Xiaomi unveils a special edition of its Xiaomi 15 Ultra, designed to patina like a classic Leica camera. A one-off, this collector’s model will never be marketed, much to the dismay of collectors.
A smartphone for the 100th anniversary of the Leica I
To celebrate the centenary of the Leica I, Xiaomi – which has had a strategic partnership with the German firm since 2022 – has designed a unique version of its latest high-end smartphone. Called the ” Xiaomi 15 Ultra – 100 Years of Leica “, this model is available in a single edition only. Given as a gift to Leica CEO Matthias Harsch, it will never be marketed.
A smartphone with a patina, the ultimate tribute to Leica?
Its charcoal-gray chassis is coated with a deliberately fragile paint; with use, it will patina to reveal the gilded brass of the frame, like a Leica M case whose paint wears over time. A “1925 – 100 Years of Leica – 2025” engraved on the edge and a “Leica 100” logo on the back complete the look.
The device comes in an imposing commemorative box containing a 90 W USB-C charger and, above all, a “Xiaomi × Leica Humanistic Photography Series” photo book. There’s no grip or Fashion Photography Kit here: the object is primarily symbolic, a showcase for the partnership between Beijing and Wetzlar.
Same specifications as Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Beneath this neo-retro look lies the same specification sheet as the standard version, which sells for €1,499. To find out more, read our full article dedicated to the smartphone:
Xiaomi’s combination of a Leica M3-style patina and a technological partnership with the German manufacturer is a fine communications coup. Too bad for collectors: this smartphone with its promised patina will remain forever out of reach… and out of price, unless the CEO of Leica decides, one day, to put it up for sale at a … Leitz Photographica Auction.
