IT Home reported on April 11 that Leica released the Leitz Phone 3, which is the third smartphone it has launched, with stronger imaging capabilities, unique features, rich photo modes and so on. However, the phone will only be available in Japan.
IT Home noticed that the core image components of the Leitz Phone 3 continue to use the configuration of the previous generation model Leitz Phone 2, and the rear main camera is still a 47.2MP 1-inch sensor, with an "eight-phase detection autofocus" function, Leica said that this sensor can bring fast and accurate focusing and excellent photo quality in low-light environments, and the camera is equipped with a 19mm f/1.9 equivalent lens. The front camera is 12.6 million pixels, with a wide viewing angle of 78 degrees and an aperture of f / 2.3.
While the sensor specs have not changed, the Leitz Phone 3 has received a number of upgrades in other areas. First of all, the body has a completely new design, which Leica says reflects its pursuit of functional aesthetics. The back cover has a "premium polyacrylate texture" that feels like a Leica camera. The overall weight is 209 grams, making it thin and compact.
In terms of performance, the Leitz Phone 3 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and comes with a large 5000mAh battery that supports wireless charging. The screen is a 6.6-inch Pro IGZO OLED display with a 240Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 2730 x 1260 pixels, and a maximum brightness of 2000 nits. In addition, the phone has 512GB of storage and can be expanded up to 1TB with a microSDXF UHS-1 memory card. It's worth mentioning that the Leitz Phone 3 retains a 3.5mm headphone jack with a USB-C port.
In addition to the hardware upgrades, the software aspects of the Leitz Phone 3 have also been optimized. Leica says they've rearranged the app icons to make the entire interface cleaner and easier to use, which also makes Leica features like "Golden Hour" 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 perfect for great photos. The Leica International Photography Gallery continues to showcase the work of Leica photographers from around the world.
For the first time, the Leitz Phone 3 introduces the "Leica Perspective Control" function to the smartphone space. This feature, which was previously only available on Leica cameras, corrects vertically slanted lines, such as line distortions, which are common in architectural photography. The gyroscope inside the phone measures the camera's tilt angle at the time of shooting, and the algorithm calculates the corrected image. The new image is displayed inside a white rectangle, and the user can choose whether or not to apply corrections. It should be noted that this feature is only available for JPEG format photos, and the original DNG format file will not be modified.
The Leitz Phone 3 also adds new "Leica Style" and "Leica Shades" in terms of software. Among them, the "variable aperture" Leica style can simulate the aperture effect of many classic Leica lenses, such as the Noct Tillux-M 50mm f/1.2, the Sumlux-M 28mm f/1.4 and the Sumlux-M 35mm f/1.4. Leica says that the user can control the bokeh effect by setting aperture values such as f/1.2, f/1.4, and f/8 through the software. According to Leica, "This feature offers up to 6-7 aperture steps (depending on the lens), giving you a unique amount of control in your photography." ”
In addition, Leica says that the image quality of the "Leica Style" camera mode has been "significantly improved" in three areas: more accurate flare representation (including shape and color), finer object segmentation, and better Leica color simulation. The Leitz Phone 3 also includes new "Vibrant" and "Enhanced" Leica tones, which result in more vivid colors and higher contrast and brighter shadow sections, respectively. In addition to these two new color tones, the new device is still available in "Monochrome", "Classic Film" and "Modern Film" shades, all of which were previously developed 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 "enhances brand recognition" and adds a "professional feel."
The Leitz Phone 3 will be available exclusively in Japan starting April 19 at an unannounced price.