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Galaxy S26 Delays, Boox’s Android eReaders, Pixel’s Tensor Potential

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Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines across the Android world, including Galaxy S26 delay, Samsung’s Galaxy XR Headset, measuring the Pixel’s Tensor G5, Nubia’s 35mm camera system returns, Boox launch new eInk handhelds, UK takes on Android’s market power, and your comma could disappear.

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.

Delaying Samsung’s 2026 Start

Samsung’s plans for the Galaxy S26 family were knocked back a touch this week. First up is the reported cancellation of the Galaxy S26 Edge. Samsung’s fashionably thin phone line was previewed at Galaxy Unpacked was due to be upgraded at the next unpacked event. That looks to have changed this week, as poor sales have led to the apparent cancellation of the Galaxy S26 Edge and it’s replacement with Galaxy S26 Pro.

That release may be later than expected, but not by much. This year’s Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event took place on Jan 22, the year before on Jan 17. As it stands, reporting this week points to a possible two week delay into February, at least for handset availability.

Is This The Pixel Perforamnce You Asked For?

With so much focus on the raw pwerformance of smartphoens, the Google-designed Tensor chipset always draws flak for the design choice made; namely to lean away from ultimate power that you woudl find in the likes of the Qualcomm Snapdragon range, and instead leaning into the potential of the Tensor Processing Unit, Gogole’s own AI accelerator.

Stephen Radochia looks at the trade-off between raw performance and AI smarts, and why this is the defining feature of the Pixel family:

“…the point of the Tensor G5 is that Google was able to move much of that processing onto the device. Real-time voice translation, computational photography, and features like Magic Cue will run faster on the device, without relying heavily on the cloud. Google wants its AI features to run well for years, and if that doesn’t matter to you, it’s not your phone.”

Samsung’s New Reality, With Some Help From Google

Arguably this week’s launch of the Samsung Galaxy XR is the first consumer-ready extended reality headset running Android. The South Korean company is pitching the ability to “watch, work and play” with the headset, which starts at $1,799. Alongside Samsung’s product details, Google has a wider view of Android XR, the version of the OS designed for headsets and how it integrates into the wider ecosystem:

“Galaxy XR gives you an infinite screen to explore your apps, with Gemini by your side. It lets you switch between being fully immersed in a virtual environment and staying present in the real world, and you can navigate the interface naturally with your voice, hands and eyes.”

The 35mm In Your Smartphone

Nubia’sZ80 Ultra was launched this week in China. The new handset brings in the latest premium features, including a 7,200 mAh silicon carbide battery, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 Elite chipset and ast charing 90W on cable and 80W on wireless. It’s also brought back a feature from previous models with the camera:

“Nubia is bringing back the 35mm equivalent main cam, which uses a custom 1/1.3-inch Omnivision 990 sensor. It’s joined by a 64MP periscope using a 1/2″ sensor with 3x optical zoom. The third shooter is an 18mm equivalent ultrawide module with a 1/1.55-inch sensor.”

A global launch for the handset takes place on Nov 6.

Boox Launch Palma 2 Pro and Note Air5 C

Boox has launched two new eInk paper devices, a palm-szied eBook reader and a larger folio styled tablet on a global platform, following a Chinese release earlier in the year. Michael Kozlowski picks out the two biggest changes over the Boox Palma 2, namely the color screen and cellular connectivity — the previous Palma models are Wifi only.

“Since there is a SIM card, you will be able to use voice communication apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or Discord. Audio quality should be greatly enhanced with the Dual Microphones. There is also a G-sensor for Auto Rotation, a Light Sensor, and a 16MP Rear Camera with LED Flash. A USB-C port is used for charging and transferring data.”

Alongside the Palma 2 Pro is the Note Air 5C, a 10-inch tablet that uses the older Carta 1200 screen supporting 4,096 colours with the eInk display (compared to the Palma 2 Pro’s Carta 1300). Crucially, both devices run Android 15 and it will have software support for three years.

