Xiaomi and Realme want to kill your DSLR—And they might succeed!

Smartphone cameras just won’t stop growing, and now they’re taking another big step—literally. At this year’s Mobile World Congress, Xiaomi and Realme unveiled concept phones that blur the line between smartphones and DSLRs. Instead of just cramming in bigger sensors, these phones let you attach real, interchangeable camera lenses. Sounds great, right? Well, maybe.

Realme’s approach is the more traditional one, while Xiaomi is trying something more futuristic. Both promise DSLR-like photography, but also bring a lot of extra bulk. So, the big question is: do we really need our phones to be this camera-focused?

Realme’s Take—A phone with a DSLR lens

Realme’s concept phone takes the straightforward route. It features two normal cameras, plus a third one-inch Sony sensor that only works when paired with an interchangeable lens. Right now, it supports a 73mm portrait lens and a 234mm telephoto lens, both custom-made for this setup.

But strapping a full-sized camera lens to a phone isn’t as cool as it sounds. The weight balance is awkward, forcing you to grip the lens itself instead of the phone. Since the phone is so light, it’s hard to hold steady, and forget about using autofocus—this system is all manual. To make matters worse, the lens mount alone sticks out about an inch, so this phone is never fitting into a pocket.

While Realme is using a standard M-mount, meaning other lenses could technically be attached, the phone’s software is optimised only for its own lenses for the prototype.

Xiaomi’s Magnetic Modular System

Xiaomi has taken a different approach, ditching the bulky lens mount for something sleeker. Its concept is built around a modular magnetic system—similar to MagSafe but for cameras. The lens snaps onto the back of a custom Xiaomi 15 Ultra using a strong magnetic ring, and unlike Realme’s setup, it comes with its own built-in sensor.

The one Xiaomi is showing off is a 35mm lens with an f/1.4 aperture and a 100-megapixel, 4/3-type sensor—larger than any smartphone sensor out there. It also supports autofocus, thanks to a high-speed optical transmission system called LaserLink.

This design solves a lot of Realme’s issues. It’s more balanced, much easier to hold, and doesn’t rely on an awkward mount. But it has its own downside: since no one else makes modular, sensor-equipped lenses like these, users would be stuck with whatever Xiaomi decides to produce.

Is this the future of smartphone cameras?

Neither company allowed hands-on image testing, so it’s unclear just how much better the photos will be. In theory, bigger sensors and proper lenses should result in stunning images. But do people really want to carry extra lenses around when flagship phones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra already offer near-DSLR quality?

For now, these concepts are interesting experiments. But unless they become truly portable and practical, they might just stay as cool ideas that never take off.