OPPO has officially begun rolling out the Android 16-based ColorOS 16 update, and while the new AI features and performance boosts are noteworthy, one inclusion is raising eyebrows across the tech world: a surprisingly deep, almost Apple-like integration with the iPhone.
For a brand often, and sometimes rightly so, accused of taking design inspiration from Cupertino, this is an audacious leap. ColorOS 16 now offers “Seamless Interconnection” features that explicitly allow an OPPO device to handle communications for a connected iPhone.
When your Android can answer your iPhone’s calls
The standout feature is the new iPhone Call & Message Sharing, allowing your OPPO phone to sync incoming iPhone calls and SMS messages, and even answer them directly from the OPPO device. There’s also iPhone Notification Sharing, which mirrors all your iPhone app alerts onto the OPPO screen. It’s a direct attempt to bridge the ecosystem divide and let users focus on a single screen even when juggling two different operating systems.
The fine print, however, reveals the underlying limitations: it requires the use of the OPPO Dialer (meaning you have to ditch the Google Phone app) and for both devices to remain within Bluetooth range. This isn’t Apple’s Handoff feature running over a seamless cloud connection, but a local Bluetooth relay. Yet, for an Android-maker to natively implement this level of cross-platform communication is a genuinely impressive feat of engineering.
Who is this for?
The features present an interesting question: who exactly is the target audience for this unusual cross-ecosystem play?
It’s certainly not the average consumer who tends to stick to a single platform, whether it’s the iPhone’s walled garden or the openness of Android. As many reviewers will note, the primary user who often carries both an Android and an iPhone simultaneously is a smartphone reviewer or developer, someone who needs to jump between devices daily. Professionals who own an iPhone and an Android phone for work are also a target for this seamless sharing functionality.
However, the practical benefit for this niche audience is undeniable. Imagine your iPhone is charging across the room or is in your bag, and you’re settled on the couch with your new OPPO flagship. Instead of having to move, your call/text comes through on the device in your hand. While a fringe use case today, it’s a cool, high-utility addition for anyone who frequently switches between their personal and work devices across the two leading operating systems.
ColorOS 16 brings more than just iPhone integration
Beyond this cross-ecosystem handshake, ColorOS 16 is a major update featuring a heavy dose of AI and performance enhancements:
- OPPO AI Mind Space with Gemini: A new hub for capturing ideas, allowing users to quickly record a 60-second voice note via the ‘Snap Key’ and later use Google Gemini to combine these notes with web search results for personalized answers.
- Seamless performance: The All-New Trinity Engine and Luminous Rendering Engine promise smoother, more stable performance even under extreme multitasking, ensuring “buttery-smooth responsiveness.”
- PC connectivity: The update also includes Phone Screen Mirroring to PC, allowing users to cast their OPPO screen and even run up to five individual app windows simultaneously on their computer.
OPPO is clearly making a concerted push into the AI and cross-platform space with ColorOS 16. Whether these deep iPhone features are a genuine user-centric innovation or a cheeky nod to its long-time ‘inspiration,’ they are set to be a major talking point in the Android world.
What are your thoughts on OPPO adding seamless call and message sharing with the iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
