diff --git a/changelog/3228.changed.md b/changelog/3228.changed.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5444eef28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/3228.changed.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+- Updated default models for:
+
+  - `GeminiLiveLLMService` to `gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025`.
+  - `GeminiLiveVertexLLMService` to `gemini-live-2.5-flash-native-audio`.
diff --git a/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm.py b/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm.py
index ec608c311..129d9d224 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm.py
@@ -563,18 +563,18 @@ class InputParams(BaseModel):
         context_window_compression: Context compression settings. Defaults to None.
         thinking: Thinking settings. Defaults to None.
             Note that these settings may require specifying a model that
-            supports them, e.g. "gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-09-2025".
+            supports them, e.g. "gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025".
         enable_affective_dialog: Enable affective dialog, which allows Gemini
             to adapt to expression and tone. Defaults to None.
             Note that these settings may require specifying a model that
-            supports them, e.g. "gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-09-2025".
+            supports them, e.g. "gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025".
             Also note that this setting may require specifying an API version that
             supports it, e.g. HttpOptions(api_version="v1alpha").
         proactivity: Proactivity settings, which allows Gemini to proactively
             decide how to behave, such as whether to avoid responding to
             content that is not relevant. Defaults to None.
             Note that these settings may require specifying a model that
-            supports them, e.g. "gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-09-2025".
+            supports them, e.g. "gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025".
             Also note that this setting may require specifying an API version that
             supports it, e.g. HttpOptions(api_version="v1alpha").
         extra: Additional parameters. Defaults to empty dict.
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ class GeminiLiveLLMService(LLMService):
         *,
         api_key: str,
         base_url: Optional[str] = None,
-        model="models/gemini-2.0-flash-live-001",
+        model="models/gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025",
         voice_id: str = "Charon",
         start_audio_paused: bool = False,
         start_video_paused: bool = False,
@@ -638,7 +638,7 @@ class GeminiLiveLLMService(LLMService):
                     Please use `http_options` to customize requests made by the
                     API client.
 
-            model: Model identifier to use. Defaults to "models/gemini-2.0-flash-live-001".
+            model: Model identifier to use. Defaults to "models/gemini-2.5-flash-native-audio-preview-12-2025".
             voice_id: TTS voice identifier. Defaults to "Charon".
             start_audio_paused: Whether to start with audio input paused. Defaults to False.
             start_video_paused: Whether to start with video input paused. Defaults to False.
diff --git a/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm_vertex.py b/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm_vertex.py
index c58ef311d..fbeb79460 100644
--- a/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm_vertex.py
+++ b/src/pipecat/services/google/gemini_live/llm_vertex.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class GeminiLiveVertexLLMService(GeminiLiveLLMService):
         credentials_path: Optional[str] = None,
         location: str,
         project_id: str,
-        model="google/gemini-2.0-flash-live-preview-04-09",
+        model="google/gemini-live-2.5-flash-native-audio",
         voice_id: str = "Charon",
         start_audio_paused: bool = False,
         start_video_paused: bool = False,
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class GeminiLiveVertexLLMService(GeminiLiveLLMService):
             credentials_path: Path to the service account JSON file.
             location: GCP region for Vertex AI endpoint (e.g., "us-east4").
             project_id: Google Cloud project ID.
-            model: Model identifier to use. Defaults to "models/gemini-2.0-flash-live-preview-04-09".
+            model: Model identifier to use. Defaults to "models/gemini-live-2.5-flash-native-audio".
             voice_id: TTS voice identifier. Defaults to "Charon".
             start_audio_paused: Whether to start with audio input paused. Defaults to False.
             start_video_paused: Whether to start with video input paused. Defaults to False.
diff --git a/tests/test_transcript_processor.py b/tests/test_transcript_processor.py
index c8e15eb24..e8a26174a 100644
--- a/tests/test_transcript_processor.py
+++ b/tests/test_transcript_processor.py
@@ -730,9 +730,6 @@ class TestThoughtTranscription(unittest.IsolatedAsyncioTestCase):
         self.assertIsInstance(second_message, ThoughtTranscriptionMessage)
         self.assertEqual(second_message.content, "Second consideration")
 
-        # Verify timestamps are different
-        self.assertNotEqual(first_message.timestamp, second_message.timestamp)
-
     async def test_empty_thought_handling(self):
         """Test that empty thoughts are not emitted"""
         processor = AssistantTranscriptProcessor(process_thoughts=True)