Softbank presents the first Leica smartphone – initially only in Japan

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The mobile communications and internet group Softbank has presented the Leitz Phone 1, the first Leica smartphone. The device is reminiscent of Sharps Aquos R6 and is only available in Japan.

So far, Leica had mainly given its brand name for camera systems in high-quality smartphones – for example for the high-end devices from Huawei. The cell phone manufacturer, which has fallen out of favor in the USA, has developed the quad camera of its new foldable Mate X2 together with the camera manufacturer. Softbank has now launched the first completely Leica-branded smartphone in Japan. Target group: fans of Leica hardware.

There is no question that the camera is the focus of a Leica smartphone. Here the Leitz Phone 1 offers a one-inch 20-megapixel sensor – the largest camera lens built into a smartphone to date, such as The Verge writes. On board is an f / 1.9 ultra-wide angle lens. Interestingly, the Aquos R6 from Sharp, which was presented in May, has the same Leica camera system. The Leitz Phone 1 only comes with a metal lens cap with the Leica logo and a matching case.

At first glance, there are only differences between the two smartphones in terms of a few technical details and design, especially the camera module. On the Leica phone, this is built in round and centered on the back. In addition, the Aquos R6 should have a 240 Hertz OLED display. With the Leitz Phone 1, the frame rate should be between one and 120 Hertz. Otherwise, both devices have a 6.6-inch display with a resolution of 2,730 by 1,260 pixels.

A Snapdragon 888 provides power in both devices. The nominal charge of the battery is 5,000 mAh each. In the Leitz Phone 1, on the other hand, the built-in flash memory of 256 gigabytes is twice as large as in the Sharp smartphone Golem noted Has. The main memory is twelve gigabytes. The front camera has 12.6 megapixels in both cases. Both smartphones come on the market with Android 11.

The Leitz Phone 1 is expected to hit the Japanese market in July 2021, including at Softbank, and will cost the equivalent of 1,400 euros. It is not known whether the device will also come to Germany. Interestingly, Softbank also sells the almost identical Aquos R6. Those interested in the Sharp device should be interested in the Leica camera. For the Leitz Phone 1, Softbank apparently sees demand from fans of Leica hardware – even outside of the lenses.

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