News 3 December 2025 - 5 December 2025

Prudential plc’s $686 Million Quarter Puts Asia Growth — and Inflation Risk — Back in Focus
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Prudential plc’s $686 Million Quarter Puts Asia Growth — and Inflation Risk — Back in Focus

Prudential plc reported a 10% rise in first-quarter new business profit to $686 million, driven by growth in Hong Kong and mainland China. Annual premium equivalent sales increased 6% to $1.823 billion. The company warned that higher energy-linked inflation could dampen demand in some smaller ASEAN markets. Prudential shares closed down 0.41% in London, underperforming the FTSE 100.
April 30, 2026
Best Smartphones of 2025: PhoneArena Awards and Gadget.co.za “Gadgets of the Year” Winners Revealed (December 5, 2025)
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Best Smartphones of 2025: PhoneArena Awards and Gadget.co.za “Gadgets of the Year” Winners Revealed (December 5, 2025)

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max won Best Overall Phone at the 2025 PhoneArena Awards, beating Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. Samsung’s Galaxy S25 FE took Best Value, while the OnePlus 15 was named Biggest Surprise. On the same day, Oppo launched the entry-level A6x in South Africa, targeting holiday shoppers with a large battery and screen.
December 5, 2025
Vivo X300 Series Round‑Up: New Reviews, Unbox Therapy Reaction and X300 Ultra 7,000mAh battery
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Vivo X300 Series Round‑Up: New Reviews, Unbox Therapy Reaction and X300 Ultra 7,000mAh battery

Leaks suggest the Vivo X300 Ultra will launch in China in Q1 2026 with a 7,000mAh battery, dual 200MP cameras, and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. New reviews praise the X300 Pro’s 6,510mAh battery and camera kit, while GSMArena calls the standard X300 a compact flagship. The X300 series is drawing attention across Asia with ongoing launches and promotions.
December 5, 2025
Taiwan Bans China’s RedNote (Xiaohongshu) App for a Year as Opposition Cries Censorship
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Taiwan Bans China’s RedNote (Xiaohongshu) App for a Year as Opposition Cries Censorship

Taiwan began blocking access to Chinese social media app RedNote (Xiaohongshu) on December 4, citing over 1,700 fraud cases and major cybersecurity risks. The one-year suspension affects about 3 million local users. Internet providers are enforcing the ban using technical filters. Authorities say the block could be lifted if the company meets Taiwan’s security and legal requirements.
December 5, 2025
Technology News 05.12.2025
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Technology News 05.12.2025

The 40mm Apple Watch SE 3 remains under $200 on Amazon, nearly $50 off its usual price, almost a week after Black Friday. ARISS is running an SSTV event via the RS-38S satellite through December 13, transmitting images on 437.825 MHz. Alaska will gain two new undersea fiber-optic cables linking Juneau, Cordova, and Seward by fall 2027.
December 5, 2025
Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold on December 4, 2025: 3 Reasons to Buy, 2 Reasons to Skip – Plus All the Latest Launch News
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Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold on December 4, 2025: 3 Reasons to Buy, 2 Reasons to Skip – Plus All the Latest Launch News

Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold, the world’s first mainstream tri-fold phone, debuted in South Korea this week at KRW 3,594,000 (about $2,400). Samsung released an official unboxing video showing its 10-inch main screen and multitasking features. The global launch is expected January 4 at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Analysts and reviewers question its durability and mass-market appeal.
December 4, 2025
Apple Confirms iPhone 17 Pro Drops Night Mode Portraits — What Changes for Your Low‑Light Photos (December 4, 2025)
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Apple Confirms iPhone 17 Pro Drops Night Mode Portraits — What Changes for Your Low‑Light Photos (December 4, 2025)

Apple has removed Night mode Portraits from the iPhone 17 Pro, ending support for the feature first introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro. Apple documentation and independent tests confirm the device no longer allows users to combine Night mode with Portrait-style background blur. Night mode does not appear in Portrait mode, and Night mode photos no longer store depth data for later blur effects.
December 4, 2025
TECNO Freeform Continuum & Dual‑Mirror Telephoto: How Future Lens 2025 Brings True 1–9x Optical Zoom to Smartphones
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TECNO Freeform Continuum & Dual‑Mirror Telephoto: How Future Lens 2025 Brings True 1–9x Optical Zoom to Smartphones

TECNO unveiled two new telephoto camera concepts at its Future Lens 2025 event in Chongqing, China. The Freeform Continuum Telephoto promises continuous optical zoom from 1x to 9x, while the Dual-Mirror Reflect Telephoto shrinks module size and reduces camera bump. Freeform Continuum is expected in commercial phones after a year; Dual-Mirror Reflect could appear as soon as next year.
December 4, 2025
Best Travel Apps and AI Travel Tools for December 2025: New Features, Deals, and Destinations You Shouldn’t Miss
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Best Travel Apps and AI Travel Tools for December 2025: New Features, Deals, and Destinations You Shouldn’t Miss

Allianz Partners’ Allyz travel assistance app saw downloads surge 250% from 2024 to 2025, nearing 1.5 million by year-end, according to new data. Recent coverage highlights travelers relying on a small set of core apps for navigation, booking, safety, and AI planning, rather than downloading every new tool. Google Maps and Samsung Wallet–Agoda announced new features as travel tech adoption accelerates.
December 4, 2025
OnePlus 15 US Pre‑Orders Start Today: Price, Launch Time, Free Watch 3 Deal & Full Specs
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OnePlus 15 US Pre‑Orders Start Today: Price, Launch Time, Free Watch 3 Deal & Full Specs

