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Xiaomi launches their first Leica smartphone with the 12S Ultra

Paired with a mirrorless-like 1-inch camera sensor

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A short time ago, Xiaomi launched the 12 Series as the world’s first Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-touting smartphones. Just after several months, we’re already getting an update — including Xiaomi’s first set of phones with Leica-engineered cameras.

S means Super Flagship

Sitting at the throne is none other than the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. It’s the company’s best flagship to date. On its front, there’s a huge 6.73-inch LTPO2 AMOLED E5 Quad HD+ display. It has an adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate as well as 1500 nits of maximum brightness with a pixel density of 522 ppi.

Image by GadgetMatch

For a full-on entertainment experience, it has an advanced Dolby Vision TrueColor Display as well as support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR, and even HLG. And just like previous Xiaomi phones, it has a set of Harman Kardon speakers with Dolby Atmos support.

Image by GadgetMatch

Going inside, the 12S Ultra has a 4860mAh battery that supports Xiaomi’s proprietary 67W Turbo Charging (sadly, not the blazing fast 120W one from the 12 Pro and 11T Pro line) plus 50W if you’ll use the wireless one. Paired with the P1 charging chip and G1 battery management chip, charging should be fast enough without compromising the phone’s battery health.

It’s also one among the first smartphones to ship with the updated Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset with either 8 or 12GB of LPDDR5 memory and 256 or 512GB UFS 3.1 storage. It was also mentioned that it has a whole new heat dissipation system that further improves cooling. As reported by a lot of users, overheating is a problem among Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 flagships.

Image by GadgetMatch

But the biggest star of the show can be seen at its back. With a huge Leica-like camera module and a “leather-like” back, Xiaomi has decided to take cues from the camera design language of many Leica cameras — although it’s not there just for the aesthetics.

The Xiaomi 12S Ultra is one among the many few smartphones that ships a gigantic 1-inch sensor beneath it. For comparison, last year’s Mi 11 Ultra had a “smaller” 1/1.12-inch sensor. The Xiaomi 12S Ultra can definitely sit alongside the 1-incher club, namely Sony’s Xperia PRO-I and the Sharp AQUOS R6 — which also bears the Leica branding and optics.

Image by GadgetMatch

For the ultimate camera geeks, here are the specifics of Xiaomi 12S Ultra’s gigantic camera hump:

  • 50.3MP f/1.9 main/wide (Sony IMX989 1-inch sensor) with octa-PDAF
  • 48MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (Sony IMX586 1/2-inch sensor) with dual-PDAF
  • 48MP f/4.1 periscope (Sony IMX586 1/2-inch sensor) with dual PDAF
  • Leica Summicron 1:1.9-4.1 / 13-120 ASPH. camera system
  • 32MP RGBW front camera

To make it even more photography-centric, it has some nifty features like the main camera’s 8P aspheric lens with Multi-layer ALD ultra-low reflectance coating, HyperOIS, Leica filters, and two Leica photographic styles. Aside from being able to shoot in JPEG and HEIF file formats, the 12S Ultra also lets you shoot 10-bit Adobe RGB RAW through DNG.

If you’re into mobile videography, the 12S Ultra can shoot in several resolutions. From 720p, 1080p in 30/60/120/240/480fps slow-motion, 4K in 30/60fps, and as extreme as an 8K/24fps footage. Default file formats are in H.264 or H.265 but you can now record HDR videos through 10-bit Dolby Vision Rec.2020 HLG.

If you’re worried about shooting in wet conditions, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra has an IP68 water and dust resistance rating.

S also means Slightly upgraded

Other than the flagship bearer, Xiaomi has also announced two smartphones in the 12S lineup: the 12S and 12S Pro.

Image by GadgetMatch

The design of the new 12S series hasn’t changed from the preceding models of 2021. The 12S sports the same 6.28-inch AMOLED display as Xiaomi 12, while the 12S Pro and 12 Pro are equipped with the bigger 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel. The cameras are neither different. Heck! Even the batteries are the same with 4500mAh and 4600mAh capacities respectively.

Image by GadgetMatch

So what’s changed? Well, apart from the new Leica-branded cameras at the back, it’s now powered with the newest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 that should make performance better and battery consumption more efficient. Also, both phones now have a 12GB + 512GB configuration that the 12 series never had.

S as a Substitute

To complete the list, the Chinese company has also announced a MediaTek version of their Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-powered 12 Pro, dubbed the Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition. Very obvious from its mouthful name, it has MediaTek’s latest Dimensity 9000+ 5G chipset that’s based on a 4nm process.

Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition

Just like its Snapdragon counterpart, it’s also the first smartphone in the world to feature Dimensity 9000+. Other than that, all the specs are similar to the Xiaomi 12 Pro — including the same set of display, battery, charging technology, cameras, and even the absence of Leica branding on its camera hardware and software.

