The first phone with an external lens is so niche that I had to try it for myself
Is the better long-range zoom worth the added heft? I took loads of photos and videos to find out.
Several Android phone manufacturers have showcased concept phones with external camera lenses over the years. In fact, realme showed off a concept phone with 3x or 10x external lenses at MWC earlier this year. But vivo decided to up the ante with the launch of the X200 Ultra in China last month, and it might be the first commercial phone with an optional (first-party) external lens. Of course, this is a product with extremely niche appeal, and being a bit of a mobile photography nerd, I had to test it out for myself to know if it’s actually any good. Here are my thoughts after spending just under a week with this unique combination of a phone and an accessory.
Setting up vivo’s external lens
The X200 Ultra’s lens is an optional accessory that’s available as part of the company’s photography kit. This kit includes a phone case, a Xiaomi 15 Ultra-style camera grip, a camera ring, and a shoulder strap. The good news is that all versions of the X200 Ultra support the kit, so you aren’t forced to buy it as part of a bundle. You can also theoretically buy the base storage variant and then purchase the photography kit down the line.
