The Oppo Find N5 let me carry a Mac in my pocket, and Apple should pay attention.
The world's thinnest foldable phone offers a complete Mac experience in the palm of your hand. Apple, you should learn something from the Oppo Find N5!
The most noteworthy strength of Apple's ecosystem lies in the seamless connectivity between devices. However, despite its dominance in the mobile computing market, the company has not permitted bidirectional control between iPhones and Macs that would allow for remote operation. This situation has partially changed with the introduction of iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, which brought iPhone Mirroring, although there is still no equivalent option that allows controlling a Mac desktop from an iPhone or iPad.
There are some third-party solutions that offer remote access, like Chrome Remote Desktop, which is free but lacks features such as file transfer. Other alternatives, such as Microsoft Remote Desktop and TeamViewer, provide a robust set of features but often require payments or subscriptions to access the best of their functionalities.
Recently, Oppo launched its O+ Connect system, which allows users to manage local files on their smartphone from a PC seamlessly. With the launch of the Find N5, one of the thinnest phones in the world, a remote control system for Macs was introduced that promises to be innovative.
One of the biggest challenges in remotely controlling a desktop is the limited screen space of a smartphone. Using a traditional phone can be cumbersome, but with a foldable phone like the Oppo Find N5, the experience comes closer to that of a desktop. This device provides an 8.1-inch screen, improving the arrangement of macOS windows and facilitating tasks in applications that require text manipulation.
In terms of usability, Oppo has enhanced the remote control experience by turning the bottom of the screen into a touchpad or a full keyboard. The on-screen touchpad supports multitouch gestures, allowing for smoother interaction with the system. Shortcuts have also been added to facilitate the use of functions like Mission Control and Launchpad.
The process of setting up remote access is quite simple: you only need to create an Oppo ID account and download the O+ Connect app on the Mac. Once set up, you can access the Mac as long as it is turned on and connected to the internet, preferably to a high-speed network.
The user experience has been positive; for example, when the MacBook Air was connected to a broadband network, smooth communication was maintained on Slack and file manipulation was problem-free. However, when using a cellular hotspot, the experience became hindered, especially in resource-intensive tasks.
Although there are some technical setbacks, such as the deactivation of Apple’s security systems during remote access, the drag-and-drop functionality between the Oppo Find N5 and the MacBook Air shows a significant advancement.
O+ Connect is not a direct substitute for the experience of using a Mac, but rather a temporary resource that provides remote access. However, it highlights that Apple has the potential to improve its own ecosystem and offer a similar experience. The technological capability is available, as well as the necessary talent. Perhaps the future will bring us a foldable iPhone that follows the example of the Find N5 or an iPad that combines the power of a Mac, even if it’s in a remotely controlled environment.