Rumors about a possible Xiaomi-Leica partnership have been confirmed today. The consumer electronics giant has announced a long-term strategic partnership with the German camera and optics manufacturer.
The tie-up will bear fruit this July in the form of an imaging flagship smartphone jointly developed by the two companies.
According to their joint press release, “Xiaomi and Leica share the same ideas regarding mobile imaging,” and they are both eager to take mobile photography to the next level.
“Xiaomi focuses on creating the ultimate user experience, and has always hoped to explore the capabilities of smartphone photography to the extreme,” said Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun. “Xiaomi and Leica agree with each other’s pursuits and ideas and appreciate each other’s advantages and industry.”
While neither company has disclosed what the upcoming imaging-focused phone model is, it could be the rumored Xiaomi 12 Ultra. Based on renders that have been doing the rounds online, the device is expected to feature a quad-camera setup with a 50MP IMX800 main camera and a periscope zoom lens.