The UK’s CMA Takes On Android (And Apple)

The U’s Competitions and Markets Authority has ruled that both Apple and Google (Android) have ‘strategic market status’, essentially their market share and size means they have “substantial, entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance in their respective mobile platforms.” It further notes that the two audiecnes are entrenched and are unliekly to switch, businesses are orced to only distribute via Apple and AI is not going to make a difference over the five year window.

Both Google and Apple have released statements; Googel citing the “intense competition” that Apple offers, as does Apple; “Apple faces fierce competition in every market where we operate, and we work tirelessly to create the best products, services and user experience.”

The CMA will now look for targetted interventions that ensures mobile platforms are open to efective competition.

And Finally…

Say goodbye to punctuation on your gBoard, at least if you want it. The latest builds on Android give you the option of cleaning up the low line on the keyboard, leaving just the space bar, alphanumeric switch, and the enter key. Abner Li has more:

“If turned off, Gboard’s bottom row will just be ‘?123’ and the enter key for a cleaner look. It makes for a very wide space bar. You can always double-press the space bar for a period, but removing the comma is a curious move. That said, you could disable that, but keep the Emoji key (which has been an option for some time now) for a more symmetrical design with the period.”

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!



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X Issues November 10 ‘Account Will Be Locked’ Twitter Security Warning

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Given the continuing popularity of Elon Musk’s X social network, and the swathing staffing cuts made when the world’s richest man bought what used to be (and still is in my mind) Twitter, it doesn’t make the cybersecurity headlines as much as you might have thought. With PayPal users currently warned of ongoing attacks, ditto WordPress website owners, and even LastPass password manager customers, all being in the threat actor crosshairs, this is a good thing. However, X users have now been warned that unless they make a change to a legacy Twitter security setting, they will be locked out of their accounts from November 10. Here’s what you need to know.

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The X Safety Team Issues Clarification After Warning Of Twitter Account Lockouts

Whatever you call it, X or Twitter, the social network isn’t immune to security threats. This year alone, I have reported on outages caused by a claimed DDoS attack and a warning for 650 million X users not to change their passwords. Sometimes, though, the perceived security threat comes from inside the building. Such was the case after the X safety team tweeted on October 24: “After November 10, if you haven’t re-enrolled a security key, your account will be locked until you: re-enroll; choose a different 2FA method; or elect not to use 2FA.”

This, rather unsurprisingly if you ask me, created a wave of concern amongst both ordinary users and security experts on the social media platform. One asked whether not using 2FA meant their account would remain active; another asked whether there had been a security breach; and another asked whether this only impacted passkey users?

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The confusion sat with X warning that “all accounts that use a security key as their two-factor authentication method to re-enroll their key to continue accessing X,” and adding that users could “re-enroll your existing security key, or enroll a new one.” A typical example of someone who knows what they are talking about but not how to communicate that in such a way to people who do not. Translating tech-speak into ordinary language is an essential skill and one that the X safety team appears to have misplaced on this occasion.

What X should have said, and ended up being forced into actually saying a day later, was: “To clarify: this change is not related to any security concern, and only impacts Yubikeys and passkeys – not other 2FA methods (such as authenticator apps). Security keys enrolled as a 2FA method are currently tied to the twitter.com domain. Re-enrolling your security key will associate them with x.com, allowing us to retire the Twitter domain. If this relates to you, you’ll be prompted automatically to re-enroll.”

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Google’s Pixel 10 Series Could Soon Receive A Significant Performance Boost

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Key Takeaways

  • Some Pixel 10 users have reported underperforming graphics and battery life.
  • Google has confirmed it will release driver updates, potentially addressing these issues and unlocking the Pixel 10’s full potential.
  • A new GPU driver update (version 25.2) is available that Google could deploy for significantly improved performance.

October 26 Update Below: A driver update may be essential for security reasons. This article was originally published on October 24

The Pixel 10 could soon receive a significant boost in performance, and potentially battery life, thanks to an upcoming graphics driver upgrade.

