Tecno has just taken a big swing at one of smartphone photography’s most annoying quirks: the harsh jump when switching between lenses while zooming. At its 5th Future Lens event, Tecno introduced two world-first camera systems aimed at fixing that issue without making phones bulkier in the process.
Tecno Freeform Continuum Telephoto enables fluid zoom
Shiftdelete.netThe first concept, called Freeform Continuum Telephoto, provides continuous optical zoom from 1x to 9x. That means no more lens hopping or sudden color shifts between focal lengths. Instead of switching to a separate telephoto camera, the main lens smoothly adjusts focus across the entire range.
Tecno says this approach will lead to more natural framing and fewer processing inconsistencies. Samsung and Largan will take on production once the hardware design is finalized. But don’t expect it right away Tecno says it’s still a year away from debuting in real phones.
The Honor X80 has surfaced with a 10,000 mAh battery, hinting at record-breaking battery life for a mid-range phone launching soon.
Dual Mirror Reflect Telephoto cuts down camera bulk
The second innovation is Dual Mirror Reflect Telephoto, a compact zoom module that slashes the size of traditional telephoto setups in half. It uses two mirrors to bend light through a shorter path, mimicking designs found in DSLR mirror lenses.
This layout still delivers optical zoom but in a body-friendly form factor. The downside? You lose one stop of light, and the bokeh takes on a ring shape. Tecno says it could ship in upcoming phones as early as next year if ongoing tests confirm stability.
Highlights from Tecno’s zoom innovations:
- Freeform zoom from 1x to 9x with no lens switching
- Mirror-based lens cut to half standard size
- One-stop light loss in Dual Mirror Reflect module
- Ring-shaped bokeh effect similar to DSLR mirror lenses
- Production by Samsung and Largan after validation
Tecno also upgrades its AI image pipeline
Zoom hardware wasn’t the only update. Tecno also highlighted improvements to its full imaging stack, now branded Tecno Image Matrix. The new version integrates AI to understand scene context, subject emotion, and composition intent not just light and color.
According to R&D chief Xiaohan Huang, this shift helps the system deliver images that “feel” more intentional, rather than just well-exposed.
