And now for something completely different. Oppo has a reputation in South Africa for affordable smartphones, but the Bubble is something entirely unexpected from the company. For starters, it’s difficult to guess what it is just from the title.
Even the images shown here aren’t an immediate giveaway. Oppo’s Bubble might look like an AirTag knockoff, but it’s actually a small magnetic AMOLED display that you can plonk onto the back of your smartphone. An iPhone, for preference, since its MagSafe magnetic ring is built into the hardware. But it should work with more models, including Oppo’s own.
Not the AI Bubble
The Oppo Bubble connects to specific Qi2-compatible smartphones (those with magnets inside), adding a second screen to those devices. But Oppo’s own stable has been given preference in features. Off-brand users can display videos or photos on the peripheral, whether on the phone itself or in the included case. Just in case you’d rather dangle the AMOLED screen from your keys or backpack.
Pair it with an Oppo smartphone, though, and the Bubble can be used as a screen to centre your selfie shots via the company’s camera app. Supported devices include the Oppo Reno 14, 15, and 16, as well as the Find X8 and Find X9 series.
Despite being just 7mm thick and 27.5 grams in weight, the Oppo Bubble includes a 550mAh battery to go along with its display. More detailed figures aren’t available, and probably will remain murky until the gadget goes on sale later this week. For now, the Bubble is confined to China, where it’ll retail for around R1,200. The oddball addition starts shipping in that country from 29 May.
