News

You are straight > Home > News > News Accommodate > Android Circuit: Samsung Confirms Galaxy S9 Launch Date, Huawei Vs USA, Radical Galaxy X Cancelled

Taking a look back at seven days of news and headlines across the world of Android, this week’s Android Circuit includes the launch and release of the Samsung Galaxy S9, more leaked S9 specifications, details of the ‘OnePlus 6’, Sony ’s new 4K handset, Huawei expands outside the US with the P Smart, and has the Android P name been revealed?

Android Circuit is here to remind you of a few of the many things that have happened around Android in the last week (and you can find the weekly Apple AAPL -0.45% news digest here).

1 America’s Special Galaxy S9 Leaked

The final details of Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are leaking out. probably the biggest leak of note this week came from the US FCC. That confirmed US specific models of the S9 handsets will be coming to America:

While the international S9 models were referenced as SM-G950U and SM-G955U, the US models take on the SM-G960U and SM-G965U numbers.That certification also includes the LTE bands the handset will be using. It’s clear that the US-bound Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus handsets will be compatible with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and T-Mobile. With only one model certified the assumption will be that any customisation by carriers will only be through software.

2 Everything We Still Needed To Know About The S9

Of the other elements we did not know, the launch and release date of the Galaxy S9 and the battery capacity were also uncovered. Noted leaker Evan Blass published details on the availability of the South Korean handsets:

Blass states Samsung will launch the Galaxy S9 and larger Galaxy S9 Plus on February 26th with pre-orders starting on March 1st and shipping/release on March 16th. These dates are a dramatic acceleration from its 2017 models.

Last year Samsung only unveiled the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus on March 29th. Pre-orders began almost immediately on March 30th, but shipping/release was not until April 21st - almost five weeks behind the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus.

Meanwhile Brazillian regulators followed the lead of the FCC by highlighting a previously unknown spec in regards the battery capacity. Forbes’ Gordon Kelly has more:

…Anatel, Brazil’s national telecommunications agency, [published certification] which reveals the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus will have 3000 mAh and 3500 mAh battery capacities respectively. Yes, like so many aspects of these 2018 models, this is unchanged from 2017 and even from the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Plus in 2016.

There’s no hiding from the fact his news is disappointing. New chipsets in both phones (despite US restrictions) combined with upgraded screen technology means we may still see battery life gains, but they won’t be as significant as if Samsung had simply fitted larger capacities. Against this is Samsung’s class leading battery tech which promises 95% capacity retention for two years, take notes Apple.

3 Here Comes The ‘OnePlus 6’

Shenzhen-based manufacturer OnePlus took the curious step of confirming its next flagship smartphone will be released in the second quarter of 2018, even though the OnePlus 5T is still selling well. So, what did OnePlus confirm?

The first, and perhaps key consideration is that everyone is already expecting the presumptively titled OnePlus 6 to arrive in late June… including I suspect the vast majority of consumers who purchased the OnePlus 5T. It’s little more than pattern matching the OnePlus 3, OnePlus 3T, OnePlus 5, and OnePlus 5T launch dates. Confirming that the pattern will continue actually offers more evidence of a stable company rather than a warning not to buy a handset.

The notable step is not confirming a second handset in 2018. Given the OnePlus 5T’s only major difference to the OnePlus 5 is a move from 16:9 screen to 18:9 screen there may need to be a significant new technology on offer each year to guarantee a ’T’ handset.

Products Sort