For some meter now , Phone Link from Microsoft was the only alternative to connect and synchronise your Android , and up to some extent iPhone , to your Windows computer . However , Intel recently launched Unison which offers many of the same lineament as Phone Link , and then some more . The motion is whether you should flip from Microsoft Phone Link to Intel Unison and if yes , why ?
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Supported Devices
Microsoft ’s Phone Link app substantiate Android flawlessly . While you could add iPhone too , the connection is bonkers and does n’t work as intended . We could n’t even match iPhone with our Windows 11 personal computer sadly .
Also , you’re able to already use iMessage and make and take in call on both iPhone and Mac natively , and most iPhone exploiter favour to stick around within Apple ’s ecosystem for a reason . It just works .
Intel Unison , on the other , twin both iPhone and Android to your Windows electronic computer seamlessly . The setup mental process is easy and everything work as advertised .
Pro Tip : How to Tether iPhone hot spot to Windows Wirelessly / With USB
Installation and Setup
Here are the download connection for both apps :
Download Microsoft Phone Link onWindows , Android , andiPhone
Download Intel Unison onWindows , Android , andiPhone
just establish the apps on the devices that you need to pair , scan a QR code using your smartphone on your Windows computer , give the necessary permission and you are good to go . The setup process for both Phone Link and Unison is the same .
Here is a elaborated stone’s throw - by - step guide onhow to geminate your Android and iPhone to Windows using Phone Link and Unison .
Note that Wi - Fi and Bluetooth postulate to be enable on your information processing system and the mobile twist that you are pairing . While Bluetooth is required to make and receive call , net connectivity is necessitate to transplant file cabinet , sync substance , etc .
Phone Link allows you to add multiple devices so you could pair two Androids or one Android and one iPhone . However , Unison only patronise one machine at a time which is quite set see how so many citizenry convey two smartphones these days .
However , you involve a Microsoft account to use Phone Link . Intel Unison has no such requisite . By force drug user to use a Microsoft account , Microsoft is locking users within its ecosystem .
Permissions
Both Phone Link and Unison have a laundry inclination of permissions that they need include impinging , content , gallery , notifications , etc . You take to give these permissions so they can access these apps and convey relevant data . Tap onAllowas and when you are move on your smartphone screen to continue with the setup process .
User Interface
Phone Link has a sidebar where you will find notifications and some toggle to manage your smartphone . On the right , up top , you will find tabs to shift between call , subject matter , and photos . Depending on the tab choose , you will see some option below .
Unison has all the options in the left sidebar . You simply throw between each feature and interact with the element in the right sidebar .
Unison allows you may modify the drift view from large thumbnails to full scene . On the other hand , Phone Link shows a identification number of important point like electric battery portion , web connection status , and select level-headed visibility ( which can be exchange between silent , plangency , and DND ) . Phone Link also blame the wallpaper from your speech sound and reflects the dark / light-colored mode that you have set on your sound .
Coming to the mobile app user interface , Unison merely shows a lean of single file that you have sent or get from your Windows reckoner to your Android or iOS phone . Phone Link ’s wandering UI is completely useless and does n’t require any attention . All you will find are links to other Microsoft apps .
Feature Set
Common features include call , notifications , message , and access to gallery pic . you could make and receive calls and beam and view received messages on both the Phone Link and the Unison app . From the options menu , it is easy to select from which apps you wish to get notifications .
Intel Unison goes a stride further and also displays video files from your internal memory board which Phone Link painfully misses on . Moreover , Unison also allows you to send and incur files using a drag - and - drop port which create life easy . I can now transfer nomadic screenshots in a jiffy while writing article .
And then there are some farinaceous controls in Unison that come in ready to hand . For example , you may choose to hide the full message of messages for better privacy .
As noted earlier , calls are wield using a Bluetooth connection . The only queerness we experience was that when we received a call , it would ring on both machine . This was true for Unison and Phone Link . A turn pestiferous but that could be just us .
iPhone Connection
This is where Unison leave Phone Link in the dust . It work just as well for iPhone as it does for Android . When you connect an iPhone to your window , you could make / receive calls , broadcast / prospect message , get and manage all notification , and transfer files . Everything that works on Android piece of work on iPhone . This makes Unison the only app for Windows and iPhone drug user .
Microsoft Phone Link vs Intel Unison
Here are the main difference for your perusal .
Intel Unison has more granular controls for how capacity is exhibit , can transfer file , and display both photos and videos from your gallery . Unison also influence with iPhones just as well but can link to only one twist at a time .
Microsoft Phone Link can link up to more than one smartphone , allow change good profiles , and record some important machine information , but lacks data file transfer . Does n’t play dainty with iPhones .
So it all comes down to the type of equipment that you own . iPhone substance abuser should go for Unison and Android users do have a choice but we imagine it ’s prison term to switch over to Intel Unison . Phone Link is near but not enough .
Did you know you may nowuse your iPhone as a second proctor on both Windows and macOS ?