I tried the viral magnetic camera lens phone at MWC - it did not disappoint

Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET At Mobile World Congress 2025, Xiaomi showcased a Modular Optical System (MOS) that magnetically attaches a lens to a custom Xiaomi 15. It's like a Moto Mod, but with a full-fledged, working camera lens. I had a brief hands-on session with this concept, and left feeling there might be a future where you can attach your camera lens to your phone -- and where Camera Control is finally useful. Also: Samsung teased me with its Galaxy S25 Edge at MWC - and I was ready to give up my Ultra The working prototype of the custom Xiaomi 15 features two small pins and a Qi2-like magnetic mounting system. When you attach the lens, it locks into the pins to draw power from the phone's battery. The lens is detected by Xiaomi's LaserLink technology, which connects the device to the camera interface so you can use it on the touchscreen. Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET Xiaomi's MOS consists of a 100MP Light Fusion X Micro Four Thirds sensor, which is larger than a flagship camera phone's s ... Read full article.