Do not imagine the hype – this Android telephone will not assist Apple merchandise for lengthy

Regardless of being in tech information, I do not comply with China’s home smartphone market too intently. Lots of the telephones launched there’ll by no means attain the US or Canada, except maybe they’re imported by diehards, so 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 lately introduced that the telephone will assist a wide range of Apple applied sciences — together with the Apple Watch, which is normally locked to iPhone possession, even if you happen to purchase a mobile mannequin.

So what’s Vivo promising, and the way does this end-run round Apple’s walled backyard work? Particulars are gentle in the intervening time, 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

In keeping with the product supervisor, Han Boxiao, Apple Watch customers will be capable of see calls and texts from a paired X Fold 5. Shared imagery suggests that folks will be capable of reply calls from their Watch, however it’s much less clear if you’ll reply to texts. That is presumably the case — simply unconfirmed up to now.

Vivo can be promising that well being metrics from a Watch may 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 have to 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 house owners, reminiscent of distant management, and the flexibility to deal with their telephone as an prolonged show. That second possibility is especially attention-grabbing, since Apple’s native equal — Sidecar — solely allows you to use an iPad, not an iPhone.

Boxiao lastly mentions assist 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,” quite than simply primary voice and playback features. Native Apple gadgets get pleasure from features like automated supply switching tied to your Apple Account.

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

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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 machine, and definitely operates that means. 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 all the time been convoluted, restricted, and unsupported by Apple. Historically, you’ve got wanted a cellular-equipped Watch, plus an iPhone for preliminary setup. Even as soon as a Watch is paired with an Android telephone, 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 means that permits you to skip an iPhone fully.

It is most unlikely that Vivo has partnered with Apple. The X Fold 5 might 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 assist of Android with some merchandise, reminiscent of Beats headphones and Apple Music, however it would not fully 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 to discourage Android customers from getting rival-supported Watch pairing, for the reason that product retains individuals locked into its ecosystem. The Apple Watch shouldn’t be solely tightly built-in with iPhone options in a means different smartwatches aren’t allowed, however creates a sunk-cost dilemma — if you happen to’ve simply purchased an $800 Apple Watch Extremely 2, you are in all probability going to make your subsequent telephone improve one other iPhone to keep away from the expense of changing two gadgets directly.

Apple may nicely attempt to sabotage something Vivo does that goes towards its norms. There’s sturdy precedent — one of the best in recent times being Beeper, which in 2023 managed to convey 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 might 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 Images, these companies can all the time be accessed through the online — 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 remaining 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 could in all probability be an uphill battle to get native courts to take motion. I am not that aware of the Chinese language authorized system, however I do know that the nation is filled 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 might not be any technical means Apple might use to undermine Vivo’s efforts. It’d strive updating the HealthKit and iCloud frameworks, or plugging holes in watchOS, however these concepts are purely hypothetical for the second. It won’t even be well 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 house owners. There’s nonetheless a motive to go all-in on the Apple ecosystem, assuming you possibly can afford it.

Lastly, Apple won’t wish to be seen pushing the matter too onerous. 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 might even be inevitable some day, regardless of how onerous the corporate is keen to struggle.

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