Xiaomi and Leica are joining forces to establish the world’s most advanced optical institute for smartphone technologies. It’s called Xiaomi x Leica Optics Institute, and the two companies share expertise in creating a complete product that includes not only smartphone camera optics but also computational photography and artificial intelligence.
Xiaomi and Leica expand cooperation
The institute focuses on the four main technical factors that make a camera phone great. These include small form factor ultra-precision optical lenses suitable for smartphones, computational photography, establishing strict optical standards for lenses, and research and development of optoelectronic technologies.
The upcoming Xiaomi 14 Ultra flagship is the next smartphone to feature the latest and greatest from the Xiaomi and Leica collaboration, marking the beginning of more advanced research in this field. The two companies plan to establish three laboratories in Beijing, staffed by more than 200 experts led by Peter Karbe, the legendary optical designer behind Leica’s fourth-generation lenses.