Xiaomi 12S Series “Co-Engineered With Leica” Official – Exclusive to China

Xiaomi’s first-ever smartphones series with the Leica branding have just been announced. Enter the Xiaomi 12S series, which is made up of the standard 12S, 12S Pro, and the range-topping 12S Ultra. These phones are said to be “co-engineered with Leica,” and photography is one of their main selling points.

Unfortunately, Xiaomi said that these three phones are only sold in China, though the company added that its collaboration with Leica could be seen in its other smartphone series for the international market. Nonetheless, the Xiaomi 12S series are certainly high-end devices; they’re also powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset.

In the camera department, all Xiaomi 12S phones feature Leica’s imaging profiles. Users have two photographic styles to choose from: Leica Authentic Look – it produces a natural imagery which Leica is known for – and Leica Vibrant Look that combines “Xiaomi’s experience in smartphone photography with Leica’s leading aesthetic,” as the company puts it.

Hardware wise, the 12S Ultra features a Sony IMX 989 1-inch sensor for the primary camera, along with a 48MP (IMX 586) ultra-wide angle shooter and a 48MP (IMX 586) telephoto lens. As for the 12S and 12S Pro, they are equipped with Sony’s IMX 707 sensor, though their full camera configurations were not detailed.

Other specifications of the 12S Ultra include a 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate – the 12S Pro shares the same screen – and a 4,860mAh battery. The 12S Pro, on the other hand, has a slightly smaller 4,600mAh cell. The 12S, being a more compact phone, has a 4,500mAh battery instead along with a 6.28-inch 120Hz screen.

As mentioned, the Xiaomi 12S series is exclusive to the China market, so don’t expect it to be available in other regions. That being said, Xiaomi did say it will release other phones with the Leica branding in markets outside of China in the future.