The key points of this article suggest Realme and Xiaomi are working on or considering the possibility of an interchangeable lens-based concept smartphone, and one of these latest smartphones was showcased at the MWC conference in 2025.
- Now, the Realme concept phone users, and the best part is you can use the Leica M mount lenses over that smartphone, but the drawback is the mount doesn’t have any electrical contact tools, so you have to use manual focus lenses.
- Xiaomi has two concept smartphones. The first one was showcased back in 2022, the 12S Ultra, which had a 1-inch sensor. Now, the second smartphone has been showcased in 2025, which uses a modular optical system with a 100-megapixel Micro Four Thirds format sensor in the Xiaomi 15 Pro model.
- Smartphone makers are now getting more and more serious about photography, content creation, and videography. In the past decade, we have seen or witnessed smartphone makers already competing with compact cameras.
Impact on Traditional Camera Makers
The key thing is that we have to understand, and it’s even more important for camera makers like Sony, Canon, and Nikon. Smartphones are getting smarter day by day, and now they are moving into interchangeable lens design. Once this happens commercially, the camera makers will take a very big hit in the mirrorless camera market share, which was safe until now.
Realme’s Concept Smartphone at MWC 2025
Now, first, let’s talk about the Realme concept smartphone.
The Realme concept phone was showcased at MWC 2025, which was held in Barcelona. This particular concept features the latest 1-inch sensor, and you can use Leica M mount lenses, like a 73mm portrait lens, to capture cinematic portrait images. You can also attach a 34mm telephoto lens to get 10x optical zoom with the highest possible quality. But the downside is that since it’s Realme’s first smartphone with an interchangeable lens design and they are not into concept phones like Xiaomi, the problem here is their first prototype does not have any electrical contacts between the lens and the smartphone camera system.
Although the Realme concept smartphone design is great and can be loved by professional photographers, those who are heavily into using manual focus lenses, even if it gets produced for consumers, it will have a very limited market space.
However, we must understand one thing: smartphone makers are constantly exploring new concepts and designs to expand their share in the camera market. They are specifically targeting the elite consumer base—those willing to invest a significant amount in high-end camera gear. This very consumer segment also forms the backbone of the mirrorless camera industry.
Xiaomi’s More Advanced Concept Camera
Now, let’s talk about an even more interesting camera concept by Xiaomi, which has been showcased at MWC 2025. But even before that, let me tell you, Xiaomi is not new to making concept camera-based smartphones. Their first concept smartphone was the 12S Ultra, which used a 1-inch sensor with a Leica M mount. Now, you can relate this to the similarities with the Realme concept smartphone, which has been showcased at MWC 2025, exhibiting similar properties that Xiaomi had already shown back in 2022.
Xiaomi’s Groundbreaking Smart Lens Model
But wait, there is more from Xiaomi, and this really surprised us this time.
At MWC 2025, a new concept lens model with its own integrated sensor and physical contact has been showcased.
Now, this particular custom design combines the Xiaomi 15 smartphone with detachable lens modules. This lens module uses a 35mm f/1.4 lens and a 100-megapixel custom-made Micro Four Thirds format sensor, which produces very natural bokeh while shooting video or capturing images. The tonal quality of skin tones and other subjects being captured is directly coming from Leica Lab, as it is co-engineered with Leica Camera Division, Germany.
Xiaomi’s New Laser Link Technology
Xiaomi has also shown us the Laser Link technology for quick data transfer up to 10 Gbps between the lens and the camera module. This enables lag-free data transfer between the lens and the camera body. Now, this prototype just shows how serious smartphone makers are about more professional photography and video capture equipment, enhancing the overall experience of cinematography and photography in smartphones.
Comparing Concept Smartphones by Xiaomi and Realme
Below, we have shown three different tables comparing the basic differences between the three concept smartphones showcased by Xiaomi and Realme from 2022 to 2025.
| Feature | Realme Interchangeable Lens Concept | Xiaomi 12S Ultra Concept (2022) | Xiaomi Modular Optical System (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Sensor | 1-inch Sony CMOS, fixed in the phone | 1-inch 50MP Sony IMX989, fixed in phone | The phone has its cameras, module has a 100MP Type 4/3 sensor |
| Lens Attachment | Leica M mount, attached to phone sensor | Leica M mount, attached to phone sensor | Magnetically attaches, a separate module with lens and sensor |
| Additional Cameras | Main and ultrawide, fixed | In-built 48MP ultra-wide, fixed | The phone’s built-in cameras are disabled when the module attached |
| Demonstrated Lenses | 73mm portrait, 234mm telephoto | Compatible with Leica M-series lenses | 35mm f/1.4 lens in module |
| Data Transfer | N/A (uses phone’s processing) | N/A (uses phone’s processing) | LaserLink up to 10 Gbps, pogo pins for power |
| Status | Prototype, MWC 2025 | Prototype, not mass-produced, 2022 | Prototype, MWC 2025, no release schedule |
Impact of These Concept Cameras on the Market
The emergence of Realme and Xiaomi’s concept camera smartphones over the past few years has raised a major question: What will happen if one of these prototypes they are working on enters mass production? Recently, we have seen Realme may not be an immediate candidate for mass production, but a smartphone with a camera or lens module featuring its own Micro Four Thirds format sensor of 100 megapixels is highly production-ready.
Xiaomi’s 100MP Smart Lens Could Kill Mirrorless Cameras
And the worst part is that we have seen the image and video quality of Xiaomi’s latest smart lens modules with a 100MP M4/3 format sensor, and the results are exceptional—far better than any existing smartphone we have seen till now. The background blur and the bokeh are so clear and natural that they rival those generated from large sensors and 35mm f/1.4 lenses. This could literally kill mirrorless cameras out there.
The Future of Photography and Videography in Smartphones
Now, the best part for photographers and content creators is that photography and videography are evolving at a very fast pace. Surprisingly, none of the camera makers are involved in this. Smartphone makers like Realme and Xiaomi are working on concept cameras, and I really like the output of the recent Xiaomi 15 smartphone with a 100MP Micro Four Thirds format sensor. It is highly acceptable for professional photographers, and I would love to see more smart lenses featuring the same sensor in upcoming releases if they plan to do so in the near future.
source Mrwhosetheboss
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