Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including the proposed break-up of Google, Galaxy S25 Snapdragon unification, the future of foldables, Pixel Tablet 2 disappointment, Fitbit’s new role, and new parental controls in e/OS/.
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 Google Bay View campus in Mountain View, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Digital First Media/East Bay Times … [+]
US Regulators Seek The Break Up Of Google
The long-running anti-competition case against Google’s place in the Search Engine marketplace took a dramatic turn this week as US Regulators filed a request that includes selling the Chrome browser. Court hearings on the potential punishments are scheduled for April 2025.
“A sale of Chrome “will permanently stop Google’s control of this critical search access point and allow rival search engines the ability to access the browser that for many users is a gateway to the internet,” Justice Department lawyers argued in their filing.
“Although regulators stopped short of demanding Google sell Android too, they asserted the judge should make it clear the company could still be required to divest its smartphone operating system if its oversight committee continues to see evidence of misconduct.
(AP).
Google’s Forceful Reply
While Google will file its own proposed remedies ahead of the hearings, Google’s President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Office Kent Walker has written on the damage that could happen if the regulators remedies are implemented:
“Instead, DOJ chose to push a radical interventionist agenda that would harm Americans and America’s global technology leadership. DOJ’s wildly overbroad proposal goes miles beyond the Court’s decision. It would break a range of Google products — even beyond Search — that people love and find helpful in their everyday lives.”
Samsung’s Unified Galaxy Approach
While the community is uncertain, there are more signs that Samsung will unify the various global versions of the upcoming Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra. Although handsets powered by the Exynos chipsets are showing up through online benchmarking sites, industry analysts are doubling own on every S25 coming up at the start of the year to ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite:
“The push and pull of this debate will likely continue until mid-January when Samsung is expected to hold another edition of the Galaxy Unpacked events. This should include the Galaxy S reveal, alongside details on the next generation of generative artificial intelligence coming to Samsung’s smartphones through Galaxy AI.”
(Forbes).
What If The Flips And Folds Fold?
Is the current era of foldable smartphones drawing to a close? With several smaller Chinese-based brands moving on from the flips and folds of the world, there is little competition for Samsung and Google. Oppo (and OnePlus) offer an alternative view on foldables, and their addition makes for a competitive market. And a competitive market innovates far faster. 2024 has passed without new designs from some of the top Chinese manufacturers.
“While Vivo didn’t release a small clamshell foldable in 2024, it did release two new large ones. The Vivo X Fold3 and X Fold3 Pro debuted this year and were extremely well-received by reviewers, including Android Central’s own Harish Jonnalagadda.
“Meanwhile, OPPO hasn’t launched a foldable of any kind since 2023, making it the most likely company to be considering taking the axe to its folding phone business. After all, it already nixed plans to make a OnePlus Open 2 this year, instead choosing to discount the current OnePlus Open while selling the Apex Edition model at a premium.”
One, None, Or Three Tablets?
Those hoping for a second Pixel Tablet in the near future are going to be disappointed, with a future Pixel Tablet—likely the Pixel Tablet 2—probably cancelled this week. It does feel like this small update is being skipped, as the promise of a Pixel Tablet 3 is still present:
Google has canceled development of the Pixel Tablet 2. From what we know, Google was working on both a Wi-Fi only as well as a 5G variant of the Pixel Tablet 2. In addition, the company was working on an official keyboard (with touchpad) accessory for the device, suggesting improved productivity would be one of the highlights of the new device. On the bright side, the third-generation tablet could still be in the works,
The Fitbit App Approaches
A curious icon cropped up as Damien Wilde started his review of the Oppo Find X8. Inside teh folder of Google Apps present on any phone running Google Play Services out the box, was the Fitbit app. Is Google getting ready to replace Fit with Fitbit as its Android default?
” However, we spotted that when setting up the Find X8 and X8 Pro, the duo are actually the first non-Google Android phones to add the Fitbit application to the common “Google” app folder you’ll find on your homescreen. When setting up a fresh Find X8 handset, the default Google app folder now contains Fitbit rather than Google Fit – which is not installed on the Find X8 series.”
(9to5Google).
And Finally…
For those looking outside of Google for alternative builds, the latest release of e/OS/ version of Android has a new update that includes parental control features that aims to block content, reduce online harassment, and minimise data tracking. It’s not a quick solution to switch over from to another flavour of Android on your smartphone, but e/OS/ is available pre-installed on a number of handheld manufacturers, including Murena and Fairphone:
“While Google offers parental controls to filter harmful content on Android devices, set screen time limits and block app purchases, its data privacy protection requires parents to manually review app permissions, which takes time and requires ongoing maintenance, while /e/OS automatically blocks all trackers.”
(e/OS/).
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!