Leica has released a sequel to its first Android smartphone by announcing the Leitz Phone 2.
Last year, Leica, a company known for its cameras and lenses, launched its very first smartphone with the Leitz Phone. Although it has impressive specs and a great camera, it turned out to be just a rebranded handset previously released by Sharp. Now, it looks like the company is sticking to the same formula for its release this year, with the debut of the Leitz Phone 2.
Although “renowned” is such a harsh term when it comes to smartphones, the Leitz Phone 2 has a lot going for it. The handset features a large 6.6-inch OLED display and an aluminum frame with a ribbed edge that lets you keep it in your hands even in the toughest conditions. Moreover, it offers IP68 and IP5X certifications which means that the handset will be protected from the elements.
On the back, you get a bright red Leica logo that sits below the large 1-inch, 47.2-megapixel CMOS image sensor that dominates the top half of the phone. Moreover, the phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor which is paired with 12GB of RAM and offers 512GB of internal storage. If you need more storage, you can always use a microSD card, with support for up to 1TB.
Leica is also adding its own twist to the software, tweaking the camera to simulate three of its signature M lenses, the Summilux 28mm, Summilux 35mm and Noctilux 50mm. Moreover, it also offers filters that bring more “Leica” look to photos taken with the phone.
If this 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 wireless carrier Softbank. But if you’re from the area, you can always pick one up on November 18, and for the rest of us, you’ll have to admire it from afar. If you want an idea of what it is, you can always check out our review of the Sharp Aquos R7, which the Leitz Phone 2 is based on.
Source: Softbank, Leica