Xiaomi 12 Ultra To Launch In July 2022, Leica Camera Partnership Goes Official

Last Updated on May 23, 2022 by Anu Joy

Xiaomi has confirmed today that it is creating a strategic relationship with Leica, following multiple rumours. The first imaging flagship smartphone developed by the two companies will be introduced in July as part of this collaboration.

Leica is a well-known camera lens manufacturer with a long history. This isn’t the first time Leica has collaborated with a phone maker. They were formerly associated with Huawei, a Chinese smartphone maker, for over four years, during which both brands produced some outstanding camera-centric smartphones.

The long-rumored Xiaomi 12 Ultra could be the first smartphone to emerge from this relationship. Do note that neither Xiaomi nor Leica have officially shared any information on the subject. The Xiaomi 12 Ultra is rumoured to have a camera configuration similar to that of the Xiaomi 11 Ultra, but with a new Sony primary sensor. We may see Leica assisting Xiaomi in the development of custom camera lenses, filters, colour science, sensor tuning, and other areas.

Speaking on the announcement, Lei Jun, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi Group, said, “Xiaomi focuses on creating the ultimate user experience, and has always hoped to explore the capabilities of smartphone photography to the extreme. Xiaomi and Leica agree with each other’s pursuits and ideas and appreciate each other’s advantages and industry. This cooperation will provide a strong boost to Xiaomi’s imaging strategy. During the cooperation, from optical design to tuning aesthetic orientations, the innovative technologies, product philosophies and imaging preferences of both parties have experienced unprecedented in-depth collision and fusion.”

Matthias Harsch, CEO of Leica Camera AG, said, “It is an honor to announce the long-term strategic cooperation with Xiaomi today. Leica and Xiaomi are both global premium brands and during this unprecedented deep cooperation process, both parties have successively worked on the goal of providing customers a new era of mobile photography. We are convinced that the first jointly developed imaging flagship smartphone makes the pioneering progress of both companies visible. We will provide consumers in the field of mobile photography exceptional image quality, classic Leica aesthetics, unrestricted creativity, and will open a new era of mobile imaging.”