What if the Apple Watch stopped being an anti-Android lock? That's what Vivo is suggesting, which has teased its next foldable smartphone, the X Fold 5. In a post on Weibo, Han Boxiao, the Chinese manufacturer's product manager, claims that this device would be the first Android phone compatible with Apple's smartwatch.
An Android smartphone that talks to the Apple Watch
According to him, the Apple Watch could display incoming calls and messages received on the X Fold 5, and the health data collected by the watch could even be synchronized with Vivo's health app. A big promise considering that until now, the Apple Watch has been completely closed to Android devices, a strategy Apple has long maintained.
But that's not all: Vivo also announced that its phone will be able to connect to iCloud, directly from the built-in file manager. It could also serve as a secondary screen for a Mac, remotely control an Apple computer, and work with AirPods. In short, Vivo promises an Android smartphone that fits comfortably within the Apple ecosystem, a territory that has been carefully locked down by the Apple company until now.
If these features are confirmed, they would represent a turning point in the mobile strategy—not of Apple, but of its competitors. Because until now, the Apple Watch has been a major obstacle for users tempted by Android, but attached to their watch.
Still, caution is required. Apple has never officially allowed an Apple Watch to be connected to an Android device, and there's no indication that this has changed. It's therefore more likely that Vivo is using software tricks, or even gateways that always involve an Apple device in the equation—like an iPhone to make the connection.
We can also imagine that Vivo is building on a trend started by other Chinese brands like Oppo, which offer continuity functions between Android and macOS, notably with iCloud file management or screen projection.
Until we have a concrete demonstration, it's difficult to know if the announced compatibility with the Apple Watch is native or based on workarounds. The manufacturer remains vague on technical details, which doesn't help to decide.
Regardless of this opening towards the Apple universe, the Vivo X Fold 5 seems to want to play in the big league. The device has a very bright screen (up to 4,500 nits), a high-frequency PWM dimming system, and TÜV Rheinland certification for visual comfort.
No official release date has been announced yet, but the launch could take place by the end of the month. It remains to be seen whether Vivo will truly succeed in breaking down the wall between Android and Apple or if all this teasing was just a well-packaged marketing mirage.
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