Do not consider the hype – this Android cell...

Regardless of being in tech information, I do not comply with China’s home smartphone market too intently. Most of the telephones launched there’ll by no means attain the US or Canada, except maybe they’re imported by diehards, in order that they’re principally irrelevant to my viewers. One thing that caught my eye, although, was information about Vivo’s subsequent book-style foldable, the X Fold 5. An organization product supervisor just lately introduced that the cellphone will help quite a lot of Apple applied sciences — together with the Apple Watch, which is often locked to iPhone possession, even in case you purchase a mobile mannequin.

So what’s Vivo promising, and the way does this end-run round Apple’s walled backyard work? Particulars are mild in the meanwhile, however one factor’s for certain — do not count on Vivo to get away with this for lengthy except it is aware of one thing we do not about Apple’s plans.

How does the Vivo X Fold 5 work with Apple merchandise?

A pile of secrets and techniques

Based on the product supervisor, Han Boxiao, Apple Watch customers will be capable to see calls and texts from a paired X Fold 5. Shared imagery suggests that folks will be capable to reply calls from their Watch, but it surely’s much less clear if you’ll reply to texts. That is presumably the case — simply unconfirmed to date.

Vivo can be promising that well being metrics from a Watch will be synced with the corporate’s well being app. Usually, the wearable depends on Apple’s HealthKit framework for syncing with each first- and third-party apps, so there should be a software program workaround for extracting HealthKit knowledge.

Past the Apple Watch, Vivo is integrating iCloud into the X Fold 5’s file administration system. It is even promising some Continuity-style options for Mac homeowners, corresponding to distant management, and the flexibility to deal with their cellphone as an prolonged show. That second choice is especially fascinating, since Apple’s native equal — Sidecar — solely permits you to use an iPad, not an iPhone.

Boxiao lastly mentions help for AirPods. It is already potential to pair AirPods with Android telephones, however on this case Vivo is supposedly delivering “the unique smoothness of the Apple ecosystem,” reasonably than simply fundamental voice and playback capabilities. Native Apple units get pleasure from capabilities like computerized supply switching tied to your Apple Account.

As you will have gathered, Vivo has but to elucidate the way it’s pulling any of this off. That is what leads me to suppose these options will likely be short-lived, given Apple’s insurance policies and monitor document.

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Why the X Fold 5 will not be Apple-friendly for lengthy

The clock is ticking

For starters, the Apple Watch is supposed to be an iPhone halo system, and definitely operates that manner. Although individuals have managed to pair Watches with Android telephones up to now — one thing Vivo’s probably constructing off of — that course of has at all times been convoluted, restricted, and unsupported by Apple. Historically, you have wanted a cellular-equipped Watch, plus an iPhone for preliminary setup. Even as soon as a Watch is paired with an Android cellphone, many options could not work, amongst them SMS messaging and well being sync — two issues Vivo says it is bringing to the desk. I am not assured Vivo can ship on its guarantees, a lot much less in a manner that permits you to skip an iPhone solely.

It is impossible that Vivo has partnered with Apple. The X Fold 5 may launch as quickly as the top of June 2025, and but there was no point out of Android compatibility throughout Apple’s WWDC 2025 keynote on June 9. The corporate does are likely to downplay its help of Android with some merchandise, corresponding to Beats headphones and Apple Music, but it surely would not utterly conceal one thing this important, particularly if the intention was to promote extra Apple Watches.

If something, Apple will in all probability do all it could actually to discourage Android customers from getting rival-supported Watch pairing, for the reason that product retains individuals locked into its ecosystem. The Apple Watch is just not solely tightly built-in with iPhone options in a manner different smartwatches aren’t allowed, however creates a sunk-cost dilemma — in case you’ve simply purchased an $800 Apple Watch Extremely 2, you are in all probability going to make your subsequent cellphone improve one other iPhone to keep away from the expense of changing two units without delay.

Apple may properly attempt to sabotage something Vivo does that goes towards its norms. There’s robust precedent — the most effective in recent times being Beeper, which in 2023 managed to deliver iMessage to Android telephones, just for Apple to intentionally break that performance on its finish. To this present day, Apple consists of many options in iMessage chats which are meant to discourage you from switching to Android — and even having fun with group chats with Android customers, since a few of these options will not work if an Android person is current.

There will not be a lot the corporate can do concerning the X Fold 5’s iCloud integration. Whereas there aren’t native Android apps for iCloud Drive or Photographs, these providers can at all times be accessed through the net — so all Vivo wants is a few form of bridge software program that you just signal into along with your Apple Account.

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Might Vivo get the greenlight anyway?

Some closing ideas

Vivo / Pocket-lint

If there’s any probability of Vivo getting away with its plans, it lies in three issues. First is that Vivo is predicated in China — whereas Apple has its personal presence within the nation, it will in all probability be an uphill battle to get native courts to take motion. I am not that acquainted with the Chinese language authorized system, however I do know that the nation is stuffed with merchandise that work round Western mental property. My very own Chinese language-made electrical unicycle is predicated off ideas initially patented by Segway.

Second, there will not be any technical means Apple may use to undermine Vivo’s efforts. It’d attempt updating the HealthKit and iCloud frameworks, or plugging holes in watchOS, however these concepts are purely hypothetical for the second. It may not even be definitely worth the assets, so far as Apple’s involved — X Fold 5 customers are solely going to get crippled variations of the options accessible to iPhone homeowners. There’s nonetheless a purpose to go all-in on the Apple ecosystem, assuming you’ll be able to afford it.

Lastly, Apple may not wish to be seen pushing the matter too laborious. It is already underneath hearth for anti-competitive practices in North America and Europe, together with its therapy of the Apple Watch. Broader Android compatibility may even be inevitable some day, irrespective of how laborious the corporate is prepared to battle.

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