5G: We are in the midpoint of the planned 10-year release cycle for 5G. In 2024 there was operators’ monetization struggles and sluggish 5G network investments. Expect a significant uptick in 5G activity in 2025. There are several reasons why telcos and industry observers are so optimistic. First, less than 10% of operators have launched 5G Standalone (5G SA), meaning that 90% still haven’t tapped into 5G’s more advanced capabilities for driving value and differentiation. Multiple wireless operators have now completed their 5G SA preparations—determining which features to implement from 3GPP Releases 16 and 17, selecting vendors—and have either begun commercial network upgrades or will start soon. Release 18 brings additional 5G-Advanced upgrades aimed at AI and specific vertical industries. The next significant step in 5G after ever increasing download speeds is the introduction of faster uplink connections. In the future, uplink speeds can increase to up to 350 megabits per second (Mbps) with 5G-Advanced. 5G Reduced Capability (RedCAP) start to come to market, enabling much better economics for those connecting IoT implementations. Europe’s 5G coverage lagging amid declining investment.
6G: 6G will not bring major changes for consumers. Consumers have benefited from 5G, but, for example, in the automotive industry, Industry 4.0, and healthcare, its potential has largely gone unfulfilled. Despite this, 6G development is underway – now it is time to define the technology so that it provides real business value. The technology is expected to enable the use of digital twins, for example. A model called Everything as a Service (Compute-aaS, AI-aaS) will emerge, where computing power and AI services move to cloud services. Another key development step is Ambient IoT, which is a more advanced version of IoT technology and could potentially replace RFID systems in the future. Ambient IoT is already part of the 3GPP Rel. 19 planning. Open interfaces such as the Open RAN model, which should be considered in the early stages of 6G development. Mobile network operators want to ensure that “whatever they do for 5G and 5G Advanced is going to be applicable to 6G.
Chips: Qualcomm and MediaTek hold the top places in smartphone processor ranking list. After that come Apple and Samsung. Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3, G2 Gen 2, and G1 Gen 2 for gaming handhelds, saying the G3 Gen 3 offers a CPU 30% faster than the previous generation. Regarding features, the Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 is Qualcomm’s first G-series chip to embrace Lumen, Unreal Engine 5′s fully dynamic global illumination and reflections system.
Android: There will be some changes in Android phones because Google will develop the Android OS fully in private. The future Android OS development will now fully happen behind closed doors, but Google says it’s committed to releasing source code. Amazon will discontinue its app store for Android on August 20 this year. Xaomi is working on a tool to run PC games on Android tablet.
Duopoly: Mobile duopoly by Apple and Google is seen an emerging problem. UK competition probe of mobile browsers finds Apple-Google duopoly is ‘anti-innovation’
Smart phone camera: Realme unveiled a new Ultra concept phone that offers DSLR-level photography in a smartphone. It supports using interchangeable lenses. The device features a customized 1-inch Sony IMX989 image sensor, designed to work with interchangeable lenses. Additionally, the phone includes an ultra-wide Sony IMX890 sensor and a periscope-style Sony IMX989 sensor.
The end of proprietary chargers is near? USB-C is now effectively mandatory in Europe as the new charging era begins. Now all phones and other wireless devices sold in the EU market must have a unified USB-C port. The USB-C connector requirements apply to various device categories, such as mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones, headset microphones, handheld video game consoles, portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, and earbuds or their charging cases. If a device supports fast charging, it must support at least USB Power Delivery charging technology. For laptops, the new requirements will apply starting April 28, 2026.
Smart watches: Generative AI is expected to revitalizes wearable devices and smartwatches drive wrist-worn wearable growth in 2025 even though there are some worrying about Forever Chemicals in Smartwatch Bands. Also Smartglasses and Smart Rings Poised for Growth
Foldable phones: Foldable phones are a glimpse into the future but also not really there yet. Samsung just teased a tri-fold folding phone at Galaxy Unpacked 2025.
