Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone, camera or smartphone?

Unveiled at the last Mobile World Congress, the Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone emphasizes photography through touch controls—making it closer to traditional cameras—for capturing images. The rear camera module is surrounded by a rotating dial, reminiscent of Leica cameras, used to physically control various parameters such as focal length, focus, and depth of field. This deliberate choice reignites the debate on the best interface for capturing images: physical or touchscreen. Naturally, the three lenses are of high quality: a 1" Light Fusion 1050L 23mm main image sensor, 50 MP, 3.2 μm pixels, Super Pixel 4-in-1, f/1.67, OIS; a 1/1.4" telephoto lens, 75-100mm, 200 MP, 2.24 μm pixels, 16-in-1, f/2.39-f/2.96, OIS; and a 1/2.75" Leica ultra-wide-angle lens, 14mm, 50 MP, 1.28 μm pixels, 4-in-1, f/2.2. Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone, other main specifications. Note, on the software side, the Leica Essential mode which simulates the characteristics of the Leica M9 and M3 cameras with Monopan 50 film. Otherwise, there are... Specifications worthy of a premium smartphone in 2026: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, 6,000 mAh battery, 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, and a 6.9" 120Hz OLED display with a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. Available. Suggested retail price: €1,900.