Pricing and Availability

Currently, the new flagship series of Xiaomi is now available for pre-order in China. The SRP in Chinese Yuan (Renminbi) are as follows:

Xiaomi 12S Ultra (Classic Black/Verdant Green)

  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 5999 (US$ 895 / SG$ 1250 / ₱49,330)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 6499 (US$ 970 / SG$ 1354 / ₱53,390)
  • 12GB + 512GB — CNY 6999 (US$ 1045 / SG$ 1459 / ₱57,495)

Xiaomi 12S Pro (White/Black for all models, Wild Green/Purple only for 256GB models)

  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 4699 (US$ 701 / SG$ 980 / ₱38,598)
  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 4999 (US$ 746 / SG$ 1042 / ₱41,065)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 5399 (US$ 806 / SG$ 1126 / ₱44,351)
  • 12GB + 512GB — CNY 5899 (US$ 880 / SG$ 1230 / ₱48,459)

Xiaomi 12S (White/Black for all models, Wild Green/Purple only for 256GB models)

  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 3999 (US$ 597 / SG$ 834 / ₱32,848)
  • 8GB + 256GB — CNY 4299 (US$ 642 / SG$ 896 / ₱35,313)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 4699 (US$ 701 / SG$ 980 / ₱38,598)
  • 12GB + 512GB — CNY 5199 (US$ 776 / SG$ 1084 / ₱42,705)

Xiaomi 12 Pro Dimensity Edition (Black/Blue)

  • 8GB + 128GB — CNY 3999 (US$ 597 / SG$ 834 / ₱32,848)
  • 12GB + 256GB — CNY 4499 (US$ 672 / SG$ 938 / ₱36,955)

Pricing and availability in other regions have yet to be announced.

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HONOR Robot Phone’s camera can move on its own

Its built-in gimbal lets the camera move itself.

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The HONOR Robot Phone’s biggest trick is also the easiest to understand: its camera can physically move.

Instead of keeping its cameras fixed inside the phone, HONOR built a mechanical gimbal directly into the device. The system can tilt, rotate, and reposition the camera, opening up movements that aren’t possible with a conventional smartphone camera.

HONOR calls it the Titanium Agile Gimbal, and the company says it is the industry’s smallest 4DoF gimbal system. It packs more than 100 precision components into a module that’s just 9.59mm thick.

A tiny gimbal inside the phone

The 4DoF mechanical system is designed to deliver the benefits of a separate gimbal without requiring users to carry another piece of equipment.

HONOR says it reduced the gimbal’s overall volume by 65% compared with traditional gimbals while increasing its structural strength by 200%. The system uses more than 100 precision components and is backed by more than 100 patents.

At its core is a 2.6-gram titanium gimbal motor that can rotate at up to 360 degrees per second. A separate HONOR Shield Steel Flip Motor provides a torque density of 120 Nm/L.

Those numbers sound impressive, but their practical purpose is straightforward: the camera needs to move quickly and precisely while remaining small enough to fit inside a smartphone.

The camera can move on its own

The Robot Phone’s gimbal isn’t limited to simply stabilizing the camera.

It supports six dynamic camera movement modes: AI SpinShot, Default Stabilization, Tilt Locked, Super Steady, FPV, and FPV Vertical. AI SpinShot, for example, can perform 90- or 180-degree camera rolls, while the other modes are designed for different types of movement and shooting.

The phone also has three smart tracking modes: Gimbal Tracking, Subject Tracking, and Pre-Composition. These are designed to help the camera follow a subject or maintain a particular composition while the phone moves.

That’s the important distinction between the Robot Phone and a conventional smartphone with image stabilization. The camera isn’t just correcting for your movement. It can actively move to create or maintain a shot.

You can tell it what to do

HONOR also gives the gimbal its own set of AI-powered controls.

Through YOYO Robot Mode, the Robot Phone can combine voice commands, gesture recognition, AI perception, and physical movement. Users can wake the mode and deploy or stow the gimbal with a flip gesture.

Voice commands can be specific, too. HONOR says users can tell the gimbal to turn left by a certain number of degrees, look toward the sky, or rotate for a specified amount of time.

The phone can also use AI Subject Tracking to automatically frame and follow people during video calls, vlogging, and livestreaming.

That makes the Robot Phone particularly interesting for people who regularly shoot themselves. Instead of setting up a phone and constantly checking whether they’re still in frame, the camera can do some of that work itself.

The real question is how naturally all of this works in practice. We’ll get to answer that when we spend more time with the Robot Phone.

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HONOR Robot Phone officially launches after its MWC debut

Ready for consumers

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The HONOR Robot Phone is finally becoming a real product.

First shown at MWC 2026, HONOR has now officially launched the unusual smartphone. It’s bringing its moving camera system, AI-powered controls, and ARRI imaging technology to a commercial device.

