How does a phone with a crazy external lens compare to the S23 Ultra’s zoom camera?

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Credit: Hadlee Simons / Android AuthorityThe vivo X200 Ultra is a great camera phone in its own right (if you’re willing to import it), in no small part due to its impressive 200MP 3.7x periscope camera. However, the company switches things up by offering an optional external lens for even better zoom.The X200 Ultra’s 2.35x telephoto converter lens effectively turns the phone’s 200MP periscope camera into an ~8.6x shooter. I thought it would be a good idea to compare this lens to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which was the last of Samsung’s flagships with a dedicated 10x camera (10MP). I wasn’t expecting the S23 Ultra to hold up very well, but here’s how it went.