Comparing Intel Unison vs. Microsoft Phone Link: Which One Should You Use?

The one thing that Apple has always been known for is the ecosystem. This is why many people prefer using Apple devices like MacBook, iPhone, and iPad because of their seamless connectivity. But when it comes to the Windows and Android ecosystem, it has always been broken.

To bring ecosystem functionality to Windows and Android, Microsoft launched the Phone Link app. This app allowed users to access their contacts, call someone, message people, access notifications, and even their phone photos directly on their Windows PC.

Phone Link has been the sole player in the Windows-Android ecosystem until recently when Intel released Intel Unison. Both apps come from well-reputed companies and offer similar functionality, confusing users about which one to go for.

If you want to choose between the two, i.e., Intel Unison and Microsoft Phone Link but cannot decide, then this article will help you. We are bringing you a detailed comparison of Intel Unison and Microsoft Phone Link to help you decide which is best for you.

Intel Unison vs. Microsoft Phone Link App: Detailed Comparison

We will divide this comparison into compatibility, setup, features, interface, security, etc. We will be comparing every aspect of both apps so that you can clearly understand which one to go for.

Installation and Setup

The installation experience of both the apps, i.e., Intel Unison and Microsoft Phone Link, is similar. The Microsoft Phone Link app is built on Windows PCs and Samsung phones/tablets, but you must install it on every other Android phone or tablet apart from Samsung. Intel Unison does not come preinstalled on any device. Installing both apps is easy; you can easily find the app on Play Store (on Android devices) and Microsoft Store (on Windows PC).

We have already covered detailed blog posts on How to Download and Install Intel Unison on Windows 11 PC. Windows 10 officially doesn’t support the Intel Unison app, so try the workaround covered here.

Or, check out this blog post, to learn how to download and install Phone Link on Windows 11 & Windows 10 PCs.

Compatibility

Talking about compatibility, the Microsoft Phone Link app and the Intel Unison app are both available for Android and iOS. You can get both apps from the App Store (if you are using an iPhone) and Play Store (if you are using Android).

It means you won’t have a problem using either of the apps on both OS. However, when it comes to iOS, the Intel Unison app has better compatibility with the iPhone. Though the Phone Link app works on iPhones, users have complained that the app is not as optimized for iOS as it is for iPhones.

However, Intel Unison only works on Windows 11 22H2-based PCs; this is where Phone Link has the upper hand, as Microsoft Phone Link is compatible with Windows 10 and 11. Also, Intel claims Intel Unison works only on Intel 12th-gen and 12th-gen Evo processors. But we have personally tested the Intel Core i7 8th gen app, and it seems to be working fine. Also, the app works fine on AMD-based chipsets despite the brand claiming it to be available only for PCs with Intel-based chips.

For compatibility, we would like to give points to the Microsoft Phone Link app because of its compatibility with Windows 10 and 11. Also, the app works on iPhone, and we expect it to be optimized for iOS with future updates.

User Interface

UI is an important factor when choosing an app. Also, UI is users’ personal preference; what one may like may be disliked by someone else. Both of these apps have an easy-to-use interface, nothing much rocket science, and no complex learning curve.

On the Phone Link app, you will see notifications on the left sidebar. Along with this, the left sidebar also shows your phone’s battery and charging status, plus you get toggles to turn on or off DND, sound, or silent mode.

At the top bar on the right side, you will see three options (four in the case of Samsung phones), i.e., Calls, Messages, Photos, and Apps (this is additional for Samsung Galaxy devices). When you click on any of these options, their information will be displayed here on the right side. Similarly, you can access Settings from the top right corner of the Phone Link App.

On the Intel Unison app, you will see all the options on the left sidebar, including File Transfer, Gallery, Messages, Calls, Notifications, Settings, and Downloads. Like the Phone Link app, all the information when selecting a particular option will be displayed on the right side.

Security

When it comes to security, both apps are trusted and safe to use. Intel Unison comes from Intel, and Microsoft Phone Link comes from Microsoft, two of the well-reputed companies for software and hardware.

Both apps are secure and maintain the privacy of the user data. Your data is safe with you, so you need not worry about anything while using both apps.

