Working together, Xiaomi and Leica have established the Xiaomi x Leica Optical Institute, which is dedicated to advancing smartphone camera technology. The collaboration includes expertise in not only smartphone camera optics but also computational photography and AI, resulting in a complete product that combines the strengths of both companies.
The focus of the institute will be on four key technical aspects that contribute to creating outstanding camera phones: ultra-precision optical lenses suitable for smartphones, computational photography, setting strict optical standards for lenses, and research and development of optoelectronic technologies.
The upcoming Xiaomi 14 Ultra flagship smartphone will be the first to benefit from the collaboration, marking the beginning of more advanced research in the field.
Plans for the institute include the establishment of three labs in Beijing, overseen by more than 200 experts, with the leadership of Peter Karbe, a renowned optical designer responsible for Leica’s fourth-generation lenses.
