Xiaomi's Leitzphone Looks Exactly Like a Leica Phone Should

The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi is the latest flagship Android phone from Xiaomi, made this time with a deep collaboration with iconic German camera maker Leica. It's arguably more camera than it is phone, with a large main image sensor, telephoto zoom that employs actual moving elements and a function ring around the camera unit that you can turn to control zoom or other settings. 

It's filled with Leica-specific touches, from the red dot logo and "Leica Germany" etching on the body to the Leica color profiles in the camera -- the same ones you'll find on Leica's actual cameras.

It's the best camera phone I've ever used, though at £1,700 in the UK, it doesn't come cheap. But then nothing with a Leica logo ever does. It won't be officially on sale in the US but that UK price translates to $2,300. 

The Leitzphone seen next to my own Leica Q3 43. There's certainly a family resemblance. Perhaps not siblings. But maybe the sort of cousin you see only at family gatherings and you're not entirely sure how you're related. 

As an Android phone it's a powerhouse, packing the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor which delivered excellent scores on our benchmark tests. 

The phone's main camera uses something called a LOFIC image sensor (which stands for Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor, in case you were curious). It's basically a brand new piece of sensor technology designed to deliver much better dynamic range in a single image. That's helped too by the physically large size of the sensor and the high quality Leica Summilux lens sitting in front of it. 

At 6.9 inches it's a big phone so it's not always super easy to use with one hand. 

The Leitzphone, flanked by other cameras. Really, if you're not into photography this isn't the phone for you.

I find its stark aesthetic very pleasing and the function wheen around the lens is surprisingly fun to just play with. 

It's IP68 rated so don't worry about spilling a bit of beer on it.

The Leitzphone runs Android 16 and comes with a custom interface with very Leica-esque monochrome app icons and wallpapers. I actually don't love it (I struggle to tell which app is which without color cues) but I easily swapped it for a different theme.

If you don't want to go full Leica, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is basically the same phone. It features the same camera hardware and processor but eschews the control ring and some of the Leica software additions and should hopefully come with a slightly lower price.

The Leica Leitzphone (left) and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (right). They're incredibly similar but it's the Leica one that would be in my pocket.

The Leitzphone and the iPhone 17 Pro. Two superb camera phones but it's the Leica one I'd most want to have on a photography day out.

That Leica etching gives it a premium feel while the textured grip to the left helps it feel a little less slippery when you're taking photos.

Its battery life is certainly good, though not quite up there with the absolute best.

£1,700 is a lot of money. But all Leica's are expensive and usually for good reason.

Like the company's cameras, this thing is capable of taking some truly beautiful photos.