The CMF Phone 3 concept introduces a side-mounted accessory point that looks like a strap or handle attachment, signaling an interesting direction: expanding modularity beyond the back plate and into the frame itself.
The new camera features, on the other hand, are neither of those things. They're something worse. Something scarier. On this episode of The Vergecast, Nilay and David discuss the new phones, then dive into the ways in which the S26's AI camera features seem to be clearly designed to change the whole idea of what happens when you try to take a picture.
In recent years, smartphone photography has become increasingly dominated by software. Computational imaging, AI processing, and post-capture optimisation now play a central role in how images are produced. Yet as these techniques become more widespread, camera hardware is once again emerging as a key differentiator. The REDMI Note 15 Pro 5G Series reflects this shift clearly, placing renewed emphasis on sensor capability and optical fundamentals rather than relying solely on software to define image quality.
Samsung's Galaxy S20 Ultra wasn't the first phone to feature a periscopic telephoto lens - both Huawei and Oppo beat the Korean company to it - but it was the first in the US to make such a big deal about it. Almost all of Samsung's marketing for the S20 Ultra centered on its so-called Space Zoom, its 5x optical folded periscope lens, capable of digitally zooming much further.
The Xiaomi 18 series is expected to debut later this year and will likely comprise a standard model alongside the Xiaomi 18 Pro. While details about the lineup remain scarce, a new leak suggests that the devices could feature a dual 200MP camera setup. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, an upcoming compact flagship with a 6.3-inch display is tipped to feature dual 200MP rear cameras.
The teaser is all about "vibrant night even in low light", and while Samsung doesn't explicitly mention which device it's talking about, we assume it's the Galaxy S26 Ultra, since that one will have the best cameras of the trio. Of course, Samsung's competitors from China may rightly point out that you need big sensors for nighttime photography, since they can take in more light,
Oppo's upcoming compact smartphone, the Find X9s, is shaping up to be a camera-centric device. In December last year, the handset was tipped to feature dual 200MP cameras, and the same tipster has now reaffirmed the claim. According to Digital Chat Station, the Oppo Find X9s will indeed offer dual 200MP cameras, a first in a compact smartphone. The phone will feature a 200MP primary and a 200MP periscope telephoto unit.
Virtual Aperture already works on the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra via the Expert RAW app, but only for the main camera. Having it available for the telephoto as well would obviously improve its usability.
