AirDrop remains one of the favorite arguments of iPhone users in the iOS vs. Android battle. OnePlus seems determined to respond to this exclusivity with O+ Connect, a solution that aims to facilitate file transfers—and even Mac control—from an Android device.
A bridge between Android and macOS
Integrated directly into the brand's OxygenOS overlay, O+ Connect allows drag-and-drop file sharing between a OnePlus smartphone and an Apple device: iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It all works without using third-party services like Google Drive or WeTransfer. First available on the OnePlus 13R, this feature will also arrive on the future OnePlus 13 flagship, although no specific date has been announced yet.
In terms of compatibility, the solution has supported macOS since version 10.4, released in 2005. A rarity in the Android world where backward compatibility is not always a priority. An official client is available on the OnePlus website or directly via the App Store. O+ Connect is reserved for European (and British) users. France is therefore included!
The manufacturer is pushing its ambitions further with the OnePlus Pad 3, its new tablet, which offers remote control of a Mac from the touchscreen. After installing the dedicated application on the computer, the user can not only transfer files, but also interact with macOS as if they were in front of the screen: virtual mouse, multitouch gestures, system shortcuts, smart keyboard management, etc.
Better still, Privacy mode adds a layer of security: the Mac screen dims, the sound is muted, and a notification is sent if someone touches the computer during a remote control session. OnePlus thus promises a seamless experience for mobile users, even when their main hardware is Apple.
It's interesting to note that this O+ Connect application is not a completely new creation. It was first offered on Oppo smartphones, another brand of the BBK Electronics group, the shared parent company of OnePlus. This is a familiar strategy among Chinese manufacturers: sharing in-house technologies while developing separate ecosystems.
Transferring a large video between an Android phone and a Mac can turn into a nightmare. And even if solutions like LocalSend already exist, they often involve additional manipulation. By offering a home-grown, ready-to-use, multiplatform solution, OnePlus is taking a significant step towards interoperability—a word often overused in the mobile world.
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