The Robot Phone stands out because its camera doesn’t simply sit inside the phone. A built-in mechanical gimbal allows the camera to physically move, while AI features can help control that movement.

HONOR is positioning the device as a new kind of smartphone for people who want more freedom when shooting photos and videos.

A camera that can physically move

The Robot Phone’s standout feature is its 4DoF mechanical gimbal. HONOR’s Titanium Agile Gimbal uses more than 100 precision components and is backed by more than 100 patents. The company says it reduced the system’s size by 65% compared with traditional gimbals while increasing its structural strength by 200%.

In practical terms, the gimbal lets the phone’s camera physically move instead of relying entirely on software to stabilize footage. Its titanium motor can rotate at up to 360 degrees per second, allowing the camera to quickly change direction.

The phone supports six camera movement modes, including AI SpinShot, Tilt Locked, Super Steady, FPV, and FPV Vertical. It also has three tracking modes for following subjects and setting up compositions.

That could give smartphone creators more control over moving shots without having to carry a separate gimbal.

AI can control the camera

The Robot Phone also combines its moving hardware with AI.

Its YOYO Robot Mode can use voice commands, gestures, and AI-powered tracking to control the camera. Voice Source Localization and AI Live-Tracking can automatically pan and tilt the camera. This keeps a person in frame during activities such as vlogging, livestreaming, and video calls.

The briefing materials also show how specific these controls can get. Users can give commands such as telling the camera to turn left by a certain angle, look toward the sky, or rotate for a set amount of time.

The idea is simple: instead of always pointing the phone yourself, you can tell the phone where and how you want it to look.

YOYO can also perform more general tasks through HONOR’s agentic AI features, including multi-step actions across supported apps and system settings.

HONOR brings ARRI into the camera

The Robot Phone also marks the first product milestone from HONOR’s Cinematic Imaging Partnership with ARRI.

The collaboration brings selected elements of ARRI Image Science and professional cinema workflows to the smartphone. The main camera supports 10-bit ARRI LogC3 recording, while the phone also supports ARRI Wide Gamut 3 and ARRI Looks.

In simpler terms, these technologies are designed to give creators more control over the look and color of their footage, particularly when they edit it afterward.

HONOR says the phone’s imaging pipeline processes image data in 14-bit 4:4:4 before outputting 10-bit LogC3 and 4:2:2 video. It also claims up to 14 stops of dynamic range and an 8dB improvement in video signal-to-noise ratio through AI noise reduction.

The resulting footage can be brought into software such as DaVinci Resolve. There, creators can apply ARRI LUTs as part of a capture-to-edit workflow.

We’ll have more to say about that workflow once we get our hands on the Robot Phone.

Flagship hardware underneath

The Robot Phone isn’t all camera tricks. It is also equipped like a flagship smartphone.

The phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform and includes HONOR’s H1 Imaging Chip. It has a 7,060mAh silicon-carbon battery with 120W wired and 50W wireless charging.

For photography, there’s a 200MP Agile Gimbal Main Camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and f/1.6 aperture. It’s joined by a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and 2.7x optical zoom, plus a 50MP ultra-wide camera.

The phone has a 6.31-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1–120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 6,800 nits. It comes in 12GB + 512GB and 16GB + 1TB configurations.

HONOR says the Robot Phone will be available in Grey and Silver in China, with pricing and availability details to be announced at launch.

The Robot Phone has spent months making appearances at major events. Now, after its MWC debut and subsequent showcases, HONOR is finally putting the device on the path to becoming something consumers can actually buy.

We’ll update this story with final China pricing, availability, and pre-order details once HONOR officially announces them.

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Galaxy Z8 series drives record-high foldable pre-orders in SEA, Oceania

Almost 60% higher volume of pre-orders versus Z Fold7

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Galaxy Z8 series

The Samsung Galaxy Z8 series has achieved a record-high volume of pre-order sales in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold8 Ultra increased by almost 60% compared to the Galaxy Z Fold7.

Since its unveiling, the Z8 series has seen positive consumer response across the globe and similarly in Southeast Asia and Oceania.

The Fold8, with its new shape, has currently emerged as the most popular option in the region, accounting for almost six in every 10 Galaxy Z8 devices ordered.

By color, Graphite and Lavender were among the most popular choices across the two regions for those who went for the Z Fold8.

Meanwhile, Violet Shadow and Graphite have been the preferred color options for the Z Fold8 Ultra and Pink and Graphite for the Z Flip8.

Alongside the Galaxy Z8 series, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Ultra2 and Galaxy Watch9. These offer a more effortless health and wellness management experience.

Pre-orders for the Z8 series until August 13 come with exceptional value. There’s a double storage offer, eligible trade-ins for up to a PhP 14,000 discount, and Samsung Care+ free for three months.

Every eligible device purchase also includes a six-month trial of Google AI Pro. And those who pre-order the foldables can get a PhP 3,000 off on select Galaxy wearables.

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