At Mobile World Congress, Realme focused on launching its 14 Pro series but also introduced an innovative interchangeable lens concept. This smartphone features a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and a glass-covered camera island with dual lenses and a custom 1-inch Sony sensor. The unique mount allows for Leica M lenses, offering access to a vast range of optics. While Realme showcased 73mm and 230mm equivalent lenses, users must consider crop factors when using their lenses. Although similar concepts have appeared before, this showcases Realme’s commitment to innovation in a stagnant mobile market, despite the device not being available for consumers.
This year at Mobile World Congress, Realme is primarily focused on launching its 14 Pro series in Europe, but they’ve also taken on an intriguing side project.
Introducing the Realme interchangeable lens concept – a smartphone capable of mounting Leica M lenses onto its rear!
Before we delve into lens mounting, let’s examine the phone itself. This device is powered by a two-year-old Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC and has a design that brings to mind the dual-tone Silver Chrome of Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra.
It features a glass-covered camera module housing two cameras – a wide and an ultra-wide option, along with a custom 1-inch Sony sensor that lacks optics.
The camera module’s design incorporates a special mount that accepts a Leica M mount screw-on adapter, facilitating the attachment of Leica M lenses.
With this capability, users gain access to Leica’s extensive range of lens options – the Leica M is currently the oldest active camera mount in use.
Realme showcased two lenses: a 73mm (approximately 3x) and a 230mm (10x) equivalent. However, if you’re using your own lenses, remember to factor in the crop factor, roughly 2.47 for a 1-inch type phone sensor.
This means a traditional 50mm lens (about 2x in relation to a phone’s main sensor) translates to a 123mm, or approximately 5.4x.
Realme isn’t the first to explore this idea. Back in 2022, Xiaomi revealed a similar approach with the 12S Ultra, which also supported Leica M lenses.
Nonetheless, concept phones are typically designed to showcase engineering possibilities – a form of bragging rather than a product intended for mass production and sale to consumers.
As such, this Realme device won’t be available for purchase. However, it’s invigorating to witness such a spirit of innovation re-emerging at Mobile World Congress after a few years dominated by traditional phone designs.
