Leica camera on Xiaomi smartphones: a complete guide to flagships

The question of which Xiaomi smartphones have Leica cameras is a concern for many mobile photography enthusiasts looking for unique color reproduction, as the Chinese giant and legendary German optics brand began their partnership in 2022, marking a new milestone in the development of mobile photography – not just a marketing name, but a deep integration of hardware and image processing software.

The main goal of the collaboration was to recreate the same "Lakeway" picture, known for its contrast, microcontrast and special bokeh pattern. Whereas before manufacturers chased maximum HDR and knocking out details from the shadows, Xiaomi and Leica decided to return photos to the atmosphere and drama, now users can choose between natural and rich shooting styles right in the camera interface.

In this article, we’ll go through the list of all the devices that have received this optical system, explain the differences between the versions of the collaboration, and explain how to unlock the potential of these cameras, explain why the presence of the Leica logo changes the way we shoot and what models to consider for purchase this year.

The history and essence of the partnership between Xiaomi and Leica

The collaboration was a response to a growing demand for more “artistic” photography, with Xiaomi engineers gaining access to Leica’s expertise in optics and color correction, allowing them to incorporate unique optical circuits and filters that mimic classic German-brand lenses, resulting in Xiaomi’s Imaging Brain system, which processes images tailored to the preferences of professional photographers.

It's important to note that it's not just about lenses, it's also about software processing. Algorithms have learned to keep the natural transitions of light and shadow, avoiding excessive digital noise. Special attention has been paid to color reproduction, which now has two main profiles: Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant. The first retains the atmosphere of the scene even if it seems dark, and the second makes the colors more vivid and saturated for social networks.

The key was the introduction of T*-coated super lenses, which significantly reduce glare and increase light transmission, especially for backlight or night shooting, a combination of hardware and software that allowed Xiaomi smartphones to compete with professional cameras in certain scenarios.

⚠️ Note: Having a Leica logo on the body or in the camera interface does not guarantee the same quality on all models. Budget devices can only have software-based style imitation, depriving them of premium optics.

So the partnership has not only affected flagship lines, but is also gradually expanding into other segments, although top-end hardware is still showing the best results, and understanding this difference will help you make the right choice when buying a new device.

Full list of Xiaomi smartphones with Leica camera

The current list of devices equipped with a full-fledged camera system with support of Leica, includes the flagship series Xiaomi and Redmi. the first device was Xiaomi 12S Ultra, which set the standards for subsequent models, and it was with this that the era of 1-inch sensors began in collaboration with the German brand.

Here is a list of models where this technology is implemented:

• 📸 Xiaomi 12S Ultra – the ancestor of the series, the first 1-inch sensor.
• 📸 Xiaomi 13 Pro and Xiaomi 13 – mass adoption of technology in flagships.
• 📸 Xiaomi 13 Ultra – the pinnacle of engineering with variable focal.
• 📸 Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 14 Pro – a new standard of light strength and compactness.
• 📸 Xiaomi 14 Ultra – a professional camera in the case of a smartphone.
• 📸 Redmi K70 Ultra (in China) / Redmi Note 14 Pro+ (global - the first not-Xiaomi Leica.

And foldable smartphones like the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 and Mix Fold 4, which also have Leica telephoto lenses, are unique in the folding class, and owners of these devices have access to all of their proprietary filters and shooting modes.

For the convenience of comparing the characteristics of the main cameras of different generations, we have prepared a summary table:

As you can see from the table, evolution has gone the way of increasing the size of the sensor and improving the aperture, and each new model has something unique, whether it's a floating lens for macro or a variable aperture for depth of field control.

Differences between Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant

One of the key features of Xiaomi’s Leica-optics smartphones is the ability to choose the style of shooting. The camera interface has a switch button between the two modes, which gives the user creative freedom. The Leica Authentic mode strives for maximum realism, maintaining high contrast and slightly darkening the frame for dramatic effect.

