The Leica LUX camera app has been given its most major update to date with a new gallery interface, but the camera grip and leather cases for the iPhone 18 series are what first grabs attention. 

The new silver Leica LUX grip keeps the familiar control of the original black version in a new finish, complementing the choices available for iPhone users Leica says that “its tried-and-tested features remain unchanged: the mechanical, two-stage shutter release allows you to focus with a light press and trigger the shutter by pressing it fully. A precise setting wheel and two customisable function buttons provide direct access to key camera settings.” 

Designed to replicate the feel of a camera, the Leica LUX grip can easily be connected to the iPhone via MagSafe. Communication with the smartphone takes place via Bluetooth, while the Leica LUX App seamlessly integrates the physical control elements into the photographic workflow. The battery lasts for up to 1,000 shots and can be recharged via USB-C. The Leica LUX grip is compatible with the iPhone 12 and later models. 

Leica also introduced new Leica LUX cases that have been designed to fit the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max perfectly. Combining reliable everyday protection with the distinctive Leica design vocabulary, they are specifically tailored for use with the Leica LUX grip. The exterior is crafted from premium black leather, while the interior is made with red microfibre. The integrated camera button enables convenient, reliable operation while supporting a closed, robust construction. This replaces the previous open cut-out in the area around the camera button. Thanks to MagSafe, the cases are easy to connect to the Leica LUX grip and other compatible accessories.

If you want to buy the Leica LUX grip for your iPhone, it’s important to understand that the accessory does not work with the pre-installed iPhone camera app and needs the Leica LUX app… which you’ll get for free, as the package includes one year’s access to Leica LUX PRO. The basic version of Leica LUX is free. Leica LUX PRO is available for $6.99 per month or $69 per year; the yearly subscription includes a seven-day free trial. Prices quoted refer to the German App Store and may vary by region. 

Leica says that “since its launch in 2024, the Leica LUX App has been downloaded millions of times and is used by hundreds of thousands of photographers every month. With an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars based on over 25,000 reviews, it is also one of the highest-rated camera apps on the Apple App Store.” 

Leica LUX 2.0 is, the company adds, “the most comprehensive update to the Leica LUX camera app yet: the new version will use the same gallery interface as the Leica FOTOS App going forward and features a revamped user interface with new app icons inspired by legendary Leica cameras, as well as subtle elements of Apple’s Liquid Glass design vocabulary. Alongside the Artist Look by Steve McCurry and support for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, this represents the most significant advancement in the history of the Leica LUX App.” 

Leica LUX brings Leica’s distinctive visual aesthetic to the iPhone. With simulations of legendary Leica lenses, a variety of Leica Looks and manual control over focus, exposure, ISO and white balance, a whole host of possibilities are opened up for both spontaneous snapshots and carefully composed shots. 

Leica LUX version 2.0 introduces the same gallery interface found in the Leica FOTOS App. Leica FOTOS connects compatible Leica cameras to smartphones and tablets, supporting the transfer and management of images. As both apps will follow the same operating logic going forward, the photographic experience within the Leica system is more consistent.

A new filmstrip enables you to select individual shots straight from the detail view. In grid view, multi-select functionality makes it easier to manage larger image series. In addition, Adobe Lightroom and Capture One can now be launched directly as external image editing programs alongside Darkroom. 

The Leica LUX user interface has also undergone a comprehensive redesign. Its clearer appearance incorporates elements of Apple’s Liquid Glass design vocabulary while retaining the familiar layout of the photographic control elements. The key settings are therefore still located where users would intuitively expect them to be. The new design is complemented by alternative app icons inspired by legendary Leica cameras, allowing for a personalised home screen display. 

Leica LUX is compatible with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max from launch. Version 2.0 includes further optimisations tailored to the photographic capabilities of this new generation of devices. 

The app’s regular release cycle reflects its ongoing development: new features are released approximately every two months. Last year, Leica LUX was enhanced with features including Leica Perspective Control, a halation effect and colour filters for monochrome photography. 

“With Leica LUX 2.0, mobile photography is becoming more closely integrated with the Leica system. The shared gallery, the new user interface and Steve McCurry’s Artist Look offer photographers new ways to develop their own visual language using an iPhone. Together with the silver Leica LUX grip and matching cases, the result is a coordinated range for mobile photography,” says Marius Eschweiler, Leica Camera AG’s Vice President of Mobile.