Although Leica is famous for its cameras (and more recently, partnerships with smartphone manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi), did you know they also produce mechanical watches and have their own line of smartphones? These devices are not just co-branded but fully branded by Leica.
The Leica Leitz Phone 1 was unveiled in 2021, followed by the release of the Leitz Phone 2 in 2022, both exclusively available in Japan. The name “Leitz” comes from the founder of Leica, Ernst Leitz, while “Leica” is a combination of “Lei” from Leitz and “ca” for “Camera”. Today, the Leitz Phone 3 has been officially announced, once again only for the Japanese market.
The Leitz Phone 3 features a design reminiscent of Leica cameras, as expected from the brand associated with it. The main camera is a 47.2 MP 1-inch Type, similar to the one in the Leitz Phone 2, with a 19mm equivalent f/1.9 lens. For selfies, there is a 12.6 MP front camera with f/2.3 aperture and 78-degree field-of-view.
Powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Leitz Phone 3 boasts a 6.6-inch 240 Hz IGZO OLED display with 1260×2730 resolution and a peak brightness of 2,000 nits. With 12GB of RAM, 512GB of expandable storage, and a 5,000 mAh battery, it runs on Android 14. The phone is IP65 and IP68 rated for dust and water resistance and continues to be manufactured by Sharp, explaining its exclusivity to Japan.
Featuring a Golden Hour widget that notifies users an hour before sunset and after sunrise for optimal photo opportunities, the Leitz Phone 3 also includes a widget showcasing images from the Leica international gallery taken by professional photographers.
Introducing Leica Perspective Control, a software feature on the Leitz Phone 3 that corrects the vertical lines in photos, akin to what Leica cameras offer. Additionally, new Leitz Looks and Leica Tones have been added. The Leitz Phone 3 will be available in Japan starting April 19, bundled with a ‘lens cap’ and matching case.
