The newly minted Xiaomi 14 Civi is making its presence felt in the tech world, largely due to its stellar cameras, thanks to a partnership with Leica. However, you don't actually need a Xiaomi 14 series smartphone to bask in Leica’s luxe (well, anymore). The brand has introduced the new Leica Lux app, offering an experience that’s almost as close to owning a Leica without actually having one.
Made for iPhone users, the Leica Lux camera app has 11 colour profiles, dubbed “Leica Looks,” designed to mirror the magic of current Leica cameras and classic film-inspired aesthetics. Like Apple’s own camera app, the Lux app can operate in fully automatic mode, plus it also features an “Aperture mode” that uses software to mimic the style and bokeh of lenses that cost a pretty penny, such as the Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH and the classic Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH from 1966.
For the seasoned shutterbugs, a manual mode lets you tweak exposure compensation, shutter speed, and ISO on the fly. The Leica Lux app also doubles as a photo library, organising your snaps and displaying EXIF info, including which virtual lens and look were used, and the shot’s location. If Apple’s Photos app feels a bit too basic, this might be the upgrade you need to keep your snaps sorted.
In the free mode, Leica Lux offers five Leica Looks and one lens imitation. To unlock all colour profiles, software lenses, and pro-oriented features like manual exposure controls, it costs ₹575 per month or a neat ₹6900 per year.