The second mode, Leica Vibrant, is more focused on the modern perception of content on social networks, making colors more juicy, raising brightness in the shadows and reducing the overall contrast to make the image look “cleaner” on the smartphone screen, the choice between them depends on what result you want to get without post-processing.

Both modes use powerful AI algorithms to analyze the scene, but Authentic is more likely to be chosen by professionals, as it stores more information in lights and shadows, leaving room for editing in the video. RAW-Vibrant is ideal for fast posting photos on Instagram or Telegram.

⚠️ Note: When shooting in format RAW (Lossless RAW) The processing style is used only for previews. The source file stores the sensor data, allowing you to apply any style later in the editor.

Understanding the difference between these profiles allows you to instantly change the mood of a photo, for example, for street photography (street photography) Authentic is great, and for pictures of food or landscapes during the day, Vibrant is great.

Unique Leica filters and portrait modes

In addition to the main modes, Xiaomi has introduced a set of nine Leica-branded filters, named after the German company’s famous lenses, such as Leica Summilux, Leica Noctilux and others, which change not only colors, but also background blurring and vignetting.

Portrait mode has also undergone significant changes, now using depth data from the telephoto lens and the main sensor to create a natural bokeh. Algorithms better define the boundaries of an object by separating hair and complex elements from the background, making portraits more professional and less digital.

And filters are not only available automatically, but also professionally, and you can overlay things like Leica Monochrome, which creates stunning black and white images with great detail, and it turns the smartphone into a powerful tool for art photography.

For those who want to delve deeper into filter settings, we have prepared a useful tip:

💡

Try shooting in 50 MP format with the Leica Monochrome filter on. The detail in high-resolution h/b mode is striking in its texture and resembles a film photograph.

Experimenting with different combinations of lenses and filters can give you a unique style, for example, a telephoto lens with a Leica APO-Summicron filter gives you amazing sharpness in the center of the frame.

Professional Mode and Shooting in RAW

For photography enthusiasts, Xiaomi has provided an advanced professional mode that offers manual shutter speed, ISO, white balance and focus settings, but the main thing is that it supports the ULTRA RAW format, which contains 12 times more data than a regular RAW.

This file weighs much more (about 50-70 MB), but it gives you incredible flexibility in processing, you can pull details out of deep shadows or reconstruct the red-lit sky without artifacts, which is critical for landscape and architectural photography, where every dynamic range is important.

In professional mode, manual focusing with a visual assistant (picking) is also available, which allows you to take macro pictures with millimeter accuracy. The camera interface in this mode is minimalist and contains all the necessary tools for controlling exposure.

Using a tripod in combination with manual settings opens up opportunities for shooting the sky or the light trails of cars at night, and the Ultra series of smartphones cope with this better than many competitors due to their large aperture.

Comparison with competitors: Huawei and Vivo

In the mobile photography market, Xiaomi has strong competitors in Huawei (partnership with Leica in the past, now XMAGE) and Vivo (partnership with Zeiss). Each brand offers its own view of processing. Huawei is famous for its RYYB sensor and bright colors, Vivo for portraits and zoom, and Xiaomi with Leica for contrast and “character” of the picture.

When you compare zoom capabilities, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Vivo X100 Pro are at the top of the rankings. However, it is Xiaomi’s “Lake” color rendering that often wins in street and reportage scenarios, and it’s not just the zoom that matters here, but how the camera conveys the atmosphere of the moment.

At the same time, Vivo offers more aggressive noise cancellation, which may not appeal to everyone. Xiaomi in Authentic mode leaves some graininess, which adds to the snapshots of realism. The choice between brands often comes down to personal preferences in the color profile.

Ultimately, all three brands offer a great experience, but the Leica philosophy at Xiaomi seems the closest it comes to classic photography.

💡

Xiaomi with Leica is the choice for those who appreciate contrasting, atmospheric images and want to have full control over the shooting process through professional modes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)