Xiaomi 16 Ultra vs Oppo Find X9 Ultra vs Vivo X300 Ultra Comparison

Key Takeaways

1. Clip-on lenses for smartphones are expected to gain popularity in 2026, with growing interest observed at the Mobile World Congress in spring 2025.
2. Vivo’s X200 Ultra is currently the most viable smartphone with clip-on lens capabilities, enhancing zoom quality but adding weight and bulk.
3. The future of interchangeable lenses remains uncertain, as they increase the cost of flagship smartphones.
4. More smartphone models, including the Vivo X300 Ultra, Oppo Find X9 Ultra, and Xiaomi 16 Ultra, are anticipated to offer unique camera solutions in 2026.
5. The Xiaomi 16 Ultra will be available globally for the first time, with potential collaborations with Zeiss or Hasselblad for enhanced camera features.

2026 is expected to be the year when clip-on lenses for smartphones gain traction, based on a recent tease from a leaker on social media (see below). It’s still uncertain how well this enhancement in camera quality will catch on, but early signs of growing interest in add-on options were already noticeable during the Mobile World Congress in spring 2025. At the event, Oppo’s subsidiary Realme presented a related idea for an “ultra flagship,” while Xiaomi made waves with its rather advanced magnetic clip-on camera, although it’s still in the conceptual stage.

Vivo’s Current Offering

The most commercially viable product so far is the Vivo X200 Ultra, which regrettably is only available in China. This smartphone features an additional camera grip with a clip-on lens that transforms the 85mm telephoto lens into a 200mm optical telephoto lens, enhancing the quality of long-distance zoom shots, a feature we’ve already reviewed. Our findings? The improvement in quality is undeniable, but users must be ready to carry around the camera gear and teleconverter, which adds both weight and bulk and demands additional time for setup.

Future Prospects

It’s uncertain if these interchangeable lenses and camera kits will become mainstream, particularly because they also hike up the price of already pricey flagship cameras. Regardless, a broader array of these solutions is expected to emerge in 2026, not just for the Vivo X300 Ultra but also for the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and the Xiaomi 16 Ultra, each likely to take unique routes in the quest for the “best smartphone camera” next year. For the first time, the successor to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be available globally; a leak suggests that the next flagship from Zeiss or Hasselblad might also see a worldwide release.

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