“The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a highly capable smartphone with a unique design, the latest tech, and an incredible camera specification.”
- Unique camera-like design
- Highest performance processor
- Bright screen
- Incredible camera specification
- Camera can take astonishing photos
- Two-day battery life
- Software is complex and sometimes unreliable
- Camera requires dedication to get the most from it
It’s fair to say I had high expectations for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. It’s the follow-up to my favorite camera phone of 2024, and the latest from one of the most interesting partnerships in mobile photography — Xiaomi and Leica. My expectations aren’t the only challenged faced by the phone, as how will Xiaomi go about making it even better in the first place? At first it wasn’t clear if the Xiaomi 15 Ultra was an improvement at all, but the more I used it, the better it became.
About our Xiaomi 15 Ultra review
Our Xiaomi 15 Ultra review was originally published on March 2, and we subsequently spent additional time with the camera, testing it out in different locations and environments. We updated our review on March 17 to include our revised impressions of the phone and its camera. The camera has impressed a lot more, leading to us increasing the review score from an 8/10 to a 9/10, and boosting our recommendation to Editor’s Choice, after the camera proved to be more versatile, capable, and exciting than initially expected. You can read more about it in the section called “A deeper dive into the camera,” plus we have altered the camera section of the review to reflect our updated opinion.
Specs
| Xiaomi 15 Ultra | |
| Size | 161.3 x 75.3 x 9.48mm |
| Weight | 229 grams |
| Screen and resolution | 6.73-inch AMOLED, 1-120Hz, 3200 x 1440, 3200 peak brightness, 1920Hz PWM dimming |
| Operating system | Xiaomi HyperOS 2, Android 15 |
| Storage | 512GB or 1TB |
| Processor and RAM | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAM |
| Cameras | 50MP main, 50MP wide-angle, 50MP telephoto, 200MP periscope telephoto, 32MP front camera |
| Durability | Aluminum frame, Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, IP68 |
| Battery and charging | 5,410mAh, 90W HyperCharge wired, 80W Hypercharge wireless. |
| Colors | Black and Chrome, Black, White |
| Price | 1,299 British pounds 16GB/512GB, 1,499 pounds 16GB/1TB |
A deeper dive into the camera
When I first used the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, I wasn’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 taken 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 took the Xiaomi 15 Ultra to MWC 2025 in Barcelona, Spain, and used it over a couple of days in the city. This was a very interesting experience, as I took photos just like I would if I was on vacation, or on a day out specifically to enjoy the camera. It truly came alive during my trip, and I loved discovering the versatility I wasn’t sure it had at first.
The 4.3x zoom takes fantastic photos, the black and white filter is a personal favorite, and photos taken at night have just the right amount of grain to make them look brilliant. I had so much fun experimenting with the camera, which is what I didn’t find early on, and it took a new location and new photographic opportunities for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera to show its true ability.
After returning, I put the Xiaomi 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 streets ahead. The Galaxy S25 Ultra’s odd stability issues continue, and really hurt it in the test, with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra taking a win in almost all the categories. The Samsung phone is one of its biggest rivals, and it crushed it.
Continuing to use the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera has changed my opinion of it. I found the character and magic Xiaomi promised me was there, but I hadn’t seen for myself. I’ve still seen some problems with exposure and how it handles complex lighting, and am still bothered 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 isn’t a downside, it’s a reason to buy the phone.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: design
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra looks like a camera from the back, and I think it’s a fantastic design. The top section (viewed in landscape) is made of metal and the lower section is covered with a vegan leather, but it’s a panel of leather, meaning the metal chassis surrounds it. It’s as classic, stylish design which tells you everything you need to know about what makes the phone special.
The camera module is huge, but at least its sensibly and symmetrically laid out, so size-aside it doesn’t overwhelm the otherwise simple design of the phone. I like the “Ultra” logo in the corner, the proud Leica branding, and the coin-edge bezel around the camera module. If you’d prefer something a bit less camera-like, Xiaomi makes the 15 Ultra in black and white too.
There’s no getting away from the size and weight of the phone though. It’s quite top heavy in portrait orientation, thick at 9.5mm, and you know it’s in your pocket due to the 229 gram weight. The screen has a neat 3D curve around the edge, so the phone doesn’t dig into your hand. A happy coincidence is the huge camera module rests against the top of your fingers, which can help with balance. I really like the way the phone looks, and it’s a big improvement over the 14 Ultra, plus it’s durable with an IP68 dust and water resistance rating too.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: screen and performance
I’ve not had any issues seeing the big 6.73-inch AMOLED screen even in bright sunlight, and I don’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 test, a factor important to know when we get to the battery. Like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the OnePlus 13, the screen is practically faultless, whether I’m watching videos or playing games.
The same can be said for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. It’s so powerful I question whether anyone will reach its limits, and certainly not on a regular basis. There’s not a stutter from the software under normal use, but I have found a few issues with app compatibility. For example, some games have almost locked up during first use, with the screen becoming unresponsive apart from exiting the app. Restarting the phone cures the problem, and it doesn’t seem to reoccur either. Very odd.
I’ve used the phone in the U.K. and connectivity has been excellent, with the phone pulling in 5G signals where others sometimes fail, and calls have all sounded great. The phone supports Wi-Fi 7, and it has happily stayed connected to my home Wi-Fi 6 router without a problem. The stereo speakers are really loud, face unlock has a really wide field-of-view, and the in-display fingerprint sensor works properly, even if it’s not the fastest I’ve used. What I’m saying is that as a phone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is excellent, and all you want from a flagship. However, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra looks a lot like a camera, so has it got the photographic ability to back up the style?
