Pixel 9a leaks, Thunderbird Android beta, Google Play vs. F-Droid

A look back at this week’s news and headlines in the Android world, including the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra specs, Pixel 9a design leaks, the wafer-thin Honor Magic V3, when to consider the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, The importance of the F- Droid Store, the Android beta version of Thunderbrid and listening to San Francisco music.

Android Circuit is here to remind you of some of the many discussions surrounding Android over the past seven days. You can also read my weekly Apple news roundup here on Forbes.

Space for Galaxy S25 Ultra AI

Samsung’s Galaxy s25 Ultra is expected to launch in January 2025 alongside the second generation of Galaxy AI software. It’s the latter that suggests the former will come with 16GB of RAM, up from last year’s 12GB on the S24 models:

“There’s a strong argument to ensure that all available variants of the Galaxy S25 Ultra sport 16GB of RAM, which comes from Google’s latest Pixel 9 Pro models. Nearly 4GB of RAM in each of these models is reserved for the Google AI Introduced alongside Google’s advances in generative AI, this ensures faster operation because part of the memory is dedicated to AI.

(Forbes).

Pixel 9a’s flatter design debuts

The Pixel A family of phones assumes the role of the “value for money” model of the range and is usually launched six months after the main line. That would put the Pixel 9a’s potential launch in early March, although the early launch of the Pixel 9 family could mean the 9a retains a spot close to May’s I/O developer conference. Nonetheless, Google appears ready to reduce the impact of the camera bar for budget buyers, according to the latest leak:

“One of the biggest design changes this year is the camera bar. It appears to be almost flush with the back of the Pixel 9a, perhaps with a small ring sticking out. It looks a lot like the LG V60 ThinQ d ‘a few years ago, it inherits the new camera layout from the Pixel 9 and sticks to an ultra-wide and wide camera here. Another thing you’ll notice is these rather large bezels. although expected on a phone that will be under $500, they are still very visible.”

(Android Titles).

Find the slim form factor

When you spend time with a phone to review it, you have time to appreciate its features, but sometimes first impressions stay with you. This is the case of the Honor Magic V3, the latest foldable from the Shenzhen-based company. You can’t ignore how thin this phone is (at least until something thinner comes in 2025):

“While the Magic V3 is described as thin. That’s an understatement. Upon opening the handset, the word that comes to mind is ‘impossible’. This is clearly not the case, as I want the phone and its thickness is 4.4 mm unfolded Honor pushes to the limit of the physical envelope It is a moving target, and without a doubt, in a few years, this will be considered a bulky and heavy foldable. but for now, this should be considered the gold standard.”

(Forbes).

Consider the Pixel 9 Pro Fold

Alongside Samsung and Honor, Google’s 2024 foldable phone has learned its lesson from last year’s models to sculpt something closer to the mainstream idea of ​​a smartphone, at least when closed. Forbes contributor Janhoi MacGregor takes a closer look inside and out of his review, noting the price and unique appeal:

“This is a phone aimed at a power user, both in terms of features and price. The exorbitant price of $1,799, plus not having the best display or camera technology , makes the Pixel 9 Pro Fold difficult to recommend to regular smartphone buyers… Like I said, I always recommend it with foldable phones, spend some time fondling the P9PF before buying it, even if the Store employees are annoyed with you This would be a costly mistake to make if foldable technology isn’t for you.

(Forbes).

The other App Store you need

Trevor Slocum highlights the power Google has through its control over the Google Play app store. He also notes that F-Droid, a popular app store dedicated to open source software, is one of the checks and balances the ecosystem needs:

“F-Droid is our best chance to break the chains that the Google Play Store has tied to developers. It’s not always easy to release a previously proprietary app as open source software, and it will certainly require effort. But It’s worth it Open source software allows users to inspect, understand, and improve the applications they use. It allows other developers to contribute and the original developers because it’s free to share. open collaboration have cumulative effects and can achieve greater strength than any single proprietary application developer.

(Rocket 9 Laboratories).

Thunderbrid Android Beta

Following Mozilla’s purchase of the K-9 email client, the Thunderbird team has been working hard to be able to deliver both an updated K-9 codebase and populate it with utility from the Thunderbird ecosystem :

“The Thunderbird for Android beta is available and we’re asking our community to help us test it. Beta testing helps us catch critical bugs and rough edges that we can refine over the coming weeks. More of people who will beta test the version and make sure everything on the testing checklist works correctly, the better!”

(Github via Thunderbird blog).

And finally…

Above San Francisco is a smartphone. An old Android smartphone. An old smartphone with a mission (and a solar panel). Listen to the audience below, choose a piece of music and add it to the site’s playlist A musical delight? It’s a mixed bag. A statement on public surveillance? Alright :

“Have you heard of ShotSpotter? Microphones are installed in every city in the United States by the police to detect gunshots, supposedly not very accurate. It’s all, but for music. It’s of cultural surveillance. Nobody notices, nobody consents to it. But it’s not about catching criminals. It’s about catching the vibrations of what’s happening. real time.

(Bop Observer).

Android Circuit brings together 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!