Permission and Connectivity

Both Microsoft Phone Link and Intel Unite apps request permissions to access contacts, files, notifications, and messages, facilitating seamless integration with devices. However, granting permissions for individual features can be tedious.

Both apps utilize internet connectivity to enable remote access to phone data, messages, and notifications. Making calls involves a Bluetooth connection between the device and computer, without needing them on the same Wi-Fi network. Active internet connections suffice for smooth functioning.

Features

Both Intel Unison and Microsoft Phone Link apps have different features. While some features like calls, messages, and notifications are the same, there are some features that one app has while the other does not.

Microsoft Phone Link features

Phone Link App has a lot of features to offer, including-

• With the Phone Link app, you can call someone or receive an incoming call. You can use the dialer pad to dial the number or search through the contacts to call the person.
• You can also send and receive messages on the Phone Link app.
• The phone Link app allows you to access your phone’s photos directly on your PC. You can also delete the photos or save the photos on your PC.
• The phone Link app will also show you your phone’s notifications on your PC. You can directly reply to the messages through the notifications on the Phone Link app.
• Also, you will be able to check the battery on your phone. It will show you whether your phone is charging or not, and if charging, whether your phone is fully charged.
• You can also control sound profiles like silent and mute audio and put your phone to DND from the Phone Link app.
• If you have a Samsung phone connected to the Phone Link app on your PC, you will also be able to access your phone’s app. You can also open the phone screen on your PC and remotely use your phone.
• Another feature limited to Samsung phones is ‘Hear Audio on your PC.’ With this feature, you can listen to any audio playing on your phone directly on your PC.
• Also, you can copy and paste between Samsung Phones and Windows PCs through the Phone Link app. For instance, if you copy the text on your Windows PC, you will be able to paste it on your Samsung Phone, and if you copy the text on your Samsung phone, you will be able to paste it on your PC.

Note- The last three features that we have mentioned are strictly limited to Samsung Phones, and you won’t find this option if you have connected any other Android phone to your Phone Link app.

Intel Unison features

Intel Unison offers a different set of features compared to the Microsoft Phone Link app. Some of the features offered by the Intel Unison app are –

• You can access the notifications, attend or make calls, and send or receive messages from the Intel Unison app. These features are similar to that of the Microsoft Phone Link App.
• Intel Unison allows you to transfer files between PC and phone. You can send and receive files between your devices, like documents, videos, photos, audio, etc.
• Unlike the Phone Link app, which only shows photos, Intel Unison shows your phone’s complete gallery. It means you will be able to view the photos, videos, and albums and even upload the photos/videos to your phone.
• You can also turn on Do Not Disturb on your phone directly from the Intel Unison app and turn it off.

Intel Unison vs. Microsoft Phone Link (Features Difference)

Features	Intel Unison	Microsoft Phont Link
Make or Receive Calls	Yes	Yes
Send or Receive Messages	Yes	Yes
Acces Notifications	Yes	Yes
Access Photos	Yes	Yes
Access Videos	No	Yes
Cross-Device Copy Paste	No	Yes (only on Samsung phones)
File Transfer	Yes	No
Access Apps	No	Yes (only on Samsung phones)
Open Phone’s Screen	No	Yes (only on Samsung phones)
Hear Phone’s Audio on PC	No	Yes (only on Samsung phones)

Intel Unison vs. Microsoft Phone link: Which One Should You Use

Both apps are great to use, but our recommendation is Intel Unison. It is because Intel Unison offers better features than Phone Link.

However, if you have a Samsung Phone, we suggest you use the Phone Link app instead of Intel Unison. It is because the Phone Link app kind of forms an ecosystem between Samsung phones and PCs offering additional features.

If you have Samsung devices like a Samsung phone and tab, then the Phone Link app will form an ecosystem between your devices, and you will be able to access your phone’s app on your PC and cross-device copy-paste.

For Windows 10 users, you don’t have the Intel Unison app, so there’s no point in comparing both apps and choosing the best one. Windows 10 users will have to blindly choose the Phone Link app.

Intel Unison vs. Phone Link comparison (FAQs)