Huawei patents a phone that may have a real mechanical zoom lens

Many OEMs have at least intimated that their higher-end phone cameras can rival the output of DSLRs in various respects. However, this kind of marketing can come around to bite them again, especially if it turns out photos allegedly taken with the mobile devices in question were in fact from these dedicated cameras instead. Then again, Huawei may be in a better position to make such claims again in the future.

There is evidence of this in a new patent granted to the OEM by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). It shows a phone with a camera hump reminiscent of that of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, containing components that could have come from the new Vivo X50 series. However, in this case, the IP's most outstanding feature may make more sense of the look achieved than usual.

The single, enlarged lens here is depicted as capable of extension and retraction, just like a real DSLR with a stock lens. Therefore, it appears its inventor has supplanted innovations like the periscope lens with this new mechanical contrivance.

Accordingly, this potential future Huawei phone may stand to gain the same kind of acclaim as the Nokia Lumia 1020 on its launch. Then again, the simple existence of the patent is no guarantee it will be committed to production any time soon.