I've Finally Got My Dream Camera Phone: Xiaomi's Leica Leitzphone Review

Whether you call it the Leica Leitzphone or the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica phone, this dream camera phone is my latest obsession.

[Image of a Leica Xiaomi phone]

9 / 10

Score

Cnet Score

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Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi

Pros

Stunning image quality

Plethora of Leica color effects

Physical ring to control camera settings

Powerful processor performance

Cons

Very high price

Battery life could be better

Not sold in the US

2026

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.

The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi -- to use its full official name -- is Xiaomi's latest flagship Android phone, developed in partnership with the iconic German camera brand Leica. You can buy the standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra in a more conventional form, with minimal Leica branding. But it's the Leitzphone version that has the photographer in me buzzing like a hive of bees that just heard honey prices are set to soar.

[Image of a Leica Xiaomi phone]

The Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi is notable for prioritizing the photography experience above nearly everything else.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

But why? Well, it bears the Leica red dot logo, has Leica etching on the sides, a host of Leica filmic color styles to shoot with and it has a functional hardware wheel on the back of the phone that actually turns to control camera settings. It'll even be sold in Leica's own physical stores here in the UK.

Mix in its supercharged processor and the glorious display, and this phone becomes an all-round powerhouse that's well-deserving of its flagship title. I've taken thousands of photos while testing with the Leitzphone, and I am stunned by the results I've achieved. Its images aren't just "good for a phone"; they're downright superb for any camera, which is why it was an easy decision to award the phone a coveted CNET Editors' Choice award.

It costs £1,700 in the UK, which converts to roughly $2,300 (though it won't be officially sold in the US), so it doesn't come cheap, but nothing with a Leica logo does. However, if you're looking for the ultimate imaging experience in a phone, pay attention. Let's dive in deeper and take a look at the most important part: the camera.

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Xiaomi's Leitzphone Looks Exactly Like a Leica Phone Should

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Xiaomi Leitzphone: Camera quality

This phone is all about the camera, so if you're simply not that bothered about photography, then check out our other favorite Android phones. Maybe take a peek at our early coverage of Samsung's new Galaxy S26 range. Those of you still here and lusting after amazing photos on the go: strap in, you're in for a treat.

The phone's main camera uses something called a LOFIC image sensor, which stands for Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor. It's basically a brand-new sensor technology designed to deliver much better dynamic range in a single image. That's helped, too, by the sensor's large size and the high-quality Leica Summilux lens sitting in front of it.

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The Photos I've Taken on Xiaomi's Leica Phone Are Some of My Best Ever

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The phone's telephoto zoom lens has moving lens elements, allowing it to achieve a continuous zoom from 75- to 100-millimeter focal lengths, rather than relying on digital cropping. And to control it all, there's a big lens ring on the back that actually turns to control the zoom, or as I've set mine to, the exposure compensation.

But it's not just the hardware that's impressive here; the Leitzphone has the exact same color profiles that you'll find on Leica's actual cameras and film. It all makes this handset the best-equipped camera phone, ahead of any of its rivals. And it's why I've shot somewhere just north of 2,000 photos on it so far during my testing.

[A bird flying past a building]

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[A bird flying past a building]

Taken with the main camera in the Leica Chrome color profile, I love how this pigeon has been frozen in action, with pleasing contrast throughout the image.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

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Using the 8x hybrid zoom I was able to fill the frame with these seagulls.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

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The Chrome color profile resulted in beautiful tones in this image. I love being able to quickly snap away at low angles using a phone.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

[an indoor climbing wall]

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[an indoor climbing wall]

Those small pops of color from the climbing bumps hold really contrast well against the gray wall.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

Images are packed with detail and glorious colors, especially when using the Leica Chrome color profile. I love how rich the photos are, with deep, natural shadows that are increasingly rare these days in images from other phones. Some of Xiaomi's rivals go way overboard with image processing, attempting to lighten shadows so much that it kills much of the image's drama. But that's not the case here: The Leitzphone can take images that serious photographers will genuinely love.

But you'll have to put in some work, too. I'll often shoot in Pro mode, twisting the control ring to manually underexpose the image to emphasize the shadows and create mood in my images. Or I'll shoot in high-contrast black-and-white mode for a punchy look that's perfect for high-impact street photography. I actually love dabbling in street photography, and a lot of my personal work on "regular" cameras is in a similar high-contrast black-and-white style, so it has been great fun using the phone in much the same way.

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Shot in high-contrast black-and-white mode, I used the roof to frame the bird, exposing for the bright sky to cast the subject into deep shadow and create a dramatic silhouette.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

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I love black-and-white street photography, and using a phone is a great way of capturing candid moments without being noticed.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

[construction workers with wheelbarrows]

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[construction workers with wheelbarrows]

Unlike many of its rivals, the Leitzphone doesn't try to artificially lift shadows. As a result, images like this maintain the depth and drama that I wanted to capture when I took the photo.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET*

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