Do not imagine the hype – this Android telep...

Regardless of being in tech information, I do not comply with China’s home smartphone market too carefully. Most of the telephones launched there’ll by no means attain the US or Canada, until maybe they’re imported by diehards, in order that they’re largely 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 telephone will assist a wide range of Apple applied sciences — together with the Apple Watch, which is normally 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 gentle in the meanwhile, however one factor’s for certain — do not count on Vivo to get away with this for lengthy until 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 individuals will be capable to reply calls from their Watch, however it’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 could 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 information.

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, reminiscent of distant management, and the power to deal with their telephone as an prolonged show. That second choice is especially attention-grabbing, since Apple’s native equal — Sidecar — solely helps 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,” slightly than simply fundamental voice and playback features. Native Apple gadgets get pleasure from features like automated supply switching tied to your Apple Account.

As you will 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 might be short-lived, given Apple’s insurance policies and monitor file.

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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 method. Although individuals have managed to pair Watches with Android telephones up to now — one thing Vivo’s seemingly constructing off of — that course of has at all times 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 might 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 method 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 tip 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 inclined 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 goal was to promote extra Apple Watches.

If something, Apple will in all probability do all it could possibly to discourage Android customers from getting rival-supported Watch pairing, because the product retains individuals locked into its ecosystem. The Apple Watch isn’t solely tightly built-in with iPhone options in a method 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 telephone improve one other iPhone to keep away from the expense of changing two gadgets directly.

Apple would possibly properly attempt to sabotage something Vivo does that goes towards its norms. There’s sturdy precedent — the perfect 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 at the present time, Apple consists of many options in iMessage chats which are supposed 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 consumer is current.

There might not be a lot the corporate can do in regards to the X Fold 5’s iCloud integration. Whereas there aren’t native Android apps for iCloud Drive or Images, these providers can at all times be accessed by way of the online — so all Vivo wants is a few form of bridge software program that you just signal into together with your Apple Account.

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Might Vivo get the greenlight anyway?

Some ultimate ideas

Vivo / Pocket-lint

If there’s any likelihood of Vivo getting away with its plans, it lies in three issues. First is that Vivo relies in China — whereas Apple has its personal presence within the nation, it might in all probability be an uphill battle to get native courts to take motion. I am not that conversant in 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 relies off ideas initially patented by Segway.

Second, there might 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 won’t even be definitely worth the sources, so far as Apple’s involved — X Fold 5 customers are solely going to get crippled variations of the options out there to iPhone homeowners. There’s nonetheless a cause to go all-in on the Apple ecosystem, assuming you’ll be able to afford it.

Lastly, Apple won’t wish to be seen pushing the matter too laborious. It is already below 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, regardless of how laborious the corporate is prepared to struggle.

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