This machine has been a hot topic since its announcement. It's a smartphone that I don't need to explain. It is a high-end smartphone that supports 5G and is equipped with Snapdragon 888 5G / 12GB / 256GB, and is manufactured by Sharp.
This alone is high-end enough, but in addition, the camera sensor adopts an oversized 1 inch / about 20.2 million pixels as a smartphone, and Leica is fully supervised in terms of hardware and software. It will be the first smartphone with the red company logo.
The "AQUOS R6 SH-51B" released by docomo with almost the same specifications and the "P" series of Huawei are also partially supervised by the company, but there is no red logo. Especially internally, I'm curious about what's different from the same AQUOS R6 SH-51B. In any case, as a Leica fan of yesteryear, I think it's a smartphone that I want to get out of my throat.
However, personally, I have no admiration or desire to own Leica, and in that sense, the evaluation of the camera is the same stance as usual. The main specifications are as follows.
| Specifications of Softbank "Leitz Phone 1" | |
|---|---|
| SoC | Includes Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G (octacore CPU) 2.84GHz, Adreno 660 |
| memory | 12GB |
| storage | 256GB |
| OS | Android 11 |
| display | Approximately 6.6 type WUXGA + (2,730 x 1,260 dots) Pro IGZO OLED |
| network | IEEE 802.11ax compatible, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC (FeliCa compatible) |
| SIM | Nano SIM card slot x 1 |
| Corresponding band | 5G: n3 *, n28 *, n77 *, n784G: 1 *, 2, 3 *, 4, 5, 7, 8 *, 11 *, 12, 17, 18, 19, 28 *, 38, 41 *, 42 * 3G: 850MHz, 900MHz *, 1.7GHz, 1.9GHz, 2.1GHz * * are frequency bands provided by SoftBank. |
| Interface | USB Type-C (USB PD / video output), microSD card (up to 1TB), stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack |
| camera | Front: Approximately 12.6 million pixels Back: Approximately 20.2 million pixels + ToF |
| others | Waterproof: IPX5 / IPX8, Dustproof: IP6X |
| Size / weight | Approximately 74 x 162 x 9.5 mm (width x depth x height) / 212 g |
| Battery | 5,000mAh |
| Color variations | Leica silver |
| price | 187,920 yen |
The SoC is Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 5G. It is an octa-core CPU with a clock of 2.84GHz and includes Adreno 660 as a GPU. It is the highest SKU @ Qualcomm as a current smartphone in 2021.
As the reviews in this column continue for "ROG Phone 5 Ultimate" and "Xperia 1 III", you know the performance of SoC. There is a clear performance difference from the Snapdragon 865 5G one generation ago. Memory is 12GB and storage is 256GB. The OS is equipped with Android 11.
The display is approximately 6.6-inch WUXGA + (2,730 x 1,260 dots) Pro IGZO OLED. After confirming, Type-C is just a mirror display, but it supports video output.
The network is IEEE 802.11ax compatible, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC (FeliCa compatible). SIM is Nano SIM x 1. Please see the table for compatible bands. Although it supports 5G, it does not support millimeter waves (n257). Also, although it is sold by Softbank, this unit is originally SIM lock free. It can be purchased without a SoftBank line.
Other interfaces are USB Type-C (USB PD / video output), microSD card (up to 1TB), stereo speakers, 3.5mm jack. The fingerprint sensor is on the screen.
It has a built-in 5,000mAh battery, a size of about 74 x 162 x 9.5mm (width x depth x height), and a weight of 212g. The color variation is Leica Silver only. Waterproof is IPX5 / IPX8, and dustproof is IP6X compatible.
The biggest feature of the camera is that it has a large sensor with about 12.6 million pixels on the front and about 20.2 million pixels on the back, and a SUMMICRON F / 1.9 19mm ASPH. On the lens. Details will be described later, so please refer to it.
The price is 187,920 yen. It's quite expensive for a smartphone. It's unclear how long it will take, but if you pay in one lump sum, you'll get a 22,000 yen discount on the campaign, which isn't much different from the 512GB model of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Also, it can be said that it is cheap for a camera with the Leica logo.
Front camera on the center of the front panel. The left and right edges are curved and the Leica red logo is on the upper right of the back. Cameras on the center. FeliCa mark left / bottom slightly below the center. There is nothing on the left side. 3.5mm jack on the bottom side, Type-C, speaker R right / top. Volume ± button, Google button, power button on the right side. SIM / microSD card slot on the top side Near the Nano SIM slot. Eject pin type. The back side is Nano SIM, and the front side is a microSD card. The actual weight is 215g (with SIM). The attached case and lens cap. A case with the Leica logo and a magnetic lens cap. Comparison with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which also has the company's logo here.A feeling of size that is not much different from the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which is said to be hugeThe back of the case is matte black with tempered glass. Fingerprints are almost unnoticeable. The frame is aluminum. As you can see, it has an outstanding profound feeling! Regardless of the appearance from the front, looking only at the back creates an atmosphere that makes you think it is a new Leica point-and-shoot. However, as you can see from the comparison photo with the iPhone 12 Pro Max, it is quite large and the actual weight is 215 g, which is not much different from the 226 g of the iPhone 12 Pro Max. Therefore, if you hold it for a long time, your hands will get tired.
The front is the front camera on the center of the panel. The left and right edges are curved. The back is the Leica red logo on the upper right. Cameras on the center. FeliCa mark just below the center. And below is the word "DESIGNED BY LEICA CAMERA GERMANY". 3.5mm jack, Type-C, speaker R on the bottom side. Volume ± button, Google button, power button on the right side. SIM / microSD card slot is located on the upper side. There is nothing on the left side. The SIM / microSD card slot is an eject pin type, with the Nano SIM in the back and the microSD card in the foreground.
There are no AC adapters, USB cables, etc. as accessories, only the case and lens cap. As you can see, the case is well designed (although not very cool) to match the body. The actual weight when installed is 245g. However, since there is a lot of wraparound to the display, there is a step at the edge of the display, which makes gesture-type navigation difficult.
The lens cap is a magnet type and can be easily attached and detached. It's perfect for protecting the lens group on the back, but it's a hassle to remove it when taking a picture and then put it back in, and it can be dropped or lost. Is it a delicate existence?
When the case is attached, there is a considerable step between the case and the display, making gesture-type navigation difficult.The display is approximately 6.6-inch WUXGA + (2,730 x 1,260 dots) Pro IGZO OLED. Brightness, contrast, color development, viewing angle are all perfectly beautiful. The high refresh rate can be turned on / off for each app in Settings → Display → Smooth high speed display. This is a function that dynamically adjusts the refresh rate from 1Hz (resting) to 240Hz (pseudo, with black sandwiched between 120Hz) to achieve both power consumption and smoothness.
What I personally dislike is that the left and right sides are curved edges. It was a popular method to increase the screen occupancy rate about 3 years ago, but recently it has returned to the usual narrow frame because the display is hidden (or malfunctions) with the hand holding it. But now I have a feeling of why.
The sound becomes stereo when in the horizontal position. It has power and the range is extended as it is, so it is quite enjoyable. When I watched the output from the 3.5mm jack on the MDR-EX800ST, it had the same tendency, but I wanted more power.
The heat generation is about the same as that of the same SoC-equipped machine, ROG Phone 5 Ultimate, and Xperia 1 III that I have tried so far. While taking a sample photo, the message "The temperature of the main unit has risen, so the camera will be closed. Please use it after a while" is displayed many times.