The Phone Accessory That Could Actually Replace Your Camera This Year

Sunday, 08 February 2026 at 13:04

Remember that wild detachable camera lens Xiaomi showed off at MWC 2025? Turns out it wasn't just vaporware. Blogger Digital Chat Station dropped a claim recently: "the magnetic lens has started mass production and could be seen as early as this year (TBD)." The post didn't name manufacturers specifically, but the smart money's on Xiaomi's modular optical system they teased during the Xiaomi 15 launch event.

Lei Jun himself demonstrated the setup back then. Company called it an "internal pre-research project," which usually means "cool idea we might never ship." But both smartphone makers and camera companies paid attention. Enough attention, apparently, to move it toward actual production.

Key Points

Xiaomi's magnetic detachable camera lens reportedly entering mass production for potential 2026 launch
System uses Micro Four Thirds sensor capable of 100MP resolution with f/1.4 aperture and 35mm focal length
Laser data transmission at 10Gbps enables lossless RAW file transfer between lens and phone
No separate battery or wiring required—lens attaches magnetically to compatible Xiaomi flagship phones
AISP computational photography stack promises UltraRAW capture and 16-stop dynamic range

What Makes It Different

This isn't some cheap clip-on lens accessory. Xiaomi built the thing around a custom Micro Four Thirds sensor—the same format actual photographers use in cameras from Panasonic and Olympus. It's designed to capture full 100-megapixel images through an aspherical lens group.

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The f/1.4 aperture is genuinely impressive for something attaching to a phone. That wide opening means solid low-light performance and natural background blur without relying entirely on software trickery.

Focal length sits at 35mm equivalent, which photographers love for portraits and street photography. It's close to how human eyes perceive scenes, giving more natural perspective than ultrawide or telephoto lenses.

The Technology Behind It

Here's where things get interesting: laser data transmission at speeds hitting 10Gbps. That's fast enough to move lossless RAW files between the lens and phone without compression or quality loss.

The lens taps into Xiaomi's AISP computational photography stack, which runs on device using what they call a "large model." Marketing speak aside, that supposedly enables UltraRAW capture and dynamic range stretching to 16 stops.

No wiring needed. No pairing process. No separate battery to charge. Just magnetic attachment and you're shooting. Small enough to toss in a pocket without feeling like you're carrying a DSLR.

Reality Check Time

If Xiaomi actually delivers everything they're promising, this could legitimately compete with dedicated Micro Four Thirds cameras. Big "if" there. Companies show concepts all the time that either never ship or arrive severely compromised.

The "could be seen as early as this year" phrasing from Digital Chat Station leaves plenty of wiggle room. Could mean next month. Could mean December. Could mean 2027 after "unforeseen delays."

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Still, moving into mass production suggests Xiaomi's serious about shipping something. Whether it matches the hype or becomes another half-baked smartphone gimmick remains the real question.

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