Latest Mobile & Gadgets News

đź“…December 18, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Pixel updates, Apple iOS changes in Japan, Android adware surge, 5G network upgrades, CES previews, and major product/security developments in mobile tech.
1

Google issues December 2025 Pixel patch to fix battery, touch and cached-content bugs

Google began rolling a small December 2025 OTA for Pixel 8–10 devices addressing faster-than-normal battery drain, intermittent touch unresponsiveness (noted on Pixel 10), and inaccessible cached content after upgrades from older Android versions; Verizon has published release notes for build BP4A.251205.006.E1 while Google has not yet posted factory imagesSource 1.

2

Malwarebytes: Android mobile adware and Triada RAT surge ahead of holidays

Malwarebytes reported a marked increase in Android threats in H2 2025 — adware volumes nearly doubled driven by families like MobiDash and a resurgence of the Triada remote‑access trojan, with attackers focusing on refurbished or aftermarket devices and holiday shopping vectorsSource 2Source 3.

3

Apple implements iOS changes in Japan to comply with Mobile Software Competition Act

Apple announced iOS 26.2 changes for Japan enabling alternative app distribution and payment options, new browser/search-choice screens, and APIs for alternative browser engines while adding protections (parental controls, limits for under‑13 users) to mitigate MSCA‑introduced risksSource 5.

4

Ericsson AIR 3255 4.5 GHz Massive MIMO radios go live in NTT DOCOMO 5G network

Ericsson deployed AIR 3255 Massive MIMO radios covering 4.5 GHz in DOCOMO’s network in December 2025 to boost capacity in high‑traffic areas; the radios use new Ericsson Silicon lowering energy use by ~25% and embodied CO2 by ~20% versus prior genSource 4.

5

Fujitsu to showcase mobility and physical AI solutions at CES 2026

Fujitsu announced exhibits for CES 2026 highlighting software‑defined vehicle (SDV) technology, real‑time vehicle-as‑sensor analytics, Social Digital Twin traffic simulations and spatial world model physical AI for human‑robot collaboration, in partnership with AWSSource 8.

6

Mobile operators see slower FWA speeds mid‑2025, industry monitoring performance trends

Analyses show T‑Mobile, AT&T and Verizon experienced a noticeable decline in fixed wireless access (FWA) download and upload speeds during Q2–Q3 2025, prompting operator and industry attention to capacity and optimizationSource 9.

7

Android OEMs and carriers facing increased security scrutiny over pre‑installed malware risks

Security firms warn that pre‑installed or bundled malware on aftermarket/refurbished Android phones (including Triada) remains a vector for fraud and credential theft, with advisories urging device provenance checks and updated mobile security solutionsSource 3Source 2.

8

Google refines Pixel Notification Organizer and launcher search behavior

Following recent Pixel updates, Google continues adjusting Pixel Launcher search behavior and rolling Notification Organizer improvements for Pixels as part of QPR2 and follow‑up patches to refine UX and notification managementSource 1.

9

Industry shifts toward greener 5G deployments and energy‑efficient radio gear

Vendors and operators (e.g., Ericsson/DOCOMO) highlight energy and CO2 reductions in new radio designs — AIR 3255 cites 25% lower energy use — reflecting a broader push for energy‑efficient 5G infrastructure in 2025 deploymentsSource 4Source 6.

10

Mobile ecosystem reaction to Japan’s MSCA prompts new developer tools and user controls

Apple’s MSCA compliance includes developer tools for alternative payment processing and distribution, plus user-facing controls (browser/search choice, default app controls) and APIs to balance competition with privacy/security in Japan’s iOS marketSource 5.