Pixel 9 Pro Details, Galaxy Ring Subscriptions, Deadpool’s New Smartphone

Let’s take a look at this week’s news and headlines from the world of Android, including Galaxy Z Fold6 deals, Galaxy Ring subscriptions, Samsung design secrets, Pixel 9 Pro satellite option, new version of Google One, YouTube Music UI changes, and Deadpool’s new smartphone.

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

When folding your phone saves you money

Following the launch of the Galaxy S24 family in January, Samsung rolled out a series of special offers and discounts for consumers, introducing both the flagship phone and the first Galaxy AI software. The same approach is being taken with the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, which are getting their own offers ahead of general availability:

“To celebrate the start of the Olympic Games, from July 26 to August 13, Samsung will be giving away £150 ($192.94) cashback on selected phone purchases in the UK. This cashback offer can rise to £300 ($385.88) for one in three shoppers through a scratch card competition. However, anyone who buys one of the listed phones (Z Fold6, Z Flip6, S24, S24+ or S24 Ultra) from the Samsung UK website will receive a guaranteed discount of £150.

(Forbes).

A ring for the future

Samsung made a big deal out of the Galaxy Ring’s launch about the lack of subscriptions required to use its features, but Android Authority took a closer look at the terms and conditions… Samsung’s offering is all about the current feature set, but that’s not always the case.

“During Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung promised that none of the Galaxy Ring features would require an additional subscription fee to access. However, hidden in a footnote on one of the slides shown during the presentation is text suggesting that this promise only applies to “currently available Samsung Galaxy features.” For “future Samsung Health features,” Samsung warns that “different terms may apply.”

(Android Organization).

How we designed the galaxy

Following the launch of the new Galaxy foldable smartphones and peripherals, David Phelan sat down with Felix Heck, Head of Samsung Design Europe, and Deborah Honig, Customer Experience Director, Samsung UK and Ireland, to talk about the design process at Samsung. He began by asking Heck about the many areas of design that need to be considered in Samsung products:

“We’re not just designers, we also have experts in sociology, engineering and psychology, which encourages a different perspective and promotes creative collaboration. The user experience has changed a lot in recent years, so these disciplines are so important to the aesthetics of the product. Samsung has a global network of studios, and each studio is tasked with developing innovative designs, identifying specific regional needs and staying up to date with global trends.”

(Forbes).

Pulling pixels into space

Ahead of the Pixel 9 family’s launch, details are being revealed about the software features that will accompany the new hardware. One of them is satellite connectivity, which is set to be bolstered by new features in Android 15 that are meant to tie it into the user interface:

“Details in the settings menu explained that when a user makes a call or sends a text message via satellite communications, the Google Maps location will be shared with emergency services. In addition to some details from the caller’s Google account, such as name, IMEI number, battery level, email address, emergency contact details and phone number.”

(Forbes).

Google One may become smaller to grow

Google One subscription service could get a budget tier. A closer look at the Google Photos codebase reveals controls for Google One Lite. There’s no indication yet on pricing or scope, but offering a cheaper way to access cloud services makes financial sense for Google.

“…code in the latest version of the Google Photos app for Android includes references to a brand new, unannounced “Google One Lite” subscription plan. This addition suggests that Google Photos users, in particular, may soon see changes to the way Google charges them for some premium services.”

(Forbes).

More Musical Looks

Google is reworking the default music player for Android. YouTube Music is getting a redesign of the Artist pages on both Android and iOS apps, bringing them in line with the album and playlist pages:

“This new design starts with the artist name aligned to the left next to the subscriber count and a corresponding pill-shaped button for following. Opposite is the ability to launch the radio and shuffle, and YouTube Music tested “play” earlier this month. The round buttons are used for smaller touch purposes. The Latest Releases tab remains available before you get to top tracks and the rest of the channel.

(9to5Google).

And finally…

It’s a tie-in product that breaks the fourth wall (probably, I haven’t seen the movie yet). Poco’s latest special edition is the Poco F6 Deadpool and Wolverine

“Deadpool’s signature red hue graces the entire back of this F6, and the LED array has a Deadpool ‘face’… The innards are expected to be identical to the regular Poco F6, so the only new things are the rear design and likely the contents of the box — it looks like a much more substantial box than the one the regular F6 comes in, so we expect it to include a few Deadpool (and Wolverine) branded goodies.”

(GSM Arena).

Android Circuit summarizes news from the Android world every weekend here at Forbes. Be sure to follow me so you don’t miss any future stories, and of course, read my sister column at Apple Loop! You can find last week’s Android Circuit here , and if you have any news and links you’d like to see in Android Circuit, please contact me!