Leitz Phone 2 full review + strengths and weaknesses
According to JBQ, Leica has announced the Leitz Phone 2, which is the successor to the Leitz Phone 1 that it launched last year. The Leitz Phone 2 is actually a Leica-branded Sharp Aquos R7 and features a new Type 1 (13.1 x 9.8mm) 47.2MP CMOS sensor.
Last year, Leica, a company known for its cameras and lenses, introduced its first smartphone, the Leitz Phone. While it had impressive specs and a great camera, it turned out to be just a rebranded phone previously released by Sharp. Now, it looks like the company is relying on the same formula for its launch this year, with the first Leitz Phone 2.
Starting with the sensor first, Leica lists it as a 47.2MP Type 1 CMOS sensor (13.1 x 9.8mm) with a 19mm (35mm equivalent) F1.9 lens on the front. This is more than double the resolution of the 20MP Type 1 (13.1 x 9.8mm) CMOS sensor used in the original Leitz Phone 1.
Leica says the device will use the 1st generation Snapdragon 8 chipset to enable different sensor modes depending on the scene and environment. While Leica hasn’t specified exactly what that means, it seems like they’re referring to the use of a Quad. Bayer-like processing for low-light scenes and delivering full-resolution photos with a dedicated high-resolution shooting mode.
Last year, Leica, a company known for its cameras and lenses, introduced its first smartphone, the Leitz Phone. While it had impressive specs and a great camera, it turned out to be just a rebranded phone previously released by Sharp. Now, it looks like the company is relying on the same formula for its launch this year, with the first Leitz Phone 2.
The Leitz Phone 2 captures both raw and JPEG image processing through the company’s proprietary software engine, which the company says brings a Leica look to images captured with the device. Leica says it has three different fake bokeh shooting modes based on “three iconic M lenses”: the Summilux 28, Summilux 35 and Noctilux 50. To get the equivalent field of view of these respective lenses.
Leica also offers its own color simulation modes, including Monochrome, Classic Cinema, and Contemporary Cinema. Leica has also designed a golden hour widget designed specifically for the Leitz Phone 2 that shows the ideal shooting time for golden hour photos based on your geographic location.
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JBQ says, The display on the Leitz Phone 2 is a 6.6-inch OLED (2730 x 1260 pixels) display with Corning Gorilla Glass on the front. The device runs Android 12 and has Wi-Fi connectivity (a/b/g/n/ac/ax) as well as Bluetooth 5.2 and NFC. It has the IP68 standard for dust and water resistance and has a 5000 mAh battery and Good Charger and Cable.
Leica also includes a magnetic lens cap that covers the protruding camera array on the back of the device for added protection. Leica also adds its own twist to the software, modifying the camera to mimic three of its iconic M lenses, the Summilux 28mm, Summilux 35mm and Noctilux 50mm. In addition, it also offers filters that bring a more ‘Leica’ look to photos taken with the phone.
If that all sounds good to you, I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, as the Leitz Phone 2 will only be available in Japan from carrier Softbank. But if you’re local, you can always pick one up on November 18, and for the rest of us, we’ll just have to admire it from afar. If you want an idea of what it looks like, you can always check out our review of the Sharp Aquos R7 that the Leitz Phone 2 is based on.
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Price of Leitz Phone 2
The Leitz Phone 2 is limited to the Japanese market (at least for now), where it costs around ¥225,000 (roughly $1,580). You can read the full technical specifications sheet on the Leica website.
Oh, and it looks great. But it is expensive, selling for ¥225,360 (about $1,588). Or it will when it goes on sale exclusively through SoftBank on November 18. So most likely you can’t buy it. The real problem is the elephant in the room – the Sharp Aquos R7 on which the Leitz Phone 2 is based. And it’s available for about $200 less.
You certainly won’t get the Leica brand. You also don’t get the special Leica widgets that display images taken by Leica owners and represent the golden age. But if none of that matters to you, the Sharp is probably a better buy. You can Buy Screen Protector For Your Phone in our Shop.
Although if you’ve read the details of a Leica phone this far, you’re probably already looking for a way to order one of your own. The Leitz Phone 2 is a good-looking phone that offers an impressive-sounding camera, but you shouldn’t buy it. Buy the Sharp Aquos R7 instead.
First, let’s start with the good stuff. The Leitz Phone 2 is a phone made by Sharp for camera maker Leica. The phone packs a 1st Gen Snapdragon 8 chip inside and has a 6.6-inch OLED display, a nice big 5,000mAh battery, and a massive rear camera that Leica claims is the “largest sensor in a smartphone.” A dust cap is also provided for that lens. Leica is very keen to point out that photos taken on its cameras – and phones – have a certain look that makes them “unmistakable”. So there is that.
