Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has addressed recent speculation surrounding its collaboration with German optics company Leica, confirming that there are no plans to terminate their partnership. The clarification comes in light of widespread rumours suggesting that upcoming Xiaomi flagship devices, particularly the expected Xiaomi 16 series, would no longer carry the Leica branding.

Responding to the reports, a Xiaomi spokesperson described the claims as “entirely unfounded”, emphasizing that the collaboration between Xiaomi and Leica remains strong. The statement, issued to Business Standard, highlighted the ongoing nature of the partnership, which is said to be based on a shared commitment to pushing the limits of mobile photography technology.

Rumors of Xiaomi-Leica breakup? Officially dismissed!
Xiaomi PR head Wang Hua calls it “nonsense”
In fact, Leica x Xiaomi collab is expanding:
• Watermark revamp
• Classic vs Vivid modes refined
• Leica UI + shutter sounds rolling out
• Xiaomi 15 Ultra = Leica powerhouse pic.twitter.com/3u1JiuJq9U— Mobi4Arena (@mobi4arena) July 6, 2025

It was noted that both companies have been working closely to integrate Leica’s advanced optics and imaging systems into Xiaomi’s smartphone lineup. This collaboration, according to the spokesperson, has resulted in industry-leading mobile photography experiences for users worldwide and continues to evolve with future innovations in mind.

Despite some reports hinting at the possibility of Xiaomi developing its own imaging technology,similar to Huawei, which ended its relationship with Leica in 2022 to create the XMAGE camera system, Xiaomi has firmly denied any such shift. The company made it clear that it has no intention of replacing Leica’s contributions with in-house alternatives at this time.

Meanwhile, the mobile industry at large seems to be experiencing a shift in how smartphone brands approach camera partnerships. In a related development, 9To5Google recently reported that OnePlus may be preparing to end its collaboration with Swedish camera maker Hasselblad, with future flagship models expected to drop the branding entirely. This broader trend has added weight to speculation around Xiaomi, although the brand has now dispelled those concerns.

Xiaomi’s reaffirmation of its alliance with Leica underscores its intent to stay competitive in the high-end smartphone photography segment, where camera capabilities are a key differentiator. Since their partnership began, the two companies have delivered smartphones featuring Leica-enhanced camera systems, praised for their image clarity, color tuning, and overall performance.

In conclusion, while other smartphone manufacturers may be rethinking their external collaborations, Xiaomi has made it clear that its relationship with Leica remains intact and is set to continue. Both companies appear committed to bringing more advanced imaging solutions to the next generation of Xiaomi smartphones.