic V5 (Honor, like many Chinese manufacturers, skips over four). One of the most significant changes could be in the battery, which reaches the candybar standard of 6,000 mAh.
"The foldable battery will have two cells — one of 2,070 mAh capacity and the other 3,880 mAh, for a total of 5,950 mAh rated value. This is likely the minimal capacity, with the typical being over 6,000 mAh. The phone, model number MBH-AN10, will support 66W wired charging, just like the previous Magic V phones."
(GSM Arena).
Is Google preparing to change the iconic 'G' logo? A change in its iPhone apps suggests so. The hard edges to the four colors seen on all of its mobile apps have become more of a shifting gradient in the self-styled Google app:
"What will happen to the other Google logos, for Google Home, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Photos, Google Drive and others? They all have carefully partitioned color sections and have led some users to complain that it's hard to tell them apart at a quick glance."
(Forbes).
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!