35mm Is the New Flex: Nubia Z70 Ultra And Vivo X200 Ultra Are Shooting For The Stars
The resurgence of 35mm equivalent focal lengths in smartphone cameras is shaping up to be a major trend in 2025, and devices like the Nubia Z70 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra are leading the charge. Here’s why 35mm is becoming the new standard for mobile photography and how these phones prove it.
The resurgence of 35mm equivalent focal lengths in smartphone cameras is shaping up to be a major trend in 2025, and devices like the Nubia Z70 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra are leading the charge.
We are moving toward a new smartphone future
Finally, we are moving toward a new smartphone future. After last year’s Nubia Z60 Ultra made the switch, the recently announced Nubia Z70 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra are breaking away from the 23mm status quo that’s overstayed its welcome.
For the longest time, smartphones have saved their best hardware for the primary 23mm equivalent focal length cameras and this made perfect sense back in 2015, when phones had one camera.
After all, 23mm is very versatile. Wide but not too wide; great for group shots while minimizing distortion; anyone who wishes to zoom can pinch in; and there is no real need for an ultra-wide, as recent smartphones, such as the Razr 50 Ultra, demonstrate by eliminating it in order to save space.
Why 35mm? The Sweet Spot for Mobile Photography
- Natural Perspective – The 35mm focal length (full-frame equivalent) closely matches the human eye’s field of view, making images feel more immersive and natural compared to ultra-wide or standard 24-28mm smartphone lenses.
- Better Composition – It’s wide enough for environmental shots yet tight enough to avoid distortion, making it ideal for street photography, portraits, and everyday scenes.
- Low-Light Advantage – Many 35mm lenses in smartphones (like the Z70 Ultra’s f/1.6 aperture) gather more light than ultra-wide or periscope zooms, improving night shots.
- Cinematic Appeal – 35mm has long been a favorite in filmmaking, and smartphone brands are leveraging this for more cinematic video and photo styles.
With Apple (iPhone 16 Pro rumors), Xiaomi, and OPPO also exploring 35mm variants, this could become the new default focal length for flagship phones. The Nubia Z70 Ultra and Vivo X200 Ultra are just the beginning soon, we might see 35mm overtake 24-28mm as the primary lens in high-end devices.
