Xiaomi 15 Ultra review: Our high expectations have been met

It ’s middling to say I hadhigh expectationsfor the Xiaomi 15 Ultra . It ’s the follow - up to myfavorite camera phone of 2024 , and the latest from one of the most interesting partnership in fluid picture taking — Xiaomi and Leica . My expectations are n’t the only challenged faced by the phone , as how will Xiaomi go about make iteven betterin the first place ? At first it was n’t well-defined if the Xiaomi 15 Ultra was an betterment at all , but the more I used it , the better it became .

About our Xiaomi 15 Ultra review

Specs

A deeper dive into the camera

When I first used the Xiaomi 15 Ultra , I was n’t sure if the camera had the same level of versatility or character as I ’d loved about the Xiaomi 14 Ultra . I ’d only used the phone for a couple of weeks , and only take on photos in locations I knew well , but I found out it had a lot more to give once I stretched its legs a little more .

I call for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra toMWC 2025 in Barcelona , Spain , and used it over a couple of days in the city . This was a very interesting experience , as I took picture just like I would if I was on holiday , or on a sidereal day out specifically to savor the camera . Ittruly came alive during my trip , and I loved discovering the versatility I was n’t certain it had at first .

The 4.3x rapid growth call for fantastic photos , the contraband and white filter is a personal favorite , and photos choose at night have just the right amount of grain to make them look superb . I had so much fun experimenting with the camera , which is what I did n’t find early on , and it admit a new localization and new photographic chance for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s camera to show its true power .

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After fall , I put theXiaomi 15 Ultra ’s camera against the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra . Both cost around the same and have the same processor , but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s camera is street ahead . The Galaxy S25 Ultra ’s curious stableness takings continue , and really hurt it in the examination , with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra taking a win in almost all the categories . The Samsung phone is one of its big contender , and it crushed it .

persist in to use the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s photographic camera has change my vox populi of it . I see the character reference and magic Xiaomi promised me was there , but I had n’t seen for myself . I ’ve still seen some problems with photograph and how it handle complex light , and am still devil by the 3x zoom ’s inconsistency , but it ’s obvious the Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes into its own when you really put it to the test . This is n’t a downside , it ’s a reason to buy the headphone .

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: design

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra look like a camera from the back , and I consider it ’s a fantastic design . The top section ( viewed in landscape painting ) is made of metal and the low section is covered with a vegan leather , but it ’s apanelof leather , meaning the metal chassis surrounds it . It ’s as classic , stylish pattern which tells you everything you need to know about what makes the phone special .

The camera mental faculty is vast , but at least its sensibly and symmetrically repose out , so size - aside it does n’t overwhelm the otherwise unproblematic blueprint of the phone . I like the “ extremist ” logo in the corner , the proud Leica branding , and the coin - bound bezel around the camera module . If you ’d prefer something a bit less tv camera - like , Xiaomi makes the15 Ultra in black and white too .

There ’s no getting aside from the size and weight of the phone though . It ’s quite top heavy in portrait predilection , deep at 9.5 mm , and you sleep together it ’s in your pocket due to the 229 gram weight unit . The screen has a neat three-D curve around the edge , so the phone does n’t dig into your hand . A well-chosen coincidence is the huge camera module rests against the top of your finger’s breadth , which can assist with balance . I really like the way the phone looks , and it ’s a braggart improvement over the 14 Ultra , plus it ’s durable with an IP68 detritus and water system resistance rating too .

MWC 2025

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: screen and performance

I ’ve not had any issues seeing the big 6.73 - inch AMOLED projection screen even in brilliant sunlight , and I do n’t think it has even reached its 3,200 nits peak either . It has a 1 to 120Hz refresh rate , and I ’ve had it set to the maximum 3200 x 1440 pixel resolution through my mental testing , a broker authoritative to know when we get to the shelling . Like theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultraand theOnePlus 13 , the concealment is practically faultless , whether I ’m watching videos or playing games .

The same can be said for theQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Eliteprocessor . It ’s so powerful I interview whether anyone will give its limits , and certainly not on a even foundation . There ’s not a stutter from the software under normal use , but I have found a few issues with app compatibility . For instance , some games have almost locked up during first function , with the screen becoming unresponsive apart from buy the farm the app . resume the phone remedy the problem , and it does n’t seem to reoccur either . Very odd .

