Leica has just announced its first international smartphone — the Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi — and it is unlike anything we’ve seen from the German photography brand before.
Positioned as a “revolutionary imaging tool”, the Leica Leitzphone is crafted by Leica and powered by Xiaomi, bringing together Leica’s design philosophy and imaging science with Xiaomi’s mobile processing platform. The result is a smartphone that doesn’t merely carry Leica branding, but one that feels deeply Leica in intent and execution.
Many might see this as a Xiaomi 17 Ultra with a Leica badge. But from the looks of it, the Leitzphone follows Leica’s long-standing principle of reduction to the essential. The Android smartphone’s rear panel is finished in black fibreglass, paired with a precisely knurled metal frame. The iconic red dot sits proudly at one corner not as decoration, but as a declaration of authorship, according to Leica.
The standout feature is the mechanical camera ring. This tactile ring allows users to physically interact with the device much like operating a traditional camera lens. It can be customised for continuous zoom control, exposure value adjustment, ISO, shutter speed, switching of focal lengths and cycling through Leica Looks.
At the heart of the Leitzphone is an advanced triple-camera system on its rear, built to Leica optical standards. It is based on the Vario-APO-Summilux 14–100mm f/1.67–2.9 ASPH lens configuration for versatility across wide to telephoto focal lengths with optical precision.
The main camera is 50-megapixel (MP) 23mm wide-angle camera with a large 1-inch sensor using Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (LOFIC) technology, which is said to expand dynamic range by storing excess charge at the pixel level. In other words, it should translate into better highlight retention and more tonal depth, especially in high-contrast scenes. An ultra-wide-angle 50MP 14mm camera and a 200MP 75-100mm periscope telephoto camera completes the 14mm to 100mm focal range of the Leitzphone.
Apart from optics, Leica also developed the system design and camera user interface including the home screen, camera app and widgets. The camera app integrated 13 Leica Looks and five Leica bokeh simulations. Furthermore, there is a Leica Essential Mode, which digitally reinterprets Leica aesthetics such as Leica M9 profile and a Leica Monopan film monochrome profile.
Not to mention, the Leitzphone supports the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) and includes a dedicated security chip that adds cryptographically secured metadata to original images. This aligns with C2PA standards, providing proof of origin and copyright protection. This is of paramount importance in this age of artificial intelligence that blurs the line between real and fake photos.
The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi is priced at S$2,299 and will be available for pre-order from 1 to 6 March 2026 via the official Leica website, Leica Stores, and select partners.
Customers who pre-order will receive a complimentary Leica photography kit (valued at S$199), a S$100 Leica Store credit, two-year international warranty, six-months screen protection, one-time replace or exchange within warranty period and dedicated VIP Concierge support. There is even a complimentary mobile photography workshop by Leica Akademie instructors. Following the pre-order, the official sale period will be between 7 and 22 March 2026 only. So, you should really grab it while stocks last.