Huh, you exclaim, but this is not the first mobile from Leica. The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi is not to be confused with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica. Or any of its predecessor models 13 and onwards. Those simply harness the German brand’s legendary imaging technology in an ongoing partnership between the two companies.

This has Leica not just ruddering sails but helming the entire ship.

Complete expression of the iconic camera as a handphone, built upon seasoned Chinese infrastructure. Still, if you’ve got your technophile nose to the ground, you’ll know this is also technically not their first handset. Plainly speaking, the once Japan-only exclusive has now gone international.

Don’t know why those lucky bastards got first dibs, but it’s all in good timing. The global launch coincides with the hundredth anniversary of the first 35mm camera coming to market. But enough background. I’ll do the opposite of what influencers do: be honest about the experience.

This is written with no prior encounter with any Xiaomi phones, nor any of Leica’s latest offerings. The review will not be comparing battery life, SD processing, how it runs apps and basically functions as a phone. All that information you can find with your AI-powered search. Plus, Xiaomi capabilities mean you’re not going to get too terrible a performance.

For full disclosure though, I once owned a secondhand D-Lux many moons ago. Also messed around with DSLRs in my photography phase, as one does at some point in their life. It doesn’t mean I know what exactly a 1-inch sensor is, though. This is what you’re working with; the warning’s in the title.

Now that you have low-to-no expectations, let’s dive in.

It’s a handsome gadget. Let’s face it; you’re drawn by the branding. Who isn’t? The design language applied here is consistent with the stately cameras. The three lenses on the back (main, telephoto and ultra-wide) are cleverly disguised as one; a streamlined example reminiscent of how Apple dominated the early market with a clean visual identity.

You’ve got the ridged sides of premium metal providing an amazing tactile grip. Ironically, that disappears when you slap the included case on. One that protects the lenses with an unabashed logo-ed cover, so pick your lesser evil, I guess.

The collective is framed by a dial ring that activates the camera.

Tuning controls zoom, exposure, ISO, shutter speed, focal length, etc., according to the settings. Some call it gimmicky, but the haptic feedback from a physical fidget is highly satisfying. It’s a nice touch to enhance the mechanical camera experience you’re splashing all that cash for.

Internally, the LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) image sensor is basically new tech to deliver more dynamic range in an image. Adjustments don’t flatten the photo the way most smartphones do. An additional security chip ensures a digital signature on each photo to indicate that it is not an AI creation, because your photos might just look too perfect..?

The superzoom and its quality are so intense that it feels unreal that such technology is democratised. The sizable 200MP telephoto sensor allows cropped shots to be decent up to approximately 400mm. The depth is not consistent with the main lens, but that’s like the difference you’d expect between your back and front cameras.

Speaking of the front camera, its automatic filter is a little eerie.

There is a subtle smoothening on selfies that pleases you with the result if you ignore that it’s hiding your flaws. Speaking of filters, the menu includes the Leica standards, and tops off with exclusives you won’t see on other Xiaomi devices.

Most notably, the moody, dramatic Leica M3 and Leica M9 give you the same effects as the cameras they are named after. Now that photos are no longer expensive to achieve and each shot thus way less precious, the Leitzphone taps into the lost art of intentional shooting without being conspicuous.

Perhaps you want to stop yourself from impulse-buying a proper camera to supplement the handful of occasions you fancy taking nicer shots. Whilst still retaining the connectivity and catch-all that a phone provides. Then the Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi—one more time for good measure—fairly light for the impressive specs it’s packing, allows you to do just that.

The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi retails for SGD2,299 online and at Leica Stores.