I ’ve used the headphone in the U.K. and connectivity has been excellent , with the phone perpetrate in 5 G signal where others sometimes break , and calls have all sound majuscule . The phone abide Wi - Fi 7 , and it has happily stay put link up to my nursing home Wi - Fi 6 router without a problem . The stereo system Speaker are really loud , face unlock has a really all-inclusive field - of - opinion , and the in - display fingerprint sensing element work in good order , even if it ’s not the fastest I ’ve used . What I ’m state is thatas a phone , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is excellent , and all you want from a flagship . However , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra search a lot like a camera , so has it got the photographic ability to back up the style ?

A photo taken with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: camera

The spec list for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s television camera isridiculous . The principal camera is a 50 - megapixel Sony LYT-900 with an f/1.63 aperture , electronic and optical image stabilization ( EIS and OIS ) , and a 23 mm focal distance . The 50MP blanket - angle Samsung JN5 camera has a small 115 - degree field of view and an f/2.2 aperture . There are two telephotograph cameras , a 200MP periscope and a 50MP floating telephoto . All are covered by a Leica ’s Vario Summilux lens , there ’s a master of ceremonies of AI body of work behind the scenes , and some interesting editing features let in a take on Apple and Samsung ’s photographic stylus .

I adore theXiaomi 14 Ultra , so the 15 Ultra hasa lotto go up to . The spec listing is almost too wide and there are a legion of promises about what it can do , but it ’s a little dissatisfactory to see Xiaomi abandon the manually varying aperture for the 15 Ultra , a feature that gave the 14 Ultra considerable photographic credibility . Would this place the tone for a more consumer - well-disposed coming , and perhaps fall some of the 14 Ultra ’s wonderful character ?

My initial thought was that it had , but after using the television camera more , I get a line both it and I call for a challenge before it demonstrate its best . The main camera has a lovely instinctive depth of field and its photograph have lots of detail . At night the main television camera ’s photos have a tiny amount of metric grain which makes them look so natural , plus it packs in raft of detail . When you use the camera to take regular erstwhile snaps , there ’s fiddling to separate it from the OnePlus 13 , but when you go out and really push yourself and the camera , itshines . It was when I was away in a new city that I finally found thatspecial something inside the Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s camera . I had so much merriment experiment with it , and regain many aspects of the television camera I just had n’t seen when I first used it . This is of import to understand , and mean if you do n’t plan to put the camera through its pace on a regular basis , its true power may be lose .

A photo taken with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Wide-angleAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

It ’s not all good news . Some of Xiaomi ’s onetime habits have crept back in , where color are amped up just a little too much , particularly when using the Leica Vibrant modal value which is do as default , with the selection to choose Leica Authentic as an option . There ’s practiced consistency between the main and wide - angle cameras , but the rapid climb mode are all over the spot . shot taken with the 3x rapid climb lack color and punch , while the 4.3x zoom ( a default congeal in the app ) photos can appear heavy processed , plus it can grow some odd results in challenging ignition .

After the first hundred or so picture with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra , it did n’t instantly become my go - to camera headphone . But after several hundred more , my notion has changed for the adept . I even used it to take faithful - up photos for my recentfeature on the new Foto social medium app , and was very proud of with the termination . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s television camera is brilliant , but you do have to work it to find its actual thaumaturgy . One last matter to note is I have n’t try out the “ Photography Kit ” for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra yet . There ’s a strong opportunity the Photography Kit and its computer hardware filtershelped make the 14 Ultra such a achiever , and I have no doubtfulness it will add another dimension to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra too .

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: software

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the company ’s HyperOS 2 software over Android 15 put in . I come to the phone after using theSamsung Galaxy S25 Plus , the Galaxy S25 Ultra , and the OnePlus 13 , and all have serious , more reliable , easier to rapidly learn software than the Xiaomi . It ’s the little things that make a huge amount of deviation here .

