Execs
- Beautiful picture high quality
- Plethora of Leica shade results
- Bodily ring to regulate digital camera settings
- Highly effective processor efficiency
Cons
- Very excessive worth
- Battery life might be higher
- Not bought within the US
The Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone is the very best, most fun digital camera telephone I’ve ever used. And I’ve used all of them, together with Apple’s iPhone 17 Professional and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. And whereas they’re each nice telephone cameras for most individuals, Xiaomi and Leica’s newest collaboration has resulted in a handset that is arguably extra digital camera than it’s telephone.
The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi — to make use of its full official title — is Xiaomi’s newest flagship Android telephone, developed in partnership with the long-lasting German digital camera model Leica. You should purchase the usual Xiaomi 17 Ultra in a extra typical type, with minimal Leica branding. Nevertheless it’s the Leitzphone model that has the photographer in me buzzing like a hive of bees that simply heard honey costs are set to soar.
The Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi is notable for prioritizing the images expertise above almost every little thing else.
However why? Nicely, it bears the Leica crimson dot brand, has Leica etching on the edges, a bunch of Leica filmic shade types to shoot with and it has a perform {hardware} wheel on the again of the telephone that really turns to regulate digital camera settings. It’s going to even be bought in Leica’s personal bodily shops right here within the UK.
Combine in its supercharged processor and the fantastic show and this telephone turns into an all-round powerhouse that is well-deserving of its flagship title. I’ve taken 1000’s of images whereas testing with the Leitzphone, and I’m shocked by the outcomes I’ve achieved. Its photos aren’t simply “good for a telephone;” they’re downright very good for any digital camera, which is why it was a simple choice to award the telephone a coveted CNET Editors’ Selection award.
It prices £1,700 within the UK, which converts to roughly $2,300 (although it will not be formally bought within the US), so it does not come low-cost, however nothing with a Leica brand does. Nevertheless, in case you’re on the lookout for the final word imaging expertise in a telephone, listen. Let’s dive in deeper and try a very powerful half: the digital camera.
Xiaomi’s Leitzphone Seems Precisely Like a Leica Phone Ought to
See all images
Xiaomi Leitzphone: Camera high quality
This telephone is all in regards to the digital camera, so in case you’re merely not that bothered about images, then try our different favourite Android telephones. Possibly take a peek at our early protection of Samsung’s new Galaxy S26 vary. These of you continue to right here and lusting after wonderful images on the go: strap in, you are in for a deal with.
The telephone’s primary digital camera makes use of one thing known as a LOFIC picture sensor, which stands for Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (in case you have been curious). It is principally a brand-new sensor expertise designed to ship a lot better dynamic vary in a single picture. That is helped, too, by the sensor’s giant dimension and the high-quality Leica Summilux lens sitting in entrance of it.
The Photographs I’ve Taken on Xiaomi’s Leica Phone Are A few of My Finest Ever
See all images
The telephone’s telephoto zoom lens has shifting lens parts, permitting it to attain a steady zoom from 75- to 100-millimeter focal lengths, moderately than counting on digital cropping. And to regulate all of it, there is a huge lens ring on the again that really turns to regulate the zoom, or as I’ve set mine to, the publicity compensation.
Nevertheless it’s not simply the {hardware} that is spectacular right here; the Leitzphone has the very same shade profiles that you’re going to discover on Leica’s precise cameras and movie. All of it makes this handset the best-equipped digital camera telephone, forward of any of its rivals. And it is why I’ve shot someplace simply north of two,000 images on it up to now throughout my testing.
Enlarge Picture
Taken with the primary digital camera within the Leica Chrome shade profile, I like how this pigeon has been frozen in motion, with pleasing distinction all through the picture.
Enlarge Picture
Utilizing the 8x hybrid zoom I used to be capable of fill the body with these seagulls.
Enlarge Picture
The Chrome shade profile resulted in lovely tones on this picture. I like having the ability to shortly snap away at low angles utilizing a telephone.
Enlarge Picture
These small pops of shade from the climbing maintain actually distinction effectively in opposition to the grey wall.
