News Weekly is our column where we highlight and summarize some of the week’s top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news.
This is Android Central’s News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week’s most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape.
This week, the OnePlus 15 finally arrives globally with upgraded specs and a massive battery, the Galaxy Z Trifold’s specs leak again, Pixels get their November update with features galore, more information surfaces about the future Galaxy S26 lineup, and a new Motorola Ultra flagship could be in the works. Let’s dive in.
OnePlus finally officially launched its next flagship, the OnePlus 15, on Nov. 13. This is the first time we are witnessing an earlier-than-usual global launch, just two weeks after its initial debut in China.
The OnePlus 15 evidently looks nothing like its predecessor; it ditches the unique circular camera bump on its rear panel for a more iPhone-esque camera array, off to the left of the device. The phone features an aluminum frame with a ceramic-like feel, including completely flat edges, unlike the slightly curved OnePlus 13.
It features a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and an advanced camera setup with three 50MP lenses powered by OnePlus’ DetailMax imaging engine. The OnePlus 15 comes with OxygenOS 16, based on Android 16, which takes personalization up a notch with features like Plus Mind, Gemini-integrated Mind Space, and more.
The OnePlus 15 is available in three color options: Infinite Black, Sand Storm, and Ultra Violet. It will be available in two main configurations. The phone will be available for purchase in Canada; however, U.S. customers may have to wait a bit longer, as OnePlus has announced that sales have been postponed due to the U.S. government shutdown.
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Galaxy tri-folding phone is supposedly gearing up for a launch next month, and more information seems to be coming in about the device. This week, tipster Evan Blass on X shared “confirmed details” about the device. Blass says Samsung has reportedly finalized the branding of its first trifolding phone and that it will indeed be called the “Galaxy Z TriFold.”
Blass also mentions that the Z TriFold will come with a 6.5-inch outer display and a 10-inch inner panel when fully unfolded, something that has already leaked. However, the new detail here is the peak brightness numbers. Blass says the cover display will reach 2,600 nits, while the inner foldable display will reach 1,600 nits.
The phone will allegedly show up with a 5,437 mAh battery and feature a 200MP primary camera, powered by a Snapdragon chipset. Other details about the phone are still a mystery; hopefully, we’ll know more soon.
Google just dumped a whole host of new features for Pixel 6 users and up this week! The November Pixel drop brings a mix of fresh AI tools, safety upgrades, and a themed makeover inspired by Wicked.
It also brings Remix in Google Messages, a new feature powered by Google’s Gemini Nano Banana model. It lets you tweak photos in a chat. You and your friends can pass the same image back and forth, tweaking and remixing it without ever leaving the conversation — much like the edit feature in WhatsApp.
Furthermore, the Wicked: For Good theme pack offers Wicked-inspired wallpapers, icons, sounds, and GIFs, featuring themes based on Glinda, Elphaba, and the song “For Good.”
Google is also tightening up security on Pixel phones, which checks message content and shows a “Likely scam” alert before you open the app. For Pixel 9 and newer, Call Notes is also expanding internationally. Google Photos gets Personalized edits, while Google Maps gets a boost with a new Power Saving Mode.
We’re a few months away from Samsung’s Unpacked event; however, the Galaxy S26 leaks keep getting better. While there were tons of specs and launch day-related leaks, this one specifically addresses rumors about its launch.
Earlier this month, we heard some chatter that Samsung’s replacing the Galaxy S26 Edge with the Galaxy S26 Plus, leading to delays. However, a new leak from Korean outlet ChosunBiz (via @Jukanlosreve on X) suggests that Samsung is targeting a late January launch for the Galaxy S26 series, with market availability by mid-February.
In other news, we got our first look at the alleged Galaxy S26 Plus, thanks to life-like CAD renders. The Galaxy S26 Plus could feature a 6.7-inch AMOLED 2X flat display with thin, uniform bezels and a centered camera hole. However, as seen in previous leaks, Samsung could be making the phones more ergonomic, meaning the device may have more rounded corners when compared to the Galaxy S25 Plus. All buttons, including the power/lock and volume keys, seem to be located on the right side.
Motorola recently announced two new phones in its affordable lineup. However, the word on the street is that it could be working on a premium device that isn’t the Motorola Razer. According to a post on X, the Edge 70 Ultra is expected to get the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, and could have an Adreno 829 GPU and 16GB of RAM.
Rumored to show up with some flagship specs and Android 16 out of the box, details about this premium device remain scarce. However, the tipster did mention the XT2603-1 model number, suggesting a Chinese variant of the phone, which could be called the Moto X70 Ultra, going by Motorola’s usual naming convention. The phone could see the thinness of the Edge 70 and some of the latest AI quirks, although we don’t know much about the phone just yet.
