Leica is looking for a new smartphone partner, eyeing Xiaomi and Honor [Updated]

15 May 2021
The Huawei P50 series will likely be the last phones with the Leica branding.

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Kingslayer, 16 May 2021I thought Honor was a sub-brand to Huawei? They were. I jus... moreIt used to be until Huawei sold it to a Chinese consortium back in November 2020*.

*https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_officially_announces_its_sale_of_honor_will_hold_no_share_following_the_sale-news-46302.php

    r31ya, 16 May 2021Xiaomi have the top tier hardware. But compared to the bi... moreExactly. The Mi 11 Ultra is a good example - it has stellar hardware and the camera's photo quality looks great, but the photo's oversharpening effect is still there. Also, I have never been a fan of MIUI. It's too cluttered and looks too cartoonish. That is why Xiaomi phones are so popular within custom ROM and GCam community - great hardware, but not-so-great software.

      It would be sensible for Leica to go to Honor since Honor was previously Huawei's sub-brand.

        SMIRNAS, 16 May 2021if Xiaomi-Leica happen,, i hope Xiaomi gonna upgrade their ... moreYes, without a doubt. Already they have improved their cameras a lot over last few years. Mi11 Ultra is king in camera of smartphone currently. Although, S21 Ultra, Vivo X60 Pro Plus, Oppo Find X3 Pro are no slouch.

          These Leica, Hasselblad label don't mean much nowadays. They are just living off of their names in a world of digital software.

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            • AnonD-920712
            • txp
            • 16 May 2021

            huawei the victim of politics

              • r
              • r31ya
              • 61r
              • 16 May 2021

              Xiaomi have the top tier hardware.
              But compared to the bigger fish (Samsung, Pixel, Apple), its still lacking in polish and software processing. Leica tuning could works wonders with Xiaomi.

              But considering the pricing of Mi series after Redmi turn independent, the partnership result will just be another $800~$1000+ flagships.

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                • Anonymous
                • Dk$
                • 16 May 2021

                Leica should partner with xiaomi because xiaomi's photos are garbage.

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                  • Shui8
                  • KZK
                  • 16 May 2021

                  Huawei is nothing without Leica in the past days. Starting P9, the camera quality does boost a lot & get recognized in many countries (way way better quality than all my Xperia Z series, eventhough using inferior hardware). The Huawei-Leica collaboration is one of the most successful in smartphone camera industry.

                  Leica does not manufacture small plastic lens on phones, but rather does quality control on them. They also heavily involved in Huawei's camera image processing.

                  Asus looks like a great candidate for next Leica branded phone. We need a compact camera beast, and Asus just starting it this year (Love my small P40 camera beast btw). Plus can get away from this China fiasco with US for upcoming years. Just my two cent.

                    LeNeo, 16 May 2021No its not sad it is just common sense. Leica's hardwa... moreLeica doesn't provide any kind of hardware, so I don't understand what you're talking about

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                      • Anonymous
                      • PZa
                      • 16 May 2021

                      I guess they get paid a percentage of sales and Huawei isn't selling enough phones? They can always jump ship to Samsung, Xiaomi or Oppo. Or maybe even Apple if they'll have them.

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                        • Psmy
                        • KRW
                        • 16 May 2021

                        If this happens, it will be a gateway for Sharp to push their phones globally, instead of keeping them in Japan and certain market.

                        If they go with Xiaomi, it will boost more chances for Xiaomi to become 2nd largest OEM and fill Huawei place.

                        If they go with Honor, literally nothing will change as they can push whatever they're planning with Huawei to be carry over to Honor.


                        But one thing for sure... The phones price will be more expensive than ever as customers will pay for Leica branding.

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                          • Anonymous
                          • JT5
                          • 16 May 2021

                          kenosis, 16 May 2021If Sharp-Leica, their partnership will not success globally... moreSharp mobile business can easily survive by selling just in Japan.
                          It has been for while.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • JT5
                            • 16 May 2021

                            Kingslayer, 16 May 2021I thought Honor was a sub-brand to Huawei? They were. I jus... moreYes. This is why Honor phones are gonna have Snapdragon and Google Play services.
                            60% of Huawei sales were Honor phones.

                            Considering soon Honor gonna need own R&D, expect same price of Huawei flagships.

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                              • ae86
                              • vaS
                              • 16 May 2021

                              Is Sharp going to have a reconstruction? I hope they do and hope they'll enter the global market.

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                                • Anonymous
                                • gns
                                • 16 May 2021

                                IpsDisplay, 16 May 2021But the question is which is more profitable for business ... moreI think EU is much more careful about their population privacy
                                If xiaomi was a massive privacy threat we would know
                                Just go for xiaomi EU region or install a new custom Rom

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                                  • Gusta
                                  • xh3
                                  • 16 May 2021

                                  Anonymous, 16 May 2021imagine if its xiaomi that'll literally beat any ... moreThe price of Xiaomi flagships will rise..

                                  But it's okay because they have Redmi as lower class..

                                    I thought Honor was a sub-brand to Huawei? They were. I just didn't know Huawei sold Honor last year.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • KZK
                                      • 16 May 2021

                                      Looking forward to seeing Mi 12 Ultra

                                        • ?
                                        • Anonymous
                                        • KZK
                                        • 16 May 2021

                                        Anonymous, 16 May 2021huawei is the best camera smartphone since they use leica l... moreAnother reason Huawei leading in camera phone is because the PureView engineer is working there