The Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi was developed in partnership with the iconic German camera brand Leica.
At MWC, Xiaomi announced the Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi, a Xiaomi 17 Ultra with a circular hardware dial around the back camera puck and Leica branding. That control dial, which feels like the focus ring on a manual camera lens, can be programmed to perform a number of actions when taking a photo, like changing the exposure.
Professional photographer and CNET editor Anredw Lanxon tested the Leitzphone and said, “The Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone is the best, most exciting camera phone I have ever used. And I’ve used them all, including Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. And while they’re both great phone cameras for most people, Xiaomi and Leica’s latest collaboration has resulted in a handset that’s arguably more camera than it is phone.”
In fact, after taking more than 2,000 photos with the phone, he gave the Leitzphone by Xiaomi a CNET Editors’ Choice award, saying that “its images aren’t just ‘good for a phone;’ they’re downright superb for any camera.”
