Xiaomi has announced that its latest HyperOS 4 operating system will support compatibility with the Apple Watch, a feature aimed at users who are switching from iPhones to Xiaomi devices. The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, unveiled on September 23 in Beijing, will be able to receive calls and notifications from an iPhone, integrate into Xiaomi’s Super Island interface, and synchronize health and sports data. These phones are priced starting at 5,999 yuan (approximately 770 euros) in China, which is significantly lower than the starting price of the iPhone 15 Pro, which is 9,999 yuan in the same region. This marks the first time the Xiaomi 18 series will be available in France. The move comes as other Chinese manufacturers, such as Vivo and OnePlus, have already introduced similar features. Apple Watch, which has required an iPhone for pairing since its launch in 2015, has long been a closed device in terms of compatibility. In response to a 2024 antitrust complaint from the U.S. Department of Justice, Apple admitted it had spent three years working on an Apple Watch version compatible with Android but eventually gave up due to "technical limitations." Chinese companies have since taken advantage of this gap in the market. Vivo was the first to offer Apple Watch integration with its Vivo X Fold 5 in June 2025, followed by OnePlus with its OxygenOS 16 and the OHealth app. Xiaomi is now the third major player to enter this space, but it brings significant resources and plans for deeper integration. However, these integrations are still considered workarounds. Reports suggest that the Apple Watch was still required to be paired with an iPhone at Vivo, and Apple retains full control over watchOS, which could be updated to disrupt such compatibility in the future. Xiaomi has not yet demonstrated the pairing process or the exact data that can be synchronized. While the company previously opened HyperOS to support notifications and file sharing with iPhones, iPads, and Macs, the Apple Watch remains a more closed device. Although the compatibility may not be perfect from the start, Xiaomi’s efforts are aimed at challenging Apple’s strategy of keeping users within its ecosystem. This move could signal a broader trend of Chinese manufacturers pushing back against Apple's dominance in the premium smartphone market.