Seems to be specifically about these you unlock from your phone and then press a button to start

A device disguised as a games console - known as an “emulator” - is being exploited by thieves to steal vehicles within 20 seconds by mimicking the electronic key.

Don’t they use rolling codes? So I suppose this emulator is some malware you install on your phone

I would hope that they would use rolling codes, but I would also not be all that surprised if they did not. Car manufacturers have cheaped out for less.

The emulator part seems like it’s confusing a few different things together. Although I’m a little suspect of that, since someone holding up a games console to a car or house is suspicious anyway.

It could also be described as an emulator (emulating the key), and the crossover with game emulators might be causing some confusion?

A dedicated device might make sense there, if it has better antennas, or better capabilities than would be available with a basic phone, in addition to being less technical than having to install an app and fiddle about with all of that.