As part of a larger interchangeable lens system that would include two lenses inspired by Leica’s M-mount, Realme showed a surprise concept phone called “Ultra” at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. Leica is not involved in this conceptual product, to be clear. Realme told PetaPixel that the M-mount’s size and focal adaptability were the main reasons it was chosen. Furthermore, as the two lenses in this Ultra idea were reportedly created internally at Realme, there is no cooperation or licensing involved.
Close Up
Although this package includes a dual-mount solution of sorts, Realme’s strategy is more in line with conventional camera mounts. Ironically, the Ultra phone sports a circular camera module with an exposed Type 1 sensor, just like Xiaomi and Vivo. Although Realme representatives did not discuss the potential expense of replacing the glass in the event that it sustains fractures or scratches that might obstruct the sensor, it is protected by thick glass, so it isn’t necessarily in risk. Because it won’t have a lens cover, the glass is also made to keep dust out.
The Type 1 sensors for the primary (Sony IMX989) and ultra-wide (IMX890) are adjacent to this customised Type 1 Sony CMOS sensor. Having three one-inch sensors on a single phone is uncommon for any phone. Realme is effectively considering the interchangeable lenses as a larger telephoto, but those two cameras shoot independently and don’t interact with them in any way.
Image Quality
Realme is attempting to illustrate the adage “the proverbial cliff where built-in phone optics tumble over,” particularly when taking photographs in low light, by placing an iPhone 16 Pro Max next to it. To illustrate the differences, representatives shot multiple pictures at 3x (73mm) and 10x (234mm) with a Realme employee masquerading as a model in a high chair.
The telephoto lens on the iPhone is 120mm equivalent at f/2.8, whereas the 73mm lens on the Ultra is substantially broader at the same aperture. For a more accurate comparison, the testers in the booth stuck to f/2.8, even though the lens can stop up to f/1.4. The focal mismatch in the optical focal distance makes this duel feel weird as it’s not exactly apples-to-apples from that standpoint.
Expect Next
Realme has not disclosed the exact date or cost of their upcoming ultra interchangeable lens prototype launch. Given the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which was the industry standard in 2023 the phone’s specifications do not always reflect flagship status. I don’t think the current specifications will remain the same when this system is implemented because internal specifications are always subject to change with any prototype.
Furthermore, it’s unclear if Realme has any intentions to produce additional lenses. Although the phone’s other two cameras do feature Type 1 sensors, if this idea gains support, it might make sense to use separate lenses with different focal lengths. Another option is the Leica M-mount series, though it would be difficult to convince people who aren’t already Leica owners.