Reports indicate that the Pixel 10 series currently underperforms in graphics performance, notably scoring lower than the Pixel 9 Pro in some benchmark tests. The Pixel 10 series uses a PowerVR DXT-48-1536 GPU from Imagination Technologies, rather than the ARM Mali component found in previous models, which has led to complaints of poor performance, especially when playing popular, graphically intensive games such as Genshin Impact, and reduced battery life during video playback in apps like Netflix.

A primary cause of these performance issues appears to be an outdated GPU driver. The Pixel 10 shipped with driver version 24.3, lacking key features and optimizations necessary for the new GPU to reach its full potential. While it’s not unusual for a smartphone to ship with slightly older drivers, the switch from Mail to PowerVR appears to have exacerbated the issue.

A New GPU Driver Is Already Available

Fortunately, Imagination Technologies has since released driver version 25.2, adding official support for Android 16, along with significant performance enhancements, including support for the latest Vulkan 1.4 specification. That means this particular update could greatly benefit Pixel 10 users, and early indications suggest Google will most likely implement it.

A Google representative recently confirmed to Android Authority that the company plans to continue releasing GPU driver improvements in its regular system updates.

“We are continuing to improve driver quality in our monthly and quarterly system updates. For example, the most recent September and October patch releases included driver improvements. In future releases we are planning further GPU driver updates.”

Google has a strong track record in this area, having delivered a significant GPU performance boost for Pixel 8 Pro users in its December 2023 update, and several generations of Pixel smartphones received performance gains thanks to an updated GPU driver in the March 2025 Feature Drop. However, Google’s statement stops short of any commitment to any specific driver versions or performance benefits for the Pixel 10 range.

Google Pixel 10: Performance Upgrades Are Likely

If this pattern continues, Pixel 10 users can expect significant performance gains with future driver updates. Given that the new driver is already available from Imagination Technologies, we can hope it arrives sooner rather than later. For those currently experiencing graphics performance issues, a fix appears to be on the horizon.

October 26 Update: Existing vulnerabilities make a driver update extremely likely.

Driver updates typically offer not only performance improvements but also essential security patches, increasing the urgency of releasing updates.

The Pixel 10’s GPU driver is vulnerable, putting additional pressure on Google to provide an update.

According to Imagination Technologies’ published GPU Driver Vulnerabilities list, versions of the PowerVR GPU driver, up to and including version 24.3, currently deployed in the Pixel 10 series, contain critical vulnerabilities that could result in system instability, reboots and non-privileged access to secure data.

Addressing these vulnerabilities will be a high priority for Google, making a driver update urgent. Imagination Technologies doesn’t appear to have released any driver updates between versions 24.3 and 25.1, which fixes all of the listed vulnerabilities and adds most of the improvements listed in this article.

This means Google’s next Pixel 10 GPU driver update will likely be to least version 25.1, if not the latest version 25.2 released to partners on Oct 8. Pixel 10 Users can therefore expect significant improvements in performance, reliability and security once Google releases this update.

Follow @paul_monckton on Instagram.

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Edifier Unveils Upgraded S880DB MKII Active Speakers For Hi-Res Performance

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Edifier is a speaker brand that’s rapidly building a reputation for producing premium mid-range speakers that sell for very affordable prices. Edifier has just announced the launch of the S880DB MKII, its fully upgraded successor to the brand’s acclaimed S880DB model. This latest version features enhanced acoustic performance, redesigned circuitry and an improved user experience.

The S880DB MKII speakers now feature a completely upgraded driver system that can produce a richer and more precise sound. The tweeters have been upgraded to a 1.25-inch titanium dome model with a 25mm voice coil and neodymium magnet. The output through the tweeters is 12W per channel. The previous model used a 1-inch tweeter, so the improvements deliver clearer and more transparent highs that offer more accuracy and detail.

