Xiaomi has officially responded to recent rumors that it is ending its cooperation with Leica, strongly denying any plans to sever ties. The speculation arose after a leak published by a Digital Chat Station whistleblower claimed that Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica was nearing an end. The rumor quickly gained momentum on social media and in the media. We also covered it.
Wang Hua, Xiaomi’s general manager of public relations, publicly responded to the claim and dismissed it as baseless. Referring to a similar rumor from June 2023, Wang reiterated his previous position with an additional emphasis. “Last time, a blogger said that Xiaomi 14 would be the last in the Leica series. Then I called it nonsense. This time there is even a named author, so my answer needs to be updated: it’s still nonsense,” he said.
Xiaomi emphasized that the partnership with Leica remains strong and is actively expanding. Over the past year, the company has taken several steps that demonstrate its commitment to cooperation. In May, Xiaomi’s camera design team updated its watermark design to align with Leica’s global visual identity. In June, the company shared a detailed explanation of Leica’s “Authentic” and “Vibrant” image profiles, as well as plans to bring Leica shutter sounds to older models.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra continues to serve as a flagship example of collaboration. The device features Leica-tuned optics, Leica’s signature color modes, and a red-accented user interface inspired by Leica branding. It also includes six Leica-style tone presets and proprietary image processing algorithms developed in partnership with Leica’s image processing experts.
In addition to the official denial, Xiaomi India contacted us directly to confirm what Wang had sarcastically hinted at: the alliance with Leica is fully intact. “Together, Xiaomi and Leica have worked closely to integrate advanced optics and imaging technologies into Xiaomi devices,” a company spokesperson told us. “This partnership continues to thrive based on a shared vision of pushing the boundaries of mobile imaging. Recent rumors about the end of our collaboration are completely unfounded.”
In short, if you were hoping for a Xiaomi-Leica divorce, don’t hold your breath. Both companies remain creatively cohesive and strategically committed to each other. Whatever happens next, it’s clear that Xiaomi and Leica’s history is still being written together.
By the way, Xiaomi has recently launched a new compact 20,000 mAh power bank with a built-in cable in India, and also introduced an 8000W modular track socket that has a child-safe design and smart functionality.
