At MWC 2025, Realme introduced a groundbreaking idea called Realme Ultra, described as a “revolutionary interchangeable lens concept”.
Realme Ultra is a high-end smartphone, featuring a large round main camera block that allows users to use a detachable professional lens.
At the event, Realme demonstrated this concept smartphone with two interchangeable lenses: a 73mm portrait lens and a 234mm telephoto lens, capable of 10x zoom. According to Realme representatives, this optical system provides outstanding image clarity, something that has never been seen before on mobile devices, and allows 10x zoom without losing image quality.
While the Realme Ultra is still just a concept and has not yet been put into production, the company claims that it represents a desire to expand the possibilities of mobile photography. Developers continue to look for solutions to challenges in the industry, including sensor size and issues related to digital zoom when using modular optics.
Realme Ultra's camera is equipped with multiple sensors, including a 1-inch CMOS sensor for interchangeable lenses, along with a Sony IMX989 sensor and a Sony IMX890 ultra-wide-angle sensor. Of which, the 1-inch sensor stands out for its high performance.
To use the interchangeable lens, users need to attach a special adapter to the phone, then connect it to the desired lens. The camera interface provides shortcuts to quickly switch between shooting modes. However, the manual focus lens with aperture ring can make it difficult to take clear photos without a tripod. The reason is that the lens is heavier than the phone, forcing users to need a tripod and additional accessories, similar to the professional solutions of Xiaomi Ultra.
Once the subject is in focus, the camera will beep to indicate that it is ready to shoot. Shutter lag is minimal but still present, and it will take some getting used to to get consistently good shots.
Realme Ultra is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, showing that this idea has been in development for a long time. Realme is now planning to bring the product to the market, however, the release date has not been announced yet.
