Oppo has launched a new smartphone accessory that makes it easier to capture selfies using your smartphone’s rear camera, which typically has better sensors than front-facing cameras. Bubble offers similar functionality to the recently announced Insta360 Snap, with a screen providing live camera previews so you can precisely frame shots, as well as remote camera controls and a shutter button. What sets the Bubble apart is its slim design, wireless capabilities up to about 33 feet away, and, unfortunately, limited device compatibility.
The Oppo Bubble is currently available in China for 499 yuan, or about $73, but the company has not confirmed whether the accessory will have a global release. It has a round AMOLED touchscreen with a 550mAh battery, but it’s only seven-millimeters thick. The company hasn’t specified the Bubble’s estimated battery life, but it requires charging via the USB-C port on the bottom rather than powering on wirelessly when connected to the back of the phone.
Some Oppo devices support wireless charging, but the company has not released any devices with a built-in magnetic ring for attaching accessories. To dock the Bubble to an Oppo phone, you’ll need to add a magnetic case. The screen can also be attached directly to devices with embedded magnets like the iPhone and recent Pixel phones, but Oppo has only made the Bubble compatible via mobile app with a small assortment of its own devices, including the Reno 14, 15 and 16, as well as the Find X8, X9, X9 Pro and X9 Ultra. The company has not announced plans to expand Bubble’s compatibility to other companies’ devices.
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