Leica released the Leitz Phone 3, its third smartphone with stronger imaging capabilities, unique functions, rich camera modes, and more. However, the phone will only be available in Japan.
It is noticed that the core imaging components of Leitz Phone 3 follow the configuration of the previous generation model Leitz Phone 2. The rear main camera is still a 47.2MP 1-inch sensor with “eight phase detection autofocus” function, Leica said This sensor brings fast and accurate focusing and excellent photo quality in low-light environments, and the camera is paired with a 19mm f/1.9 equivalent lens. The front-facing camera is 12.6-megapixel with a 78-degree wide viewing angle and f/2.3 aperture.
Although the sensor specifications have not changed, the Leitz Phone 3 has received many upgrades in other aspects. First of all, the body adopts a completely new design, which Leica says reflects its pursuit of functional aesthetics. The back cover has a “premium polyacrylate texture” that feels comparable to a Leica camera. The whole machine weighs 209 grams, making it thin, light and compact.
In terms of performance, Leitz Phone 3 is equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and is equipped with a 5000mAh large-capacity battery that supports wireless charging. The screen is a 6.6-inch Pro IGZO OLED screen with a 240Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 2730 x 1260 pixels, and a maximum brightness of 2000 nits. Additionally, the phone has 512GB of storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via microSDXF UHS-1 memory card. It is worth mentioning that the Leitz Phone 3 retains the 3.5mm headphone jack and uses a USB-C interface.
In addition to hardware upgrades, the software of Leitz Phone 3 has also been optimized. Leica said that they have rearranged the application icons to make the entire interface simpler and easier to use, which also makes Leica features such as “Golden Hours” and “Leica International Photography Gallery” easier to find and use. The “Golden Hour” feature alerts users one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset, when the light is especially warm and ideal for taking great photos. The “Leica International Photography Gallery” will continue to display the works of Leica photographers around the world.
The Leitz Phone 3 brings the “Leica Perspective Control” function to the smartphone world for the first time. This feature, previously only available on Leica cameras, corrects vertically skewed lines, such as line distortions common in architectural photography. The gyroscope in the phone will measure the camera tilt when shooting, and then the algorithm will calculate the corrected picture. The new image is displayed within a white rectangle, and the user can choose whether to apply corrections. It should be noted that this function only applies to photos in JPEG format, and the original DNG format files will not be modified.
The Leitz Phone 3 also adds new “Leica Style” and “Leica Tone” software features. Among them, the “variable aperture” Leica style can simulate the aperture effect of a variety of classic Leica lenses, such as Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2, Sumilux-M 28mm f/1.4 and Sumilux-M 35mm f /1.4. Leica says users can control the bokeh effect by setting aperture values such as f/1.2, f/1.4 and f/8 via software. Leica said, “This feature provides up to 6-7 aperture stops (depending on the lens), which can bring unique control space for photographic creation.”
In addition, Leica says that the image quality of the “Leica Style” camera mode has been “significantly improved” in three aspects: more accurate representation of light spots (both shape and color), more refined object segmentation, and better Leica color simulation. The Leitz Phone 3 also adds new “Vivid” and “Enhanced” Leica tints, which deliver more vivid, vibrant colors and higher contrast, as well as brighter shadows, respectively. In addition to these two new tones, the new phone still offers “Monochrome”, “Classic Film” and “Modern Film” tones, which are all tonal modes previously developed specifically for Leica smartphones.
Finally, the Leitz Phone 3 also adds a new watermark option that displays aperture, ISO, shutter speed, focal length and the Leica logo on the finished photo, which Leica says can “increase brand recognition” and add a “professional feel.”
The Leitz Phone 3 will be sold exclusively in Japan from April 19, and the price has not yet been announced.
