3. Leica: From Huawei to Xiaomi
Leica entered the smartphone market in a big way in 2016 through its partnership with Huawei. The Huawei P9 arrived with a dual-camera system with a special monochrome sensor. Leica also worked on optics, image processing and color modes.
The two companies continued to work together on Huawei flagships such as the P20 Pro and P30 Pro. However, the partnership ended in March 2022, making the Huawei P50 series the last phones with Leica branding.
Surprisingly, however, Xiaomi announced a collaboration with Leica not so long after. The two companies announced a long-term imaging partnership in May, and Xiaomi’s CEO said the deal covers everything from optical design to the look and feel of the final images.
The Xiaomi 12S series was the first device under the partnership. It introduced two Leica color profiles: Authentic, which aims for a more natural look, and Vibrant, which produces punchier colors. Xiaomi retained both options on later phones.
The relationship has since moved beyond mood cameras and image processing. Xiaomi now describes the partnership as a strategic co-creation model, with Leica previously involved in the development of the phone.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra gives a good look at the hardware behind the partnership. Its main camera uses a 50MP Light Fusion 1050L sensor with a 1-inch format, LOFIC technology for improved dynamic range, and a 23mm equivalent focal length. The lens has an aperture of f/1.67.
The remaining cameras include a 200MP periscope telephoto with continuous optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm equivalent. Its aperture changes from f/2.39 to f/2.96, and the lens has Leica APO certification. The 50MP ultra-wide camera has a 115-degree field of view and can take macro shots from as close as 5cm.
There is also a Leica Edition 17 Ultra with some extras of its own. It has a red Leica dot and a cropped frame that gives it a camera-like appearance, while a built-in master zoom ring allows users to adjust focal length, white balance and exposure. You also get a Leica Moment mode that recreates the color rendering of the Leica M9.
Xiaomi brought the 17 Ultra to international markets, including Europe and Australia, in early 2026. The phone is not available in the US.
Xiaomi’s newest Leica phones are the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, which were launched in China in September. Both use a 200MP Leica main camera, a 200MP periscope telephoto with 3.2x optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide. Xiaomi has confirmed a global release later in 2026 but has yet to announce a date.