Huawei has launched one of the most interesting phone photography accessories we’ve seen in a while. The Ruiying Z10 is a camera module that snaps over the camera bump of the new Mate 90 Pro Max, adding a 1-inch sensor and a 10x optical zoom to the phone.

It was unveiled at Huawei’s Mate 90 launch event in China on 1 October, alongside the new phones. The module uses a 50MP 1-inch RYYB sensor behind a continuous 24-240mm equivalent zoom lens, with a variable aperture of f/2.0 to f/4.5, as reported by Huawei Central.

A compact camera that borrows your phone

A 1-inch sensor is the size used in premium compacts such as Sony’s RX100 series, and continuous optical zoom across 24-240mm is something phones can’t do with their fixed-focal-length camera modules. The Z10 essentially turns the Mate 90 into a travel-zoom compact while keeping the phone’s screen, processing and connectivity.

The lens has 19 elements in 6 groups, including three ultra-low dispersion, five low-dispersion and nine aspherical elements. Huawei has added optical image stabilisation, an autofocus motor, a laser AF sensor, an anti-flicker sensor and a multi-function zoom ring, so it handles more like a camera than a gadget. It fixes in place with Huawei’s HyperClick mount.

It’s an idea we’ve seen before in different forms, from Sony’s QX lens-style cameras to the recent wave of phones with external lens mounts. But Huawei’s version is the most camera-like yet, and it follows Honor’s recent focus on serious phone photography with the Magic9 Pro Max. Phone makers are clearly chasing photographers.

Huawei Ruiying Z10 specifications

Huawei Ruiying Z10 price and availability

The Ruiying Z10 costs 5,999 yuan in China. Huawei hasn’t announced UK availability for the module or the Mate 90 series.