The Rise of External Lenses: Is the iPhone Adopting a Trend from Chinese Smartphones?

It seems that at some point, the evolution of mobile photography began to extend from the inside out. In other words, smartphone manufacturers are no longer content with just improving internal sensors; they're now asking, "What else can we attach to the outside of the phone?"

Just recently, renowned photography accessory manufacturer PGYTech unveiled its RetroVa Photography Kit for the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro. Based on the official images, this kit consists of a dedicated phone case, a photography grip, and a teleconverter lens, designed to significantly enhance the iPhone's telephoto capabilities and handling ergonomics.

 

The Rise of External Lenses: Is the iPhone Adopting a Trend from Chinese Smartphones?

 

This approach might look familiar. It's a strategy that has been championed by Chinese smartphone manufacturers for some time. So, how did this concept suddenly catch on internationally?

Photography Kits: The New Battlefield—Gimmick or Genuinely Useful?

The trend arguably began in earnest with Xiaomi's professional photography kit for the Mi 13 Ultra in 2023. Early versions were more about aesthetics than practical utility. Even after three generations of refinements, the core functionality saw little substantial improvement. The real turning point came last year with the vivo X200 Ultra's photographer kit, which featured a 2.35x teleconverter lens. This accessory pushed the already powerful telephoto capabilities of the phone to an astonishing equivalent focal length of 5406mm. In practical tests, it proved to be a game-changer for capturing distant subjects, such as at concerts, with remarkable detail.

 

The Rise of External Lenses: Is the iPhone Adopting a Trend from Chinese Smartphones?

 

Inspired by this success, or perhaps through a shared vision for the future, other major players like OPPO, Nubia, and Honor soon launched their own photography kits with similar teleconverter lenses. This signals a strategic shift: these kits are not just being marketed as fancy peripherals but as integral components of the mobile photography experience—and perhaps a trial run for the future of imaging. Having used nearly all of these kits, the experience is a mixed bag. On one hand, they undoubtedly enrich shooting scenarios, provide a more camera-like grip, extend battery life, and add ports for professional equipment. On the other hand, they often end up collecting dust because they compromise the primary advantage of smartphone photography: its effortless convenience. The process of attaching the case, mounting the grip, and aligning the lens transforms a spontaneous snapshot into a premeditated activity. For the average user without consistent, heavy-duty shooting needs, the novelty wears off, which explains why these kits frequently appear on second-hand and rental platforms.

 

The Rise of External Lenses: Is the iPhone Adopting a Trend from Chinese Smartphones?

 

External Lenses: A Temporary Fix or a Glimpse into the Future?

So why are external lenses, particularly teleconverters, becoming so popular that third-party manufacturers are now creating them for the iPhone? The reason is simple: they address the most significant remaining gap between smartphones and professional cameras—long-range telephoto. While main and mid-range smartphone cameras have reached a high level of maturity, their ability to capture distant subjects with clarity and detail is still limited. External lenses act as a "power-up," enabling users to get clean shots at concerts, sporting events, or wildlife parks. They solve the problem of not just *whether* you can take a picture, but whether you can capture a usable one in critical moments.

 

The Rise of External Lenses: Is the iPhone Adopting a Trend from Chinese Smartphones?

 

While external lenses may seem like a transitional solution—a compromise until technology allows for powerful internal zooms without making phones impractically thick—their potential is far greater. From an ecosystem perspective, the horizon is wide open. Why stop at teleconverters? We could see a modular system with wide-angle, macro, and various filter lenses, much like what DJI and Insta360 offer. When external lenses, grips, filters, lights, and microphones are seamlessly integrated with a dedicated app, the photography kit evolves from a simple accessory into a complete workflow. This is not just a temporary fix; it's an exploration of an expandable imaging ecosystem that could become a defining feature for flagship phones.

Conclusion: External Imaging is Going Mainstream, But Can't Replace the Core

A clear trend is emerging: the competition in mobile photography is expanding from cramming all capabilities into the phone's body to extending them through an external ecosystem. This isn't a step backward but a logical evolution now that internal hardware is approaching its physical limits. The primary battlefield will always be the phone's internal sensors, lenses, ISP, and algorithms, as these determine the baseline and peak performance. External kits serve to enhance specific scenarios and cater to users who demand more stability, control, and reach.

So, will external lenses become mainstream? The answer is that they are becoming the "second layer" of capability for imaging flagships. Your device remains a phone for everyday use, but with these accessories, it can transform into something much closer to a dedicated camera when needed. As this concept gains market acceptance, it will likely transition from a niche feature to an industry-wide consensus for the next phase of mobile imaging.

Back to blog

Related Posts

  • _{region} ( _{language} )

    • _{area}

    _{region}
    _{language}