Realme Ultra

The smartphone industry has seen significant advancements in camera technology over the years, with companies pushing the limits of computational photography, sensor size, and lens capabilities. However, the latest Realme phone has taken a bold step forward, the Realme Ultra, a revolutionary device that integrates DSLR-like features into a smartphone.

A True DSLR Experience in a Smartphone

At the MWC 2025, Realme unveiled the Ultra concept phone, featuring a proprietary lens mount system that allows users to attach full-sized DSLR lenses directly to the phone. This marks a significant departure from traditional smartphone cameras, which rely on fixed lenses and digital zoom. The Realme Ultra is compatible with Leica’s M-mount lenses, allowing photographers to use professional-grade glass on a mobile device.

This realme phone also introduced two in-house developed lenses: a 73mm f/1.4 portrait lens with 3x optical zoom and a 234mm f/1.5 telephoto lens with 10x optical zoom. These lens options enable users to capture high-quality images across various photography styles, from detailed portraits to distant landscapes.

 

A Game-Changer for Mobile Photography

One of the standout features of the Realme Ultra is its customised Type 1 (one-inch) Sony CMOS sensor. While many flagship smartphones have made strides in increasing sensor size, integrating a one-inch sensor in a smartphone with interchangeable lenses is a first. This larger sensor allows for superior low-light performance, richer color reproduction, and a true shallow depth of field, bringing a DSLR-like bokeh effect without relying solely on software processing.

Beyond the hardware, this Realme phone has also optimised the software to support RAW image capture, manual controls, and enhanced computational photography to bridge the gap between smartphone and professional cameras. The Realme Ultra’s camera app offers a DSLR-style interface, enabling users to easily fine-tune settings such as shutter speed, ISO, and white balance.

Taking Smartphone Cameras Further Than Ever

The Realme Ultra concept phone is a testament to how far mobile photography has come. Integrating a full-fledged interchangeable lens system challenges the traditional notion that smartphones cannot compete with professional cameras. While this Realme mobile is a concept for now, it signals a future where compact optics and sensor constraints no longer limit smartphone photography.

If Realme can bring this concept to market successfully, it may set a new industry standard, inspiring other manufacturers to follow suit. The Realme Ultra proves that the smartphone camera revolution is far from over—it’s just getting started.