Key Takeaways
1. Realme has launched a new Interchangeable-Lens Concept smartphone featuring advanced AI imaging technologies at MWC 2025.
2. The smartphone’s modular design includes a custom Sony 1″ sensor and supports multiple high-quality lenses, such as a 73mm portrait lens and a 234mm telephoto lens.
3. This interchangeable-lens system allows users to capture unique zoomed photos and achieve DSLR-like background blur in portrait photography.
4. Xiaomi had previously explored a similar concept with its 12S Ultra, which integrated the lens mount with the sensor and used a MagSafe-like attachment for easy connectivity.
5. Both Realme and Xiaomi aim to combine advanced camera features with AI-driven image processing, enhancing smartphone photography capabilities.
Realme has introduced its new Interchangeable-Lens Concept smartphone during MWC 2025. This device, which was hinted at a few days prior, was presented alongside the company’s cutting-edge AI imaging technologies.
Innovative Modular Design
Chinese smartphone manufacturers have been focusing on incorporating advanced (often larger) camera technology into their Ultra models, unlike Apple and Samsung. However, this approach has led to a significant increase in the size of camera modules. This protrusion is often cited as a reason why Samsung hasn’t moved to bigger sensors yet, but it hasn’t stopped Realme and Xiaomi from exploring new ideas.
Realme’s prototype features an extra custom Sony 1″ sensor without a lens attached. During the showcase, it was displayed with two distinct lenses: a 73mm portrait lens and a 234mm telephoto lens. For comparison, the telephoto lens on the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a focal length of around 230mm. The standout feature of this prototype is its high-quality lenses.
Capturing Unique Shots
The interchangeable-lens system enables users to take zoomed pictures with a 1″ sensor, which is quite rare for smartphones. Moreover, it allows for portrait photography that offers a DSLR-like natural background blur.
However, Xiaomi also tried this concept with its 12S Ultra concept phone back in 2022. They showed off an even more ambitious and functional idea, where the lens mount includes the sensor, attaches like a MagSafe accessory, uses power from the phone, and transmits recorded data without needing any wired connection. You can find out more about Xiaomi’s latest project here.
We are looking forward to seeing these two concepts become real products as they not only feature attributes of a dedicated camera but also mix that with AI-driven image processing, which even some dedicated cameras cannot provide.
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