The Photos I’ve Taken on Xiaomi’s Leica Phone Are Some of My Best Ever

The Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi — to use its full name — is the latest collaboration between Xiaomi and iconic German camera brand Leica. This Android handset packs impressive imaging hardware that’s allowed me to capture some of my favorite photos ever taken on a phone.

But more than that, this phone captures images that aren’t just “good for a phone” — they’re superb by any standard. In fact, it’s the best camera phone I’ve ever used, which is why I awarded it a CNET Editors’ Choice award.

You can read more about the phone in my full review, but here I wanted to share a selection of my favorite images from the 2,000 or so that I’ve taken throughout my testing time. Let’s dive in.

First up this shot of pigeons flying overhead. I took this with the main camera and I’m thrilled at how quickly I was able to capture the perfect moment as the bird was circling with its wings outstretched. 

I used the Leica Chrome color profile, which produces beautiful image tones and in fact it’s the same filmic profile I use when shooting images with my actual Leica Q3 43. I love the fact that the phone has the same tones built in and the results are remarkably similar.

Here I’ve switched into the high contrast black and white mode. By exposing for the bright sky behind it’s thrown the bird into complete blackness, creating this stark silhouette. I took this using the 8x hybrid zoom mode in order to frame the bird between its perch and the roof above. The fine details are pin sharp and I adore that I’ve been able to capture such a dramatic image on a phone.

In fact the phone does a great job of capturing moody tones. Many of its rivals use huge amount of image processing to try and artificially brighten shadows, but that’s not the case here. Instead I’ve been able to expose for the highlights in the distance, creating this minimalist, low-key image that actually celebrates darker tones in an image rather than trying to eliminate them. 

At 8x hybrid zoom, these seagulls remain sharp. 

I love this night time scene overlooking St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Despite the low light situation, the phone has captured a great exposure with spot-on colors and plenty of detail. It’s a tricky shot from any camera but from a phone I’m especially impressed.

I love street photography and here I’ve been able to use the zoom to isolate this subject as they take a smoke break. The Chrome color profile has helped achieve bold orange tones on the wall and boxes while also keeping the drama from the deep shadows.

Another night time scene, this time using the 8x zoom and, yes, the Chrome color profile. I really think it should be the default color mode as it always delivers such beautiful tones and it’s worked especially well here.

The phone also has a mode that aims to replicate Leica’s Monopan 50 analog film. IT’s worked well here, producing a well-exposed image with soft contrast and subtle film grain. I took some comparison images on actual Monopan film and can say with confidence that the phone does an excellent job of simulating the film stock.

Taken at maximum zoom using the high contrast black and white mode, I love the minimalism of this image. We have the dividing line of the cliff edge with the very small addition of the two figures towards the right of the frame. 

Chrome has done a great job of producing deep orange tones and pleasing contrast in this night time pub scene.

I do a lot of this type of high contrast black and white street photography in my personal photography and I love how well the phone replicates the look I’d expect to get from my actual Leica camera.

I took this in Pro mode set to capture images in DNG raw. I then brought it into Adobe Lightroom to give it my own edit, slightly pulling down the bright sky and adjusting the colors and grain to achieve a subtle filmic look. 

Despite being taken at night and using the hybrid 8x zoom, this shot is pin sharp. I’m really impressed in how it’s captured the highlights from the building windows yet still maintained sufficient detail in the darker areas.

The vibrant pops of color from these climbins holds contrast perfectly with the muted gray of the wall itself.

I’m so pleased that the phone didn’t try to artificially balance the exposure here. By keeping the background shadows as they were it’s resulted in an image that looks like it could have been taken on any pro camera.

I got down low for this shot. The dog moved quite quickly resulting in a little motion blur due to the relatively poor light of where I was. But the tones look great and it’s a great moment to have captured, with the crossed legs of the figure on the right.

This low light shot has been captured well by the phone in the high contrast black and white mode.

The window condensation really helped create some mystery in this image, resulting in an almost abstract scene that I’m pleased to have taken.

I used the ultrawide lens here in the high contrast black and white mode. By manually underexposing the image I was able to capture deep contrast that turned this concrete structure into an abstract swooping form. 

This image combines the zoom, the Chrome color profile and some intentional underexposing to create a shot with beautifully-balanced tones. 

I did the same here, exposing for the bright highlight on the top of the building, allowing the rest to fall to shadow. 

A peaceful moment, perfectly captured on the phone.

By trying to take this shot in a split second I slightly missed focus on the figures but I still think it’s a great shot that combines lots of elements. 

Indoors in my favorite Edinburgh coffee spot, Santu, the natural yellow tones of the interior look rich and vibrant in the Chrome profile.

I really underexposed this image in order to keep the sky looking nice and moody. As a result, the building entrance has fallen to black, creating this amazing frame with this stark shaft of light cutting through. 

I used these two figures as a foreground frame for my friend on the climbing wall behind. 

Similarly, I used these coffee cups as out-of-focus foreground in this scene which helps draw the eye to my friend’s face. 

A slight attempt at a Wes Anderson style composition, with the figure being centrally positioned with a lot of negative space on all sides. 

I used the 8x hybrid zoom here to concentrate my composition on the elements of the colorful doors, the figures on the walkway and the Bass Rock out at sea in the background. Shot in DNG raw, I edited this image myself in Adobe Lightroom.