Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is planning to end its co-branding partnership with Leica for its upcoming flagship devices.
Future models in the SM8850 sub-series, including the Xiaomi 16, 16 Pro, 16 Ultra, Redmi K90 Pro, and Poco F8 Ultra, will no longer carry Leica logos and will instead use Xiaomi’s own imaging technologies.
The move reflects Xiaomi’s growing confidence in its internal research and development teams and is expected to reduce production costs. Licensing fees and authorization charges for using Leica branding reportedly added $3 to $5 per device.
By cutting these costs, Xiaomi aims to invest more in hardware upgrades such as better camera sensors, improved computational photography, larger batteries, and enhanced flat-panel displays.
According to tipster Digital Chat Station, Redmi’s camera systems will see “epic-level” improvements, benefiting price-sensitive markets where Redmi and Poco models compete.
This shift follows a broader industry trend where some smartphone makers are moving away from third-party imaging partnerships. For example, Huawei now uses its own XMAGE system after ending its collaboration with Leica. However, brands like Vivo, Oppo, and Honor continue partnerships with Zeiss, Hasselblad, and Harcourt respectively.
By focusing on its in-house camera technologies, Xiaomi aims to offer flagship-level features while keeping device prices competitive. The upcoming SM8850 series phones will also feature large batteries and flat displays, highlighting Xiaomi’s focus on overall user experience.
