The Leica LUX Grip Brings Tactile Photography to Your iPhone

Leica may be best known for its ultra high-end cameras, but now the iconic brand is setting its sights on enhancing smartphone photography. Its latest product, the Leica LUX Grip, is designed to bring a more tactile, professional shooting experience to the iPhone.

Engineered specifically for smartphone photographers, the LUX Grip mimics the feel and control of a traditional camera. It features physical controls including a two-stage shutter release, a precision control dial, and two customizable buttons – all aimed at offering a more intuitive and deliberate shooting experience.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because the LUX Grip is meant to complement the Leica LUX app. Launched earlier this year, the app gives iPhone users access to Leica’s signature color science, manual shooting controls, and film-style effects inspired by the brand’s legendary lenses. The grip continues that premium experience, both in functionality and aesthetic – sleek, refined, and unmistakably Leica.

While Apple has introduced more advanced manual controls to the iPhone, like the new pressure-sensitive Camera Control button, the experience hasn’t been perfect. The placement of the Camera Control feels like a compromise between horizontal and vertical shooting and can be awkward to use. It’s also relatively stiff, sometimes causing the phone to shift when capturing a shot.

The LUX Grip aims to address these shortcomings. While the Luxe Grip doesn’t have the same touch controls as the Camera Control, its two-stage shutter button offers a smoother, more stable shooting experience, helping to reduce camera shake. Combined with the dial and customizable buttons, users gain quick, precise control over settings without needing to tap the screen.

The LUX Grip connects via MagSafe and pairs with your iPhone over Bluetooth 5.0. While MagSafe is expected to arrive on Android phones through the Qi2 standard, adoption is still limited – and for now, the Leica LUX app remains iOS-only. One caveat: despite being MagSafe-compatible, the grip requires its own charging and doesn’t draw power from the iPhone. The upside? It won’t drain your phone’s battery during long shoots.

The Leica Lux Grip comes at $329 and is available at leica.com. It also comes with a dedicated carry case, which is a nice touch.

Photography courtesy of Leica.