OnePlus 15 pre-orders open in the US today at 11 a.m. ET, following weeks of regulatory delays caused by the federal government shutdown. The phone starts at $899.99 for 12GB RAM and 256GB storage, with a 16GB/512GB model at $999.99. Early buyers can choose a free OnePlus Watch 3 or Buds Pro 3. Pre-orders are online-only through the OnePlus US store; shipping dates remain unconfirmed.
December 4, 2025
Google Play Store $700 Million Settlement: How Android Users Can Get Automatic Payouts via PayPal and Venmo (December 2025 Update)
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Google Play Store $700 Million Settlement: How Android Users Can Get Automatic Payouts via PayPal and Venmo (December 2025 Update)

Millions of U.S. Android users are being notified they may get cash from a $700 million Google Play Store antitrust settlement, often without filing a claim. The settlement, led by attorneys general from 53 states and territories, covers users who made Play Store purchases between August 2016 and September 2023. Most eligible consumers will receive at least $2. Google denies wrongdoing but agreed to pay and change Play Store rules.
December 4, 2025
Apple iPhone 17 Drives Record 2025 Shipments as IDC Warns of Smartphone Slowdown in 2026
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Apple iPhone 17 Drives Record 2025 Shipments as IDC Warns of Smartphone Slowdown in 2026

Apple is on track to ship over 247 million iPhones in 2025, a record, according to IDC. The iPhone 17 surge has pushed Apple’s share of China’s smartphone market above 20% and reversed earlier declines. IDC now expects global smartphone shipments to grow 1.5% this year, up from 1%, driven mainly by Apple. Rising component costs and shortages threaten the rest of the industry in 2026.
December 4, 2025
India’s Sanchar Saathi U‑Turn: Why the Modi Government Dropped Its Mandatory Cybersecurity App Order
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India’s Sanchar Saathi U‑Turn: Why the Modi Government Dropped Its Mandatory Cybersecurity App Order

India’s government on Wednesday revoked an order requiring all new smartphones to come with the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app pre-installed and undeletable. The move follows backlash from privacy groups, opposition parties, and tech companies. Officials now say the app will remain voluntary and removable. Apple and Samsung had raised concerns about compliance.
December 4, 2025
iOS 26.2 RC Released: AirDrop Codes, Reminders Alarms, Liquid Glass Tweaks and More Coming to iPhone
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iOS 26.2 RC Released: AirDrop Codes, Reminders Alarms, Liquid Glass Tweaks and More Coming to iPhone

Apple released iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers and public beta testers on December 3, signaling a public launch within days. The update includes one-time AirDrop sharing codes, new Reminders alarms, a refined Liquid Glass lock screen, and expanded AirPods Live Translation in the EU. RC builds for iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS were also issued.
December 4, 2025
Apple’s Record iPhone 17 Sales Set to Power 2025 Smartphone Growth, IDC Warns of 2026 Slowdown
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Apple’s Record iPhone 17 Sales Set to Power 2025 Smartphone Growth, IDC Warns of 2026 Slowdown

Apple is projected to ship over 247 million iPhones in 2025, marking its highest annual total and driving global smartphone shipments to 1.25 billion units, according to IDC. The firm raised its 2025 market growth forecast to 1.5%, citing surging iPhone 17 demand, especially in China. IDC expects shipments to contract 0.9% in 2026 amid rising memory prices and supply constraints.
December 3, 2025
Android’s QR Code Scanner Redesign Returns in Play Services 25.46.32 – What’s New and How to Get It (December 3, 2025)
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Android’s QR Code Scanner Redesign Returns in Play Services 25.46.32 – What’s New and How to Get It (December 3, 2025)

Google has resumed rolling out its redesigned Android QR code scanner through a Google Play Services update, after pulling it earlier this year. The new interface, featuring a bottom pill-shaped control bar, began appearing on more devices as of December 3, 2025. The update is tied to version 25.46.32 but remains unavailable to some users. Rollout is gradual and server-side.
December 3, 2025
Android December 2025 Security Update: Google Patches 107 Flaws as CISA Confirms Two Zero‑Day Attacks — Update Your Phone Now
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Android December 2025 Security Update: Google Patches 107 Flaws as CISA Confirms Two Zero‑Day Attacks — Update Your Phone Now

Google’s December 2025 Android update patches 107 vulnerabilities, including two zero-day flaws already exploited in attacks. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency added both zero-days to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The bugs affect Android versions 13 through 16. Devices with the 2025-12-05 security patch or later are protected.
December 3, 2025
Lost iPhone Trade‑In in the Mail? How to Protect Yourself in Holiday 2025
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Lost iPhone Trade‑In in the Mail? How to Protect Yourself in Holiday 2025

Apple and major carriers face a surge in complaints over lost or mishandled phone trade-ins during the 2025 holiday season. Customers report devices vanishing in transit, empty return boxes, and stalled investigations, with some left without credits or devices for weeks. Apple issued a $160 credit only after executive intervention in one high-profile case. Similar incidents are documented across Apple, T-Mobile, and Verizon forums.
December 3, 2025
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