Complementing the upgraded tweeters are a pair of redesigned 3.75-inch mid-bass drivers with an output of 32W per channel for a clearer sound across the entire mid-range. The woofers also provide an extended low-frequency response that goes as low as 50Hz for a fuller and richer bass response. The overall sound of the upgraded drivers is a more solid and balanced soundstage.

High-Quality Sound

At the heart of the new S880DB MKII speakers are high-performance chipsets sourced from Texas Instruments. Edifier has used the powerful XMOS XU216 onboard processor, which provides advanced digital audio processing and can support high-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/96kHz, for clearer sound and ultra-low distortion.

The S880DB MKII speakers are designed to meet and exceed the specifications required to gain Hi-Res Audio certification. The speaker’s digital interfaces support resolutions up to 24-bit/192kHz, while the Texas Instruments analog front end operates at 24-bit/96kHz, for precise signal handling and clarity across the entire frequency range.

At the rear of the S880DB MKII’s primary speaker unit are all the inputs for connecting the speakers to a digital or analog source. Users can choose from two RCA line-in connectors, a digital coax and optical inputs, plus a USB-C port, which is ideal for connecting these speakers to a computer so they can be used on a desk setup. There’s no 3.5mm input, but a cable is provided that goes from 3.5mm to RCA.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Finally, these speakers also include a Bluetooth 5.3 receiver for wireless input. The S880DB MKII speakers support the LDAC audio codec with transmission rates up to 990kbps, which means high-resolution wireless audio streaming up to 24-bit/96kHz.

Using the LDAC codec ensures audiophile-grade sound quality over Bluetooth from compatible Android devices running Android 8.0 and higher. Anyone using the speakers with a Mac or iPhone could use a Bluetooth dongle that supports LDAC. In addition, the speakers also support the vanilla SBC codec, but not AAC. The sound of these speakers can be shaped using the three rotary controls at the rear of the primary unit. The three knobs control volume, treble and bass.

The S880DB MKII also includes a dedicated SUB OUT port for the connection of an external subwoofer — like Edifier’s recently announced T5S model — and an even deeper bass response. This feature provides a fuller and more immersive low-end that’s suitable for music, movies and gaming. The one thing missing is a front-mounted headphone jack, which a lot of people use for private listening when seated at their computer.

User-Friendly Controls

Controlling the speakers is easy using the included puck-shaped remote control, which is just as well because those rear-mounted controls aren’t particularly convenient to reach. The S880DB MKII speakers come with a newly designed and rechargeable 2.4GHz remote control for quick access to playback and volume levels.

On the front of the primary speaker is an integrated OLED display featuring auto-dimming and providing clear and real-time feedback without too much glare. The speakers are also fully compatible with Edifier’s ConneX smartphone app, which can be used to fine-tune settings and manage the source inputs directly from a smartphone’s screen.

Pricing and Availability:

The Edifier S880DB MKII speakers are available now for $399.99 from Amazon.com.

Tech Specs:

  • Total output power (RMS): Treble: 12W x 2 / Mid-low: 32W x 2.
  • Drivers: 3.75″ long-throw aluminum diaphragm / 1.25″ titanium diaphragm dome tweeters.
  • Frequency response: 50Hz – 40kHz.
  • Signal-to-Noise ratio: ≥ 85dB(A).
  • Audio inputs: USB-C, Optical, Coaxial, Line In 1, Line In 2, Bluetooth.
  • Input sensitivity: USB-C: 500 ± 50mFFS OPT: 500 ± 50mFFS, COAX: 500 ± 50mFFS, Bluetooth: 500 ± 50mFFS, Line In 1: 500 ± 50mV, Line In 2: 700 ± 50mV.
  • Bluetooth: V5.3.
  • Supported audio codecs: SBC, LDAC.
  • Dimensions (W x H x D): 145 x 237 x 207mm (Primary speaker) /145 x 237 x 192mm (Passive speaker).
  • Weight: 6.27kg.



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