Samsung’s New Galaxy S For 2027

Following poor sales on the new Edge models, this year’s Galaxy S26 family moved back to a comfortable S26, S26+ and S26 Ultra. Plans are afoot for the S27 family, and the triplets from 2026 may be joined by the Galaxy S27 Pro, which will sit between the Plus and the Ultra. Samsung has previously used new product lines to introduce new technology, and there is one potential addition that its community is eagerly awaiting. Forbes contributor Janhoi McGregor explores the potential of a new battery.

"We might finally see the introduction of a silicon carbon battery in the Galaxy S27 Pro, which Samsung has explicitly said it’s working on. These batteries use silicon-based anodes to achieve much higher energy density than traditional graphite-based lithium-ion cells, allowing for more power in a thinner frame."

Samsung Staying In-House For Galaxy S26 FE

Before then, there’s the small matter of the final Galaxy S26 handset to be released. Traditionally, the FE Fan Edition of the Galaxy S line comes out later in the year, with the Galaxy S25 FE arriving in September 25 a similar window for the S26 FE is expected. It’s also a handset that goes through several compromises to eliver as much of the S experience as possible at a competitive price. In terms of key specs, it’s all about the chipset used, and the latest results from Geekbench show the pre-release hardware has put aside Qualcomm for a home-grown alternative:

"The phone managed a single-core score of 2,426 and a multi-core score of 8,004, as you can see from the screenshot below. The prototype in question has 8GB of RAM and runs Android 17. It's powered by the Exynos 2500 SoC."

Here Comes The Honor 600

Following the publication of the first product shots last week, the Honor 600 smartphone now has a confirmed launch date in Europe, alongside a pre-order discount offer. GSM Arena reports:

"The Honor 600 and 600 Pro are set to make their official debut on April 23 at 10 AM in France. Both phones are now listed on the official landing page, and Honor has an early-bird campaign which gives potential buyers a flat €150 discount for signing up, as well as a chance to win accessories for just €0.10.:

Pixel 11’s Race To Beat The iPhone 18 Pro Display

South Korean tech publication ET News is reporting on an intriguing switch for the upcoming Pixel 11 family. Google’s flagship smartphones are growing in popularity and market share every year, moving away from testbeds and closer to consumer success stories. That means bringing the latest technology to market, and the Pixel 11 could beat the iPhone 18 Pro to the punch in terms of the display:

"According to industry sources on April 9th, Samsung Display will supply OLED panels featuring the M16 organic material set for the Google Pixel 11 series, two Apple iPhone 18 Pro models (Pro and Pro Max), and the foldable iPhone, all set to be released in the second half of the year… the M16 is reported to deliver the best performance in terms of brightness, color, lifespan, and power efficiency."

The Moto Edge 70 Fusion Brings New Battery Tech

Motorola’s latest handset, the Edge 70 Fusion is another handset in the mid-range that exploits fashionable curves and a new approach to battery chemistry. The team at Notebook Check has put the new handset through its paces, and like many manufacturers, the new technology stands out both for endurance and in charging

"The large 7,000 mAh battery manages run times of over 24 hours in our WLAN test. This should easily get you through two days of average everyday use. The phone charges at up to 68 W speeds, but a charger is not included. With our charger in the lab, the Edge 70 Fusion is fully charged from 0% in about 45 minutes."

Silicon Carbon Batteries Make Winning Smartphones

2026’s biggest innovation, in customers' eyes, is going to be this huge jump in battery capacity. This is down to the use of silicon-carbon chemistry in place of the more prevalent lithium-ion choice, and the big-hitting names in the space, such as Samsung with the Galaxy S and Google with the Pixel phones, will need to adapt. Myriam Joire explores the impact of battery technology, why it is already mature, and the importance to consumers:

"The most immediate consumer benefit of Si-C batteries is their profound impact on industrial design. Since these cells deliver significantly higher energy densities, manufacturers like Honor, OnePlus, and Oppo are able to offer thinner form factors with outstanding battery life. This also makes Si-C batteries ideally suited for folding phones like the Honor Magic V6 and Oppo Find N6, or ultra-sleek flagships like the OnePlus 15."

And Finally...

Counterpoint Research has compiled the Top Ten best-selling smartphones for the final quarter of 2025. While the number one pick may not be a huge surprise (it’s the iPhone 17 Pro Max), the highest placed Android smartphone may be. Rather than a top-of-the-line flagship like the 17 Pro Max, it’s Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A56 that takes the award:

"Samsung's Galaxy A56 was the best-selling Android smartphone for the quarter, closely followed by the Galaxy A36 and the entry-level Galaxy A07. Wider presence and better affordability and value continue to drive sales for the Galaxy A series. The Galaxy S25 captured the tenth spot, as the brand continues to focus on flagship smartphones and AI capabilities. Promotions in the second half further pushed the sales.”

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!