Huawei P9 could be the first phone to use Leica lenses


huawei p9 leica

These latest leaked photos show us the best view of the dual camera Huawei P9 so far which could be the first phone to use dual lenses from Leica.

Being somewhat of a camera phone fan, I was pretty excited when I heard that Huawei and Leica were teaming up on future phones. The collaboration didn’t go in to much details, but its likely that Leica will provide their world class lenses to Huawei, and I hope that Leica might also deal with the camera optimisations too.

Gizchina News of the week


According to the latest leaks, the Huawei P9 will boast dual Leica lenses on the rear 12 mega-pixel cameras, which should mean some very exciting camera options and effects will be available to users.

The Huawei P9 is also believed to run a 5.2-inch FHD display, 3GB RAM, 32GB memory, 3900mAh battery, USB Type C and a Kirin 950 chipset.

Huawei will be launching the P9 at an event held on the 9th March, watch this space!

Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

Previous Meizu Pro 6 screenshot hints at force touch display
Next Elephone wants you to be the voice of their Explorer Pro

28 Comments

  1. Rob
    March 2, 2016

    That is one damn ugly phone, not the usual good looks that modern Huawei devices have.

    • balcobomber25
      March 2, 2016

      Personally I like the design, just not crazy over the color combo. If it’s available in black like the P8 I will be very interested.

      • Zami
        March 2, 2016

        I think the final product will look a lot better.
        Remember Nexus 6P , everybody was calling it a bar code reader.
        But in the end it looked awesome.
        The picture leaked is a preproduction one .
        Final one will be much more polished.

        • balcobomber25
          March 2, 2016

          I go back and forth on the 6p design, one day I like it the next I don’t. I give them a ton of credit though for doing something original unlike the standard 3 or 4 phone designs everyone else uses.

  2. March 2, 2016

    I din’t understand why they don’t use hw capatative buttons at the bottom (huge space and not used at all). Back of the phone isn’t the best looking, but Huawei will surely supports all FDD-LTE bands in EU and that’s why I am waiting for this. I have only few phones on the “shopping” list (lg g4 for 280e, honor 7 32gb, oneplus x – blame Andi^^).

  3. MattD
    March 2, 2016

    This would be possible only if they have silently worked together in the past year or so, if they made a deal back when it was announced, well… It’s just too soon!

    Also, with a 3900mah battery it would be an overkill, but since every past leak point out at a 2900mah battery, I’m assuming the 1000 extra mah you added are just a typo 😀

    • Simon
      March 2, 2016
      • MattD
        March 2, 2016

        Gizchina and lowyat both reported from the same source, but the source itself have a point saying that “3900mah was supposedly reported by the system”… So i still have many doubts about it, and it really seems odd looking at how mate 8 have a slightly bigger battery with a 6inch screen… Probably the one with that battery is the MAX version!

        • Simon
          March 2, 2016

          TBH I’m quite surprised also. Time will tell I guess.

    • balcobomber25
      March 2, 2016

      It depends how long Leica has been working on producing smartphone lenses. They could have already had one designed and ready for use/production at the time they partnered with Huawei. There are rumors that Cannon, Fuji and Nikkon are all preparing to enter the smartphone lens and/or sensor business.

      • Marco Lancaster
        March 2, 2016

        That will be a dream =)
        Currently in my opinion Sony is a lot overrated. Gionee always performed super well with Omnivision lenses, OP2 is also a good example, never a was a fan of Samsung lenses as it seems behind competition lol (Funny that Samsung flagships uses Sony lenses and outperform Sony devices :P) . I think if more companies enter this game than we win a lot.
        BTW as you’re into MS world ;), does any Lumia camera blown you away?

        • balcobomber25
          March 3, 2016

          I actually love the Lumia cameras that feature the Carl Zeiss lenses, even the budget ones can take some pretty good photos.

  4. Rob
    March 2, 2016

    That is one damn ugly phone, not the usual good looks that modern Huawei devices have.

    • balcobomber25
      March 2, 2016

      Personally I like the design, just not crazy over the color combo. If it’s available in black like the P8 I will be very interested.

    • Guest
      March 2, 2016

      I think the final product will look a lot better.
      Remember Nexus 6P , everybody was calling it a bar code reader.
      But in the end it looked awesome.
      The picture leaked is a preproduction one .
      Final one will be much more polished.

    • balcobomber25
      March 2, 2016

      I go back and forth on the 6p design, one day I like it the next I don’t. I give them a ton of credit though for doing something original unlike the standard 3 or 4 phone designs everyone else uses.

  5. denkem
    March 2, 2016

    I din’t understand why they don’t use hw capatative buttons at the bottom (huge space and not used at all). Back of the phone isn’t the best looking, but Huawei will surely supports all FDD-LTE bands in EU and that’s why I am waiting for this. I have only few phones on the “shopping” list (lg g4 for 280e, honor 7 32gb, oneplus x – blame Andi^^).

  6. balcobomber25
    March 2, 2016

    Looks like the P9 could be the first Huawei I own if this is true.

    • G'n'T
      March 2, 2016

      Have to agree. This will be expensive as anything that has a Leica association on it usually is but at the same time I highly doubt Leica would allow their name to be put to a sub par device. If they do the optics and software as well, it will be a big step up in smartphone cameras. Expect the price point to follow suit as well though. Sign me up! lol

  7. MattD
    March 2, 2016

    This would be possible only if they have silently worked together in the past year or so, if they made a deal back when it was announced, well… It’s just too soon!

    Also, with a 3900mah battery it would be an overkill, but since every past leak point out at a 2900mah battery, I’m assuming the 1000 extra mah you added are just a typo 😀

    • Guest
      March 2, 2016
    • MattD
      March 2, 2016

      Gizchina and lowyat both reported from the same source, but the source itself have a point saying that “3900mah was supposedly reported by the system”… So i still have many doubts about it, and it really seems odd looking at how mate 8 have a slightly bigger battery with a 6inch screen… Probably the one with that battery is the MAX version!

    • Guest
      March 2, 2016

      TBH I’m quite surprised also. Time will tell I guess.

    • balcobomber25
      March 2, 2016

      It depends how long Leica has been working on producing smartphone lenses. They could have already had one designed and ready for use/production at the time they partnered with Huawei. There are rumors that Cannon, Fuji and Nikkon are all preparing to enter the smartphone lens and/or sensor business.

      If and when they enter the sensor business, it will make things very interesting for companies like Sony, Samsung and Omnivision. More and more people are ditching compact digital cameras in favor of their smartphones. Eventually these companies will all partner with smartphones to make up some of those lost sales.

    • Marco Lancaster
      March 3, 2016

      That will be a dream =)
      Currently in my opinion Sony is a lot overrated. Gionee always performed super well with Omnivision lenses, OP2 is also a good example, never a was a fan of Samsung lenses as it seems behind competition lol (Funny that Samsung flagships uses Sony lenses and outperform Sony devices :P) . I think if more companies enter this game than we win a lot.
      BTW as you’re into MS world ;), does any Lumia camera blown you away?

    • balcobomber25
      March 3, 2016

      I actually love the Lumia cameras that feature the Carl Zeiss lenses, even the budget ones can take some pretty good photos.

  8. balcobomber25
    March 2, 2016

    Looks like the P9 could be the first Huawei I own if this is true.

    • G'n'T
      March 2, 2016

      Have to agree. This will be expensive as anything that has a Leica association on it usually is but at the same time I highly doubt Leica would allow their name to be put to a sub par device. If they do the optics and software as well, it will be a big step up in smartphone cameras. Expect the price point to follow suit as well though. Sign me up! lol