According to recent claims on social media, Xiaomi’s established partnership with Leica Camera may soon be approaching its conclusion. The collaboration, which has been in place since 2022, aimed to enhance mobile imaging capabilities for Xiaomi smartphones, notably seen in the Xiaomi 15 series. Reports suggest that the partnership will be phased out to reduce licensing fees and shift focus toward Xiaomi’s proprietary camera technology, particularly impacting the forthcoming Xiaomi 16 lineup.
Xiaomi and Leica Partnership Ending
The information comes from tipster Digital Chat Station, who provided insights on the topic through multiple posts on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo. It appears that Xiaomi plans to prioritize its in-house camera technology for upcoming smartphones, which will use a chipset succeeding the yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite 2.
As outlined by the tipster, the new proprietary imaging brand from the Chinese manufacturer is expected to debut this year. This strategic shift is anticipated to significantly cut down on costs associated with Leica branding, which reportedly ranges between $3 (approximately Rs. 257) and $5 (roughly Rs. 428) for each device.
The Xiaomi 16 series, expected to comprise four models—Xiaomi 16, Xiaomi 16 Pro, Xiaomi 16 Ultra, and Xiaomi 16 Ultra Max—could be the first set of smartphones affected by this decision. Furthermore, it may also influence other brands within Xiaomi’s ecosystem, including Redmi and Poco.
Sources indicate that the Redmi K90 Pro and Poco F8 Ultra might also move away from Leica-branded imaging systems in favor of Xiaomi’s own technology. According to the tipster, this shift could particularly benefit Redmi, potentially leading to enhanced sensor technology and advanced computational photography, with future models touted as “impressive.”
If this change takes effect, it would mark the first instance since 2022 that flagship Xiaomi devices do not feature Leica branding. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra was the initial model to showcase the imaging technology in collaboration with the German company, followed by the Xiaomi 15 series, which also included Leica-equipped camera systems.
It should be noted that Xiaomi is not the first manufacturer to make such a move. In 2022, Huawei concluded its longstanding partnership with Leica, which had started in 2016, due to trade sanctions and a renewed emphasis on its own imaging solutions known as XMAGE.