President Donald Trump imposed 20% tariffs on China after taking office in January. Under a sweeping new plan aimed at stimulating U.S. manufacturing announced Wednesday, he added another 34% in reciprocal tariffs, bringing the total to 54%. Most of the 200 million iPhones Apple produces each year are made in China, and the iPhones could take the big hit in the price. The high end iPhone can cost soon up to $2300.
The price of Samsung phones can increase because Korea faces steep tariffs as US launches broad trade overhaul: Confusion arises as Trump cites 25% tariff for Korea, while White House document lists 26%.
57 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Andrew Orr / AppleInsider:
IDC: the global smartphone market grew 1% YoY in Q2, despite economic uncertainty and weak demand in China; Samsung led with 58M shipments, up 7.9% YoY — Apple shipped more iPhone models worldwide in Q2 2025 — Apple posted a slight gain in global iPhone shipments in Q2, navigating falling demand in China with growth
Apple gains in emerging markets while China demand slows
https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/07/14/apple-gains-in-emerging-markets-while-china-demand-slows
Apple posted a slight gain in global iPhone shipments in Q2, navigating falling demand in China with growth elsewhere.
Preliminary numbers from IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker show Apple shipped 46.4 million iPhones worldwide in Q2. That was up 1.5% from 45.7 million units in 2024.
The overall smartphone market grew 1% year over year. In total, the market reached 295.2 million units despite economic pressures and weak consumer demand in China.
Apple saw shipments in China decline by 1% for the quarter. IDC analysts said local subsidies failed to lift demand for new smartphones, and the large 618 e-commerce event mostly helped clear old inventory.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kuolleeksi luultu suomalaisfirma palasi ja julkaisi uuden puhelimen – mutta sitä ei ole todellakaan tarkoitettu kaikille
https://www.is.fi/digitoday/mobiili/art-2000010439254.html
Sailfish OS -käyttöjärjestelmästään tuttu Jolla, tällä hetkellä virallisesti Jollyboys Oy, julkaisee uuden puhelimen vuosien tauon jälkeen.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Mitä ihmettä Trump-puhelimessa tapahtui?
https://www.is.fi/digitoday/mobiili/art-2000011327805.html
Yhdysvaltain presidentin Donald Trumpin T1 Phone 8002 -Android-puhelin ei näytä olevan sitä, mitä luvattiin. The Vergen mukaan puhelimen verkkosivuilla ollut suuri ja näkyvä lupaus ”MADE IN THE USA” eli valmistettu USA:ssa, on kadonnut kokonaan.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Trump Phone no longer promises it’s made in AmericaNow the T1 Phone is ‘designed with American values in mind,’ which is… different.
https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/693080/trump-mobile-t1-phone-made-usa
When the Trump Organization launched the Trump Mobile wireless carrier, it also launched a flagship phone called the T1 Phone 8002 (gold version). One of the phone’s main selling points was that it was to be made in America. We figured that was unlikely to be true. And we were right: sometime in the last several days, the Trump Mobile site appears to have been scrubbed of all language indicating the phone is to be made in the USA. (Like, for instance, the huge banner on the homepage that says the T1 is “MADE IN THE USA.” Just to name one example.)
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/17698-oneplussan-uusi-myyntitykki-tulee-vaikeille-markkinoille
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony vetäytyy Suomen markkinoilta – näin yhtiö kommentoi
Yhtiön mukaan huolto ja päivitykset jatkuvat nykyisille asiakkaille normaalisti.
https://suomimobiili.fi/sony-vetaytyy-suomen-markkinoilta/
Sony näyttää vetäytyvän Suomen älypuhelinmarkkinoilta, eikä tilanne näytä hyvältä myöskään koko Euroopankaan kannalta. Yhtiön tuorein huippumalli Xperia 1 VII on loistanut poissaolollaan Suomen markkinoilta, eikä puhelinta ole saatu myyntiin lainkaan, vaikka sen piti tulla saataville toukokuussa. Nyt näyttää siltä, että kyse ei ole sattumasta.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sam Rutherford / Engadget:
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 review: looks like a regular phone with an exquisitely thin design, has top-tier performance, but is very pricey and lacks S Pen support
https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-7-review-foldable-phone-nirvana-for-a-price-123004636.html