Xiaomi's New External Camera Solution: A Decade in the Making?
Ten years later, Xiaomi has presented a new external camera solution.
The DXO One has already reached the end of its life, and Sony and Samsung have completely abandoned the external camera module concept. Hasselblad also experimented with a magnetic attachment. It's unclear what kind of solution Xiaomi will ultimately unveil.
Based on the lens thickness, and considering that smartphones don't have the same flange distance as interchangeable lens cameras, a reasonable guess is a 1-inch sensor with a large aperture and an equivalent focal length of around 35mm. If it were an M43 sensor, the thickness would be suitable for an ultra-wide-angle lens around 18mm, which seems less likely. If they actually used an M43, the final product's lens would likely be even thicker than the one shown in the demonstration. Alternatively, the final product might use a smaller CMOS sensor (or crop the sensor).
Finally, it's possible that this is just a "show-off" product, and there may be no plans for mass production or it may not be feasible, similar to the interchangeable lens version of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.