Smartphones will soon work better with PCs and laptops running on Microsoft’s Windows 11 and Windows 10 operating systems, thanks to the addition of support for Phone Link and Link to Windows. The two apps allow users to connect and manage their Android devices seamlessly from a desktop or laptop, ensuring they work flawlessly together. The latest news reveals that compatible handsets will expand to include smartphones from OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme.
Previously, the app only worked with Samsung phones and the Surface Duo tablet. But a recent update to the Phone Link / Link to Windows support page revealed that the feature is now expanding its compatibility with other Android phones from OPPO, OnePlus, and Xiaomi. The new Android-Windows Phone Link pairing will let users access notifications, apps, photos, files, clipboards, and audio streaming without needing a physical connection to the phone.
While this sounds similar to how Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note smartphones work with PCs, the new listing needs to provide a detailed breakdown of the features supported by OPPO, OnePlus, and Realme phones. That’s because the new compatibility is contingent on a software update to the latest version of ColorOS (OPPO), OxygenOS (OnePlus), or Realme UI (Realme).
At the recently concluded 2023 Oppo Developers Conference, OPPO and Microsoft announced their partnership to bring the Phone Link and Link to Windows app to the three Chinese OEMs. The collaboration is set to revolutionize how people use their smartphone and desktop devices, enabling them to collaborate more effectively. The companies also promised to work towards a unified experience that would blur the lines between mobile and computer usage.
As a result of the partnership, Phone Link and Link to Windows will be available to all OPPO Find series, OPPO Reno series, OnePlus 6T, and OnePlus 7 smartphones. The phones will also support RCS messaging from the desktop, making it easy to sync messages, photos, and contacts across their devices.
The OnePlus X and Realme 1 Pro will also gain support for the app shortly. The phones will be able to mirror their screen on a PC and even take control of the device using gesture commands. The two apps will also enable quick file transfer, synchronized clipboard content, and the ability to answer calls or texts from the PC.
OnePlus and Realme will also introduce an instant hotspot function to their flagship phones, allowing them to turn the device into a Wi-Fi network that other devices can join. The hotspot will support up to five simultaneous devices, with the ability to add more devices as needed.
The OnePlus and Realme apps will be rolled out to their flagships in the coming months. Meanwhile, the OPPO X and Realme 1 Pro will get the feature in their following updates to OxygenOS or ColorOS, respectively. As for the OnePlus X and Realme 1, the updates are scheduled to arrive this month.
