Leica today introduced the Leitz Phone 2 as the successor to the Leitz Phone 1. Based on the Sharp AQUOS R7 that was introduced earlier this year, the Leitz Phone 2 has a 1-inch 47.2 MP CMOS image sensor that works with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC.
Camera
With its focal length of 19 mm, and aperture of f/1.9, the Leitz Phone 2 achieves images with a high dynamic range and low image noise – even in low ambient light, said the company. It has 6x digital zoom and the 8x continuously adjustable digital zoom for the selfie camera.
Camera features
It uses a proprietary software engine that brings the typical “Leica look” to smartphone photography with three iconic M lenses: The Summilux 28 for imposing shots taken in the centre of action; the Summilux 35 for every day and street art photography; and the Noctilux 50, which is ideal for portraits with its extremely high aperture of f/1.2, capturing shots with Leica bokeh.
Users can then choose to further enhance the typical Leica look and feel and choose tones from Monochrome for high-contrast black and white, Cinema Classic for a classic, analogue 35mm cinema film look, and Cinema Contemporary.
Software features
Leica has also developed the Golden Hour widget exclusively for the Leitz Phone 2 to display the golden hour times after sunrise and before sunset, when the warm light is perfect for taking spectacular photos. The LFI widget, also designed specifically for the Leitz Phone 2, continuously presents shots from the Leica Fotografie International gallery – the curated platform for Leica photographers worldwide.
Design
The Leitz Phone 2 has an aluminium frame and Gorilla Glass display that protect against bumps, drops and scratches. Its non-slip, knurled edge helps you avoid dropping. It has IPX5-IPX8/IP6X ratings for Water and dust resistance.
Regarding the design, Leica said:
The white limited edition of the Leica M8 camera inspired the body of this new model, which exemplifies Leica’s passion for concentrating on the essentials through a uniquely functional beauty and feel. In keeping with the Leica design philosophy, the fine engravings on the edge of the aluminum frame augment add refinement and functionality to the technical precision of this new model.
The iconic Leitz logo is a tribute to the visionary passion for innovation of Ernst Leitz, who founded what is now called Leica (derived from Leitz and camera). It also acknowledges son Ernst Leitz II, who revolutionized photography in 1924 by bringing out the world’s first 35mm camera.
Leica Leitz Phone 2 specifications
- 6.6-inch (1260 x 2730 pixels) WUXGA+ Pro IGZO OLED display, 1-240Hz refresh rate
- Octa Core Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 4nm Mobile Platform with Adreno next-gen GPU
- 12GB LPDDR5 RAM, 512GB UFS 3.1 storage, microSD up to 1TB
- Android 12
- 47.2MP 1″ sensor with f/1.9 aperture, Leica Sumicron lens, EIS, LED Flash, Low Light 1.9MP ToF AF camera
- 12.6MP front camera with f/2.3 aperture
- In-display fingerprint sensor
- Water and dustproof (IPX5 / IPX8 / IP6X)
- 5G SA/NSA, Dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 ax (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth 5.2, GPS + GLONASS, NFC, USB Type-C
- 5,000mAh battery with fast charging
Pricing and availability
The Leica Leitz Phone 2 comes in Leica White colours and will be exclusively available in Japan from November 18th priced at 225,360 yen (US$ 1,537 / 1,25,680 approx.).