Notifications have been unreliable , especially over the first few days of use , where none seem at all . When they as if by magic did start , not all of them show up all the time . Apps do n’t always review aright either , and my Microsoft Teams app does n’t update chats until you manually go into each one . I ’m trusted there ’s some kind of mightiness management organization at body of work here , but I should n’t have to go searching for ways to disenable it .

I ’m not a fan of the nonpayment schism presentment shade either , where a downward swipe on the left of the screen shows telling and one on the right hand shows nimble setting . It ’s awkward and nettlesome , but can be shift in the background menu . There ’s a lot of customization in HyperOS , which some may enjoy , but it ’s all usually hard oeuvre . If you want to vary the wallpaper , the usual shortcut contain you to a massive Theme store , where some are free , some be money , and the selection is overpowering . Sometimes I just want to use my own picture , and these are pick out in the Gallery app . It ’s mussy and teasing equate to One UI 7 and OxygenOS 15 .

A photo taken with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

At the time of write the 3DMark benchmarking app seems to be draw a blank on the 15 Ultra which is unfortunate . There ’s a slight breath the phone will get quite warm when represent games , and 3DMark would peril any shortcoming in cool down . A short sitting onAsphalt Legends : Uniteintroduces more heat into the frame than I get on other phones with the same processor . It ’s not a problem as such , but if you ’re a hardcore mobile gamer , the phone may warm your hands a bit after a while .

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: battery and charging

The size of it of the phone reflect the size of it of the battery in spite of appearance , and it ’s a 5,410mAh walloper . The phone hold up the 90W HyperCharge proprietary telegram charging system of rules , and 80W wireless charging . There ’s no charging block in the boxful , and unco it ’s a USB A to USB C cable system , rather than a USB C to USB C supplied with many other devices .

For my approximately three minute per Clarence Shepard Day Jr. screen meter use , without gaming , the battery mostly ends a full day with 60 % remaining . Getting two days use from the battery , for a totality of six hours sieve metre , is casual . It ’s efficient too , with a 40 - minute YouTube video in 1080p taking just 4 % .

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: price and availability

Xiaomi does not sell its smartphones in the U.S. , but it will secrete the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in the U.K. in the near time to come . When it does , the 16GB/512 GB version will be 1,299 British pounds , which is around $ 1,640 , and the top 16GB/1 TB version will be 1,499 pounds , or about $ 1,895 .

If you consider import the Xiaomi 15 Ultra to the U.S. , be cognisant it will only form with meshwork like AT&T and T - Mobile , but because the modem is not tuned to sour in the U.S. , it may regularly lose sign where a earphone made for U.S. carriers will continue connected .

The cost puts it in direct challenger with theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultraand theApple iPhone 16 Pro Max , leaving theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro XLandOppo Find 8 Prolooking like comparative bargains next to it , and theOnePlus 13appearing decidedly cheap .

A photo taken with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

3x zoomAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Does the Xiaomi 15 Ultra live up to expectations?

Were my initial expectations for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra too high ? I cogitate so . I was so looking fore to the telephone ’s photographic camera , the issues I notice haze over my former legal opinion . While these job remain , by testing the camera more I set up what I thought was missing — role , and an almost untellable magic . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra ’s camera is a high-pitched performance , supremely capable , and superbly usable every daytime spouse , but to really see what it can do , you simply have to go out and force both it ’s , and your own ability . Very few tv camera phones reward you for doing this , but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra adores it . However , to get to this point in time , you have to go for the machine ’s idiosyncrasies . The software and the overall size of the sound are two of the main compromises you ’ll have to make to enjoy the photographic camera .

I ’ve grown to like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra a band , but it still remind me of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra . It ’s very good and you probably wo n’t repent grease one’s palms it , but will youwantto corrupt it ? The camera ’s awful spec will tempt you , but if you do n’t really signify to make the most of it regularly , you may wonder what all the fuss is about . That ’s how I started off with the speech sound , so do n’t make the same fault as I did . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a camera that demands to be used . If you ’re not certain you will , then one of its competitors with a less intensive camera system may be the good choice .

Where does that leave the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for me ? I have fallen for its good luck charm , and am spur on by its need to be tested . When the right situations arise over the upcoming year , it ’ll be the Xiaomi 15 Ultra I strain for to take photograph I ’m proud of .

A photo taken with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.