Xiaomi 16 Ultra vs. Oppo Find X9 Ultra vs. Vivo X300 Ultra: Battle of the Leica-Hasselblad-Zeiss clip-on lenses looms

2026 will be the year of clip-on lenses on smartphones, at least according to a recent hint from a leaker on social media (see below). It remains to be seen just how popular this potential improvement in camera quality will ultimately be, but initial indications of the increasing popularity of add-on solutions were already apparent at the Mobile World Congress in spring 2025. Not only did Oppo subsidiary Realme showcase a corresponding concept for an "ultra flagship" there, but Xiaomi also caused a stir with its rather sophisticated magnetic clip-on camera, albeit only as a concept for the time being.

The most commercial approach to date has been from Vivo and its Vivo X200 Ultra, which is unfortunately only officially available in China. Thanks to an additional camera grip with a clip-on lens that converts the equivalent 85mm telephoto lens into a 200mm optical telephoto lens, you can increase the quality of your zoom shots at long distances, which we have already reviewed. Our conclusion: The jump in quality is clearly noticeable, but users have to be prepared to lug the camera kit and the teleconverter around, which not only adds weight and space, but also requires extra time to assemble.

It is thus questionable whether these interchangeable lenses and camera kits will become a mass phenomenon, especially since they also increase the purchase price of the already expensive flagship camera. In any case, there should be a wider range of such solutions available in 2026, not only for the Vivo X300 Ultra but also for the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and the Xiaomi 16 Ultra, all three of which are likely to take very different approaches to the topic of "best smartphone camera" next year. For the first time, not only the successor to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be available for purchase globally; according to a leak, the next Zeiss or Hasselblad flagship also may get a global launch.