Xiaomi 15 & Xiaomi 15 Ultra: The Best Smartphone Cameras Yet?
Xiaomi has introduced its latest flagship smartphones, the Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra. While some aspects remain the same as last year, there are key upgrades in design, battery life, and camera technology, making the 15 Ultra one of the most powerful camera phones yet.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: The Ultimate Camera Phone
Display
- 6.73-inch 120Hz OLED display (same as last year)
- Xiaomi Shield Glass 2 – claimed to be 16 times more drop-resistant than the Xiaomi 13 Ultra
- Bright enough for outdoor use
Performance & Software
- Snapdragon 8 Elite processor built on a 3nm process with custom Orion CPU cores
- UFS 4.1 storage – available in 512GB and 1TB variants
- HyperOS 2 based on Android 15
- 4 years of OS updates & 6 years of security updates (less than Samsung & Google’s 7-year policy)
Benchmarking tests showed the phone getting hot during performance tests, but everyday use and gaming remained smooth.
Camera System: A Game Changer
Xiaomi 15 Ultra introduces one of the best camera systems ever seen on a phone, featuring:
- 50MP main sensor (1-inch size, fixed f/1.6 aperture)
- 50MP ultra-wide sensor
- 50MP telephoto camera (now 3x zoom instead of 3.2x)
- 200MP periscope lens (capable of up to 17.2x lossless zoom)
Camera Performance
- Excellent dynamic range, noise control, and white balance
- Three-times zoom camera delivers outstanding results in challenging lighting
- More natural color processing with Pro mode and photography styles
- Low-light performance is strong, but ultra-wide camera is the weakest in low light
- Zoom performance is great up to 10x, but beyond 20x, details become messy
- AI and traditional upscaling available, though not always perfect
Despite some weaknesses at extreme zoom ranges, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is one of the most advanced camera phones on the market today.
Battery Life & Charging
- 5,410mAh battery – lasts over a full day, even with heavy camera usage
- Xiaomi 15 features a 5,240mAh battery (improved with a silicon-carbon battery)
Both phones prioritize battery longevity, making them highly reliable for daily use.
Xiaomi 15: A Compact Alternative
The Xiaomi 15 shares some similarities with the Ultra but comes in a more compact size:
- 6.3-inch 120Hz OLED display with Xiaomi Shield Glass
- Snapdragon 8 Elite processor (same as the Ultra)
- 50MP main camera with a 2.6x telephoto lens
- Fewer camera upgrades compared to the Xiaomi 14
Despite lacking the high-end camera capabilities of the Ultra, the Xiaomi 15 still offers a strong performance package in a smaller form factor.
AI Features: Xiaomi’s HyperAI
Both the Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra integrate HyperAI, including:
- AI Note Summarizer
- AI Speaker Transcription
- AI Summary in Mi Browser (though testing showed failures)
- Circle to Search and Gemini (pre-installed)
- AI-powered Object Removal in Gallery (results were inconsistent)
To use HyperAI features, a Xiaomi account is required, and they do not work offline, which could be an inconvenience for some users.
Pricing & Final Thoughts
- Xiaomi 15: €999
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra: €1,499
These prices are in line with expectations, with no major price increases over last year.
Pros
✔ Outstanding camera system (especially on Ultra)
✔ Powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor
✔ Long battery life
✔ Premium build with Xiaomi Shield Glass
Cons
✖ AI features require a Xiaomi account & do not work offline
✖ Benchmarking shows heat issues
✖ Only 4 years of OS updates (less than competitors)
✖ Zoom at extreme ranges loses detail
Is It Worth Buying?
If camera performance is your priority, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a top-tier choice. The Xiaomi 15, on the other hand, is a solid compact flagship, though its cameras are not a huge leap from last year.
Would you replace your point-and-shoot camera with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra? Let us know your thoughts.
Also Read :iPhone 16e Review: The Most Affordable iPhone, But Is It Worth $599?
