Leica Leitzphone with rotating Leica camera ring and 200 MP telephoto camera is here
Xiaomi today announced the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for international markets at an event in Barcelona, Spain. However, a number of other products were also presented on stage, including the Leica Leitzphone.
This is not one of Sharp’s Leitz smartphones, which are exclusively available in Japan, but essentially the global version of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition (pictured top right), which is exclusively available in China. The most noticeable difference is the battery capacity.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition has a 6,800 mAh battery, while the Leica Leica Phone, just like the global Xiaomi 17 Ultra, is equipped with a 6,000 mAh battery. It is also only available in one configuration with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, and in black.
The Leica Leica phone also has a completely black back, unlike the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition with its two-tone design. The Leica logo and the lettering on the camera module have been rotated 90°, while the Xiaomi logo has been moved to the center.
Leica Leitzphone with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset
The remaining specifications of the Leica Leitzphone are identical to those of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition. It features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, Xiaomi HyperOS 3 and a 6.9-inch 1200p HyperRGB OLED display with Dolby Vision support and a peak brightness of 3500 nits. It is an LTPO display with a refresh rate of 1–120 Hz.
The Leitzphone features four cameras for photography. On the front is a 50 MP selfie camera, while the triple rear camera system consists of a 50 MP 1-inch main camera, a 200 MP telephoto camera (f/2.39–2.96, 75–100 mm focal length), and a 50 MP ultra-wide-angle camera. All rear cameras were developed in collaboration with Leica.
The Leica Leitzphone also features a physical, rotating Leica camera ring on the back of the camera unit for adjusting zoom and exposure. Additionally, the smartphone offers a Leica Essential mode, allowing you to emulate the image quality and photographic style of legendary Leica cameras such as the Leica M3 and M9.
The Leitzphone supports 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging, is IP68 certified, and features an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner integrated into the display for biometric authentication. It also offers Dolby Atmos sound, Hi-Res Audio (wired and wireless), and stereo speakers.
Prices
The Leica Leitzphone is compatible with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit Pro, which offers an additional 2,000 mAh battery capacity. It is available in black and has a recommended retail price of €199.99. The Leitzphone itself costs €1,999 in Europe and £1,699 in the UK.
