Xiaomi 12S surfaces in the flesh with Leica camera branding

First signs of the Xiaomi 12S and Xiaomi 12S Pro appeared online about a month ago. Since then, reports have also indicated that the Xiaomi 12S Pro could arrive with a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 onboard. It appears both phones may not be far from launch either, in light of new information.

The Xiaomi 12S has now made its first real-world appearance, with a photo depicting the premium phone in the flesh now making the rounds on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The phone is shown with a Xiaomi 12 series-esque camera module—one large main camera and two vertically-stacked lenses beneath. In addition, a label on the phone lists it as the "2206123SC". That's the same number the Xiaomi 12S visited IMEI databases last month with.

More interesting is the obvious Leica branding on the camera module. Xiaomi recently announced a partnership with the German camera company and it appears the Xiaomi 12S will be one of the phones to benefit from the collaboration. Future premium Xiaomi phones likely will as well, with Digital Chat Station expecting the partnership to go past mere branding and into actual hardware and imaging software territory. 

Details of the Xiaomi 12S remain unknown. Earlier reports claimed the phone could be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, with the Xiaomi 12S Pro potentially set to come equipped with a Dimensity 9000. Either way, it's unlikely that the Xiaomi 12S series ever gets sold outside China.

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