Oppo is back with a very specific kind of iPhone accessory: a magnetic add-on that works as a remote selfie screen, a decorative display, and, apparently, a fashion object. The new Oppo Bubble Screen goes on sale on 6 July, supports iPhone X and newer models running iOS 15 or later, and costs 499 yuan, or 73 dollars.
That price puts it in the weird little category of gadgets that are hard to justify and easy to want. Apple has spent years making the iPhone more self-contained; accessory makers keep trying to bolt personality back onto it. Oppo’s answer is not a camera grip or a battery pack, but a second screen you can carry around like a charm.
What Oppo Bubble Screen actually does
The main trick is remote selfie shooting. Oppo says the accessory can be used from up to 10 meters away, which makes it handy for group shots, tripod setups, and the sort of selfie framing that usually ends with someone’s forehead cut off. The device attaches magnetically, so it can sit on the phone or be used separately.
- Works with iPhone X and newer
- Requires iOS 15 or later
- Remote shooting range: up to 10 meters
- Battery capacity: 550 mAh
- Price: 499 yuan / 73 dollars
A tiny second display for iPhone accessories
Oppo is also leaning into the novelty angle. The Bubble Screen can show wallpapers, including animated and static images, so it doubles as a pocket-sized decorative display. That sounds frivolous, but small add-ons like this often sell on identity more than utility. Just ask the market for phone charms, MagSafe stands, and the endless parade of pastel cases.
The company says it can even be worn or carried as a bag accessory thanks to interchangeable covers and its compact shape. With a 550 mAh battery inside, this is clearly built for short bursts of use rather than all-day screen obsession. Which is probably for the best.
Why this kind of gadget keeps showing up
There is a familiar pattern here: phone makers and accessory brands keep finding room for products that solve a small problem while making the device feel less generic. Samsung has played in this space with foldable extras and watch-linked camera tricks, while third-party makers have turned MagSafe into a mini economy of stands, wallets, and clip-on lights. Oppo’s pitch is simply more playful, and that may be exactly why it has a chance.
If the Bubble Screen catches on, expect it to be because it sits neatly between practical and ridiculous. If it doesn’t, it will at least have one thing going for it: it is much easier to explain than a second phone.