Smartphone shipments worldwide were up 2% in 2025, with Apple having the highest market share at 20%, Counterpoint said Monday. Apple's shipments were up 10% year over year, while Samsung, with a 19% market share, grew 5%. The smartphone market globally will likely be softer this year, Counterpoint said, citing rising component costs and semiconductor memory chip shortages as chipmakers prioritize AI data centers over smartphones. It also predicted that Apple and Samsung will likely remain resilient due to their premium market positioning, while Chinese original equipment manufacturers concentrated in lower-price segments will face more pressure.
A Texas state court granted, then vacated a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Samsung this week for collecting consumers' TV audio and viewing data without proper consent. Samsung is one of five TV makers that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) sued Dec. 15 for illegal use of automated content recognition (ACR) technology.
The nature and capabilities of AI-enabled smart glasses could easily lead to widespread violations of societal norms and legal requirements, Jackson Lewis privacy lawyer Joseph Lazzarotti wrote Monday. He said employers who provide AI glasses to employees or allow their use in the workplace are potentially creating "continuous and/or intrusive surveillance conditions" that could violate privacy rights. Various state statutes and common laws limit surveillance, and there are additional laws emerging to target workplace surveillance tech, Lazzarotti added.
After a determination by the Trump administration, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and their component parts produced in foreign countries that pose “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons” have been added to the FCC’s covered list of companies that present security risks, the agency announced Monday. The FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (see 2512110051) required the administration to review whether to add Chinese drone maker DJI to the covered list. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said last week that a decision was likely imminent (see 2512180047).
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Wednesday that he had secured a temporary restraining order against TV maker Hisense to stop it from collecting viewers' personal data, including what they watch. The AG sued Hisense and four others earlier this week, alleging use of automated content recognition (ACR) technology, which sends screenshots of TV displays in real time, allowing unlawful collection of personal data (see 2512150048).
A new generation of AI-enabled smart glasses may prove to be a breakthrough for augmented reality, Ericsson researchers said this week. AR headsets to date have never really taken off and have lacked consumer appeal, “hindered by bulky, unfriendly designs,” Huani Yao and Maya Moukbel wrote in a blog post. "While today’s AI powered smart glasses don’t yet offer full AR capabilities, they play a vital role in preparing users for an augmented future."
Satellite-connected smartwatches accounted for 2% of smartwatch shipments in Q3 but are expected to claim 28% of the market in 2030, Counterpoint said last week. Apple, Google, Garmin and Huawei are pushing toward satellite-connected smartwatches, "bringing two-way messaging and SOS functions beyond cellular coverage." Counterpoint added that the use of narrowband non-terrestrial network modems that are compliant with the 3rd Generation Partnership Program will let the watches offer low-power global connectivity even in regions without cellular coverage.
The worldwide tablet market maintained “upward momentum” in Q3, with shipments reaching 40 million units, up 5% year over year, Omdia said Thursday. This was the seventh consecutive quarter of growth, which “was fueled by strong demand across the Middle East and Central Europe, along with continued strong consumer purchasing in China,” the report said. There was also "a surge in Chrome tablet shipments to Japan, driven by the government’s GIGA 2.0 education initiative.” Omdia Research Manager Himani Mukka said the tablet market has shown resilience “despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds.”
Citing FCC restrictions on Dahua products, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) said Wednesday that he had opened an investigation into whether security camera maker Lorex Technology is selling products that use components sourced from the Chinese video equipment maker. Texans "should never have to worry that the devices protecting their homes could be tied to foreign adversaries," Paxton said.
The U.S. foldable smartphone market is expected to grow by 68% this year, driven by better durability of foldable designs and more diversified portfolios from multiple brands, Counterpoint said last week. Samsung is leading so far with its refreshed Galaxy Z Fold and Flip lineup, the analyst said. Apple’s foldable phone, expected in late 2026, could redefine consumer expectations and push foldables into a new mainstream adoption phase, it added.