Mobile World Congress 2024 is awash with new products with countless phones, tablets and wearables unveiled in Barcelona. But much to my surprise, my favourite piece of kit is an accessory.
The gadget in question is Xiaomi’s Photography Kit for the Xiaomi 14 Ultra smartphone and is a dream come true for budding photographers and videographers alike.
I’ve been thinking about buying a proper camera, mainly to take photos of my daughter, but maybe I don’t need to now – especially if I can combine it with my phone.
It’s not like we’ve never seen anything like this before but it’s oddly rare considering how many smartphones have incredible camera equipment in your pocket.
The main part of the Photography Kit is a camera grip that attaches to the end of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, effectively turning the phone into a proper camera.
Chris Martin / Foundry
It’s got a two-stage shutter button (which you can long press to wake the camera), a zoom lever and a video recording button that you can customise. It will also, along with a wrist strap, help you avoid dropping the handset while keeping the camera steadier and make full use of its four rear cameras including a 1-inch sensor.
However, there’s a lot more to the kit than this. The USB-C connection to the phone not only sends the signals from the buttons but a 1500mAh battery will help you keep shooting for longer. Plus, you can charge the phone without having to remove the grip.
The camera grip slides onto a case which is a shame, adding weight and covering the nano-tech vegan leather rear cover of the 14 Ultra. It locks into place to stop it coming away.
Xiaomi offers a white model with a leather-effect but the black edition you see photographed here has a ‘woven texture’ that’s made from plastic. It looks and feels quite nice and should be durable too.
We’re not even done as the Photography Kit also comes with a decorative ring that clicks into place around the camera module for a flash of colour. More useful, though, will be the 67mm polarising filter which “can enhance your creations by catering to a wide range of professional needs, achieving richer shooting effects.” according to the firm.
You can buy the Photography Kit now priced at £179 or if you pre-order the Xiaomi 14 Ultra before 18 March, it will be bundled for free along with a Xiaomi Pad 6 and other bits.
Find out what else Xiaomi announced at MWC 2024 and we’ve spent 24 hours with the regular Xiaomi 14.