Photographs are full of element and wonderful colours, particularly when utilizing the Leica Chrome shade profile. I like how wealthy the images are, with deep, pure shadows which might be more and more uncommon nowadays in photos from different telephones. A few of Xiaomi’s rivals go manner overboard with picture processing, trying to lighten shadows a lot that it kills a lot of the picture’s drama. However that is not the case right here: The Leitzphone can take photos that critical photographers will genuinely love.
However you will should put in some work, too. I am going to usually shoot in Professional mode, twisting the management ring to manually underexpose the picture to emphasise the shadows and create temper in my photos. Or I am going to shoot in high-contrast black-and-white mode for a punchy look that is good for high-impact avenue images. I really love dabbling in avenue images, and a number of my private work on “common” cameras is in an analogous high-contrast black-and-white fashion, so it has been nice enjoyable utilizing the telephone in a lot the identical manner.
Enlarge Picture
Shot in high-contrast black-and-white mode, I used the roof to border the hen, exposing for the intense sky to forged the topic into deep shadow and create a dramatic silhouette.
Enlarge Picture
I like black-and-white avenue images, and utilizing a telephone is a good way of capturing candid moments with out being seen.
Enlarge Picture
Not like lots of its rivals, the Leitzphone does not attempt to artificially raise shadows. Because of this, photos like this keep the depth and drama that I wished to seize once I took the photograph.
What shocked me about this telephone is how related my workflow has been to my common taking pictures fashion with my very own Leica Q3 43. I virtually at all times shoot utilizing the Chrome profile on my Q3 43, as I like the tones it delivers, and I am going to usually underexpose a shot to attain the identical wealthy shadows. The Leitzphone works precisely the identical manner, and I have been actually happy with how intently these colours match between the telephone and the digital camera.
There’s additionally a mode that mimics a roll of Leica’s Monopan 50 black-and-white movie. I’ve shot a number of rolls of that on each Pentax and Leica movie cameras and the outcomes are fairly much like what the telephone achieves, with comparable distinction and movie grain. When you love taking pictures monochrome photos, you will love taking this factor out and about.
The digital camera’s publicity and colours stay wonderful at evening, too, particularly when utilizing the Chrome fashion, which I truthfully really feel ought to simply be the default; it seems so good. Particulars do get fairly mushy at evening, however until you are actually pixel peeping, it is unlikely to be a lot of an issue.
Enlarge Picture
Tonight-time scene overlooking London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral is pin-sharp with an ideal publicity.
Enlarge Picture
Zooming in utilizing the telephoto lens, this evening shot of a pub entrance has lovely tones. I used the Chrome shade profile, which helps add a deeper tone to the orange within the home windows.
Is the digital camera high quality nearly as good as my precise Leica digital camera? No, in fact not — my Q3’s lens and full-frame picture sensor positively produce higher, extra natural-looking photos. Nevertheless it’s knowledgeable digital camera that prices me 1000’s of kilos greater than the telephone prices, so I would be fairly mad if my actual Leica could not maintain its personal in opposition to even the very best telephone.
Enlarge Picture
Taken utilizing the 200-megapixel mode (though resized right here for simpler viewing on-line), this picture seems tremendous when seen in its entirety.
Enlarge Picture
However zoom in to 100% and it is clear that whereas there’s a number of decision, there’s not really any extra element. What we now have as a substitute is a form of watercolor impact the place the picture processing is making an attempt to easy out and sharpen particulars that it hasn’t captured.
There’s evidently loads of software program processing nonetheless happening behind the scenes on the Leitzphone, with some photographs exhibiting an excessive amount of noise discount and digital sharpening for my style. There is a 200 megapixel mode that creates an infinite picture however the tremendous particulars usually turn out to be a bizarre form of watercolor portray, so I do not actually see the purpose in including additional decision when it is not really including any additional element.
So it is not good as such, however it’s nonetheless most likely the very best digital camera telephone I’ve ever used and positively the one I would most need in my pocket on a images outing.
Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone: Processor, software program and battery life
Fortunately, the remainder of the telephone is fairly good, too. It runs Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which delivers swift navigation and tons of energy for taking part in demanding video games like Genshin Impression. It carried out effectively on our processor benchmark checks, placing it up there with different Gen 5-equipped telephones just like the OnePlus 15 or Honor Magic 8 Professional.
Leica Leitzphone efficiency comparability
Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi 3,609 10,784iPhone 17 Professional Max 3,907 10,023OnePlus 15 3,670 11,061
- Geekbench 6 (single core)
- Geekbench 6 (multi-core)
The 6.9-inch OLED show is shiny and vibrant and the telephone’s IP68 score means you possibly can take it out within the rain with none fear about water injury.
The Leitzphone (left) has a customized interface with monochrome tiles. You’ll be able to change theme if you would like, or you should buy the usual Xiaomi 17 Ultra (proper), which does not have it in any respect.
The Leitzphone runs Android 16 and comes with a customized interface with Leica-esque monochrome app icons and wallpapers. I really do not find it irresistible as a result of I wrestle to inform which app is which with out shade cues. However I simply swapped it for a unique theme. Whereas Xiaomi gives a number of AI instruments and options, together with a translation software, its AI is generally simply the same old Google add-ons like Gemini Superior and Circle to Search. I am extraordinarily grateful that Xiaomi has targeted on delivering a tremendous expertise throughout the telephone, with out counting on AI gimmicks. Samsung may take word.
The Leitzphone has a 6,000-mAh battery, which is respectable, however not fairly up there with the very best. It dropped from full to 85% remaining after our three-hour video streaming check, which is a strong effort, although it did not fairly beat the 90% or extra achieved by the OnePlus 15 or iPhone 17 Professional Max. Nonetheless, you will not wrestle to get a full day of blended use from it.
I discovered I may rinse the poor factor from full to round 60% remaining with half a day of fixed images use, so in case you’re heading out for a day of images in your trip it is price carrying a battery pack to assist maintain some energy for the night. Or maintain a quick charger in your bag — it helps wired charging as much as 90W-speeds with a suitable charger, so even a brief increase might be sufficient to present a number of hours of use again. When you’re utilizing it as a extra common telephone, with some images once in a while then you possibly can comfortably get by a full day — with lighter use I’ve had as a lot as half the battery remaining on the finish of a day.
The Leica Leitzphone subsequent to my Leica Q3 43. They seem to be a good match.
Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone: Do you have to purchase it?
The primary purpose to spend huge on this telephone is its stellar digital camera setup. So in case you’re not that into images, then that is simply one to skip. Or a minimum of you may need to have a look at the common Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which strips out a number of the Leica-branded stuff and the settings wheel however retains a lot of the opposite {hardware}, together with the LOFIC sensor and telephoto zoom. It ought to include a lower cost tag consequently. Camera stuff apart, the Leitzphone and the 17 Ultra are on par with another Android flagship you will discover proper now.
However for these of you who actually take your images significantly and need the final word digital camera telephone, full with that iconic crimson dot, the Leitzphone is completely price contemplating. No Leica comes low-cost, and this one is not any exception, however that prime worth comes with the reassurance that you’re going to at all times have a digital camera with you able to capturing the pictures you really need to take.
How we check telephones
Each telephone CNET’s opinions staff checks is utilized in the true world. We check a telephone’s options, play video games and take images. We study the show to see if it is shiny, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP score for water resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes utilizing standardized benchmark instruments resembling GeekBench and 3DMark, together with our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and enjoying graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.
All of the cameras are examined in a wide range of circumstances, from shiny daylight to darkish indoor enviornments. We check out particular options resembling evening mode and portrait mode, and examine our findings in opposition to equally priced competing telephones. We additionally try the battery life through the use of it every day, in addition to working a sequence of battery drain checks.
We take note of extra options together with assist for 5G, satellite tv for pc connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus assist, quick charging speeds and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. We stability all of this in opposition to the value to provide the verdict on whether or not the telephone, no matter worth it’s, really represents good worth. Whereas these checks could not at all times be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary assessment, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.
Source link
#Xiaomi #Ultra #Leica #Leitzphone #Evaluate #Dream #Camera #Phone
