In case you missed events and exciting news from the world of Android this week, check out this roundup of top stories so you’re all caught up with everything Android.
This week, we saw Motorola launch the world’s first smartphone to feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. We also saw OnePlus release an Android 12 update for its 9 and 9 Pro models, only to suspend it after a slew of complaints and bug reports. We also saw a rumor about the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra potentially being called the Galaxy S22 note instead.
Motorola Releases World’s First Smartphone with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Chip
Last week, chipmaker Qualcomm unveiled its latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor for next-generation flagship phones. This week, Motorola announced its latest flagship called the Moto Edge X30 powered by the new chip. The phone was launched in China where pre-orders sold out. International availability remains uncertain.
Alongside the Moto Edge X30, the company also launched the Moto Edge S30 that features the Snapdragon 888+ chip with support for Android 11 out of the box. The Moto Edge X30 has a starting price of around $502 and goes up to $628 for the Special Edition. The Mote Edge S30 starts at $314 and goes up to $408 for the top-of-the-line variant.
OnePlus Releases and Suspends Android 12-Based OxygenOS Update Amid Widespread Bug Reports
This week, OnePlus released the OxygenOS 12 update based on Android 12 for its OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro models in some markets. However, soon after updating, users began reporting several bugs that made the software nearly unusable. OnePlus was compelled to suspend the update and issue a statement on the matter. The company has promised to release a stable bug-free update, although no timeline has been revealed.
Reported problems with the software update included a black screen appearing for a few seconds after the screen was unlocked, inability to make and receive calls, several missing features, task manager not closing all the tasks as it should, etc. OnePlus users were also particularly distraught to discover that Google Discover could not be turned off on the OxygenOS 12 update. If the OxygenOS 12 update is available for your device, we advise you against installing it until OnePlus shares more information.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Rumored to Sport Note-Inspired Branding
Frequent device leaker FronTron on Twitter recently tweeted that the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphone could be called the Galaxy S22 Note instead. The rumors hold some water since renders of the phone leaked last month showed that the device had a provision to hold the S Pen. This makes it resemble a Note series device instead of Samsung’s S-series smartphones.
Samsung flagships such as the Z Fold 3 support the S pen Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra could be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor or the Exynos 2200 SoC paired with a 5,000mAh battery, a 108MP camera, two telephoto lenses, and a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera.
Other Top Android Stories This Week:
- Google releases first version of Android L12 beta
- Android games will make their way to Windows in 2022, says Google
- The Google Play app will now be easier to update
- Pixel 4a 5G and newer Pixel devices to get “Quick Tap to Snap” feature for Snapchat
- Pokemon GO gets new feature encouraging users to AR scan nearby landmarks
Want a daily dose of Android news? Make sure to follow AndroidBeat on Twitter and Facebook, where we bring all the information from Android’s world straight to you. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed.