One of the unique features of the Oppo Find N5 that I found interesting when I saw the press event was the ability to use the phone as a remote control to access my Mac. Being a Mac user, I’ve always wanted to find a way to transfer photos from my phone to my Mac.
This is relatively easy if you use a phone such as a Samsung device or in some cases an Honor device because they have file browsing software available for the Mac ecosystem. When using OnePlus and Google Pixel devices it has always been problematic and you have to rely upon some bare-bones software in the form of Android file transfer. However, the Find N5 Oppo has also announced a service called O+Connect. Now O+Connect will allow you to set up a remote control connection with your Mac or MacBook and one of the benefits of this is the ability to do file transfer over WiFi, instead of having to use a wired USB connection.
Now, while this could potentially raise privacy concerns, I decided to give it a try anyway. The set is fairly simple all you need to do is download the Oconnect from Oppo’s website using the link here.
The setup is quite straightforward. Once you’ve downloaded the app, simply install it on your MacBook. During the installation process, you’ll be prompted to accept various permissions. After all the permissions are granted, you can access the “Connect to PC” option under the “Connections” section on your phone. You can also start the connection from your mac as well but will need to authorise it on the Phone. This option allows you to establish either a one-time connection or a more permanent connection. By choosing permanent you’ll eliminate the need to enter new passwords or codes every time you connect.
Once you’ve established this connection, you’ll be able to view the file structure of your OPPO device. Additionally, you’ll be able to access a remote viewer of your desktop on the OPPO Find N5 itself.
I have enclosed a video of the remote desktop and how to use this below.
I’ve also explored the file transfer capabilities of this device, and from my experience, it’s as smooth as using a USB wire for the connection. In terms of functionality, it’s a very useful tool for transferring files between devices. I could also see it being useful if you have a Mac system set up as a server for remote media streaming or using remote access to move files when you’re away from home. I don’t envision this as enterprise-level functionality, but if you need to quickly remote into a home-based Mac, this could be incredibly useful. Beyond that, I was hoping to also see my Find N5 screen on my MacBook, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. So, this isn’t a replacement for the Windows companion option that Microsoft offers, but it’s a great alternative for Mac users. Up until now, this has only been possible with an iPhone, although I’m not sure if an iPhone will actually allow you to take remote control of a Mac.
One other thing I chose to experiment with while I was in the process of doing this test was the Multi-connect function with my OnePlus Pad 2. I am very pleased to say that this worked exactly as I would expect and I was able to interact with my phone on my OnePlus Pad 2 as I would be able to do any other OnePlus device. This is due to the fact that the software is actually designed for Colour OS and is compatible with Oxygen OS as well.
While I don’t believe either of these features is entirely unique, as other services offer similar functionality, it’s pleasant that both are integrated into the OPPO Find N5. You don’t need to download any third-party apps to use these features, except for the Connect app on your Mac, of course.
I am continuing to test my Oppo Find N5 and I will be putting together some photo comparisons with the OnePlus Open, over the next few days. So if you want to see how these two devices compare then please come and check out the article on the website in a few days time.
Thanks very much
If you are interested in getting an Oppo Find N5 for yourself then please check out the Average Dad Tech Store where you will be able to buy both the Global variant which is what I am using and the Chinese version if you prefer to go down that route.