Thanks to smartphones, most of us walk around with a high-quality camera in our pocket. But that will be especially true if your next phone is the latest model from Softbank.
The telecommunications company has just announced a new Leica brand phone for Japan, called Leitz Phone 1. The name of the legendary German camera maker has already been used for camera systems and smartphone lenses, but never for an entire phone.
As you would expect for a phone that sports the iconic red dot, the camera is the star of this device. While it doesn’t look thicker than the rest of its modern peers, the Leitz Phone 1 is equipped with a 1-inch 20-megapiexel sensor, currently the largest on the market, and a lens. ultra wide f / 1.9 equivalent to 19mm. It might not be able to compete with some of Leica’s dedicated cameras like the M10-R or SL2, but it can still hold up, especially by smartphone standards.
A close up of the Leitz Phone 1
Softbank
It’s not the only Leica key you’ll notice. The Leitz Phone 1 also features a matte black and silver casing with the brand’s familiar red logo. There is also a magnetic lens cap with the Leica script on it to make sure the lens stays scratch-free. Finally, the interface of the phone’s camera application has been given a Leica makeover.
Other features include 5G compatibility, a 6.6-inch IGZO 120Hz OLED display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and IP68 dust and water resistance. If these specs, along with the phone’s overall shape, give you déjà vu, it’s because the Leitz Phone 1 is basically the same smartphone as last month’s Sharp Aquos R6, which was touted as co-designed by the camera manufacturer. .
If that doesn’t bother you and you’re not addicted to Apple like many of us, the Leitz Phone 1 will be available for pre-order starting tomorrow. It’s unclear whether the device, which will cost 187,920 yen (or around $ 1,700), will be available outside of Japan, but we think diehard Leica fans will find a way to get one.
