The manifest file in an Android application cannot include information about the handset model compatible with the application. The manifest file is used to declare the components of the application, such as activities, services, broadcast receivers, and content providers. It also specifies the permissions required by the application and the minimum SDK version needed to run the application. However, the specific handset models compatible with the application are not declared in the manifest file; this information is not typically included or relevant in the manifest context.