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: camera
The spec list for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera is ridiculous. The main camera is a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-900 with an f/1.63 aperture, electronic and optical image stabilization (EIS and OIS), and a 23mm focal length. The 50MP wide-angle Samsung JN5 camera has a modest 115-degree field of view and an f/2.2 aperture. There are two telephoto cameras, a 200MP periscope and a 50MP floating telephoto. All are covered by a Leica’s Vario Summilux lens, there’s a host of AI work behind the scenes, and some interesting editing features including a take on Apple and Samsung’s photographic styles.
I adore the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, so the 15 Ultra has a lot to live up to. The spec list is almost too extensive and there are a host of promises about what it can do, but it’s a little disappointing to see Xiaomi abandon the manually variable aperture for the 15 Ultra, a feature that gave the 14 Ultra considerable photographic credibility. Would this set the tone for a more consumer-friendly approach, and perhaps diminish some of the 14 Ultra’s wonderful character?
My initial thought was that it had, but after using the camera more, I discovered both it and I needed a challenge before it showed its best. The main camera has a lovely natural depth of field and its photos have lots of detail. At night the main camera’s photos have a tiny amount of grain which makes them look so natural, plus it packs in masses of detail. When you use the camera to take regular old snaps, there’s little to separate it from the OnePlus 13, but when you go out and really push yourself and the camera, it shines. It was when I was away in a new city that I finally found that special something inside the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera. I had so much fun experimenting with it, and found many aspects of the camera I simply hadn’t seen when I first used it. This is important to understand, and means if you don’t plan to put the camera through its paces regularly, its true ability may be lost.
It’s not all good news. Some of Xiaomi’s old habits have crept back in, where colors are amped up just a little too much, especially when using the Leica Vibrant mode which is set as default, with the option to choose Leica Authentic as an option. There’s good consistency between the main and wide-angle cameras, but the zoom modes are all over the place. Shots taken with the 3x zoom lack color and punch, while the 4.3x zoom (a default setting in the app) photos can appear heavily processed, plus it can produce some odd results in challenging lighting.
After the first hundred or so photos with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, it didn’t instantly become my go-to camera phone. But after several hundred more, my opinion has changed for the better. I even used it to take close-up photos for my recent feature on the new Foto social media app, and was very pleased with the results. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera is superb, but you do have to work it to find its real magic. One final thing to note is I haven’t tried the “Photography Kit” for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra yet. There’s a strong chance the Photography Kit and its hardware filters helped make the 14 Ultra such a winner, and I have no doubt 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 installed. I came to the phone after using the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus, the Galaxy S25 Ultra, and the OnePlus 13, and all have better, more reliable, easier to quickly learn software than the Xiaomi. It’s the little things that make a huge amount of difference here.
Notifications have been unreliable, especially over the first few days of use, where none appeared at all. When they magically did start, not all of them show up all the time. Apps don’t always refresh correctly either, and my Microsoft Teams app doesn’t update chats until you manually go into each one. I’m sure there’s some kind of power management system at work here, but I shouldn’t have to go searching for ways to disable it.
I’m not a fan of the default split notification shade either, where a downward swipe on the left of the screen shows notifications and one on the right shows quick settings. It’s awkward and annoying, but can be changed in the settings menu. There’s a lot of customization in HyperOS, which some may enjoy, but it’s all usually hard work. If you want to change the wallpaper, the usual shortcut takes you to a massive Theme store, where some are free, some cost money, and the choice is overwhelming. Sometimes I just want to use my own photo, and these are selected in the Gallery app. It’s messy and annoying compared to One UI 7 and OxygenOS 15.
At the time of writing the 3DMark benchmarking app seems to be blocked on the 15 Ultra which is unfortunate. There’s a slight hint the phone will get quite warm when playing games, and 3DMark would expose any shortcomings in cooling. A short session on Asphalt Legends: Unite introduces more heat into the chassis than I experience 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 the phone reflects the size of the battery inside, and it’s a 5,410mAh whopper. The phone supports the 90W HyperCharge proprietary wire charging system, and 80W wireless charging. There’s no charging block in the box, and unusually it’s a USB A to USB C cable, rather than a USB C to USB C supplied with many other devices.
For my approximately three hours per day screen time use, without gaming, the battery mostly ends a full day with 60% remaining. Getting two days use from the battery, for a total of six hours screen time, is effortless. 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 release the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in the U.K. in the near future. When it does, the 16GB/512GB version will cost 1,299 British pounds, which is around $1,640, and the top 16GB/1TB version will be 1,499 pounds, or about $1,895.
If you consider importing the Xiaomi 15 Ultra to the U.S., be aware it will only work with networks like AT&T and T-Mobile, but because the modem is not tuned to work in the U.S., it may regularly lose signal where a phone made for U.S. carriers will remain connected.
The price puts it in direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max, leaving the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL and Oppo Find 8 Pro looking like comparative bargains next to it, and the OnePlus 13 appearing decidedly cheap.
Does the Xiaomi 15 Ultra live up to expectations?
Were my initial expectations for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra too high? I think so. I was so looking forward to the phone’s camera, the issues I noticed clouded my early judgement. While these problems remain, by testing the camera more I found what I thought was missing — character, and an almost indefinable magic. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera is a high performance, supremely capable, and superbly usable every day partner, but to really see what it can do, you simply have to go out and push both it’s, and your own ability. Very few camera phones reward you for doing this, but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra adores it. However, to get to this point, you have to accept the device’s idiosyncrasies. The software and the overall size of the phone are two of the main compromises you’ll have to make to enjoy the camera.
I’ve grown to like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra a lot, but it still reminds me of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. It’s very good and you probably won’t regret buying it, but will you want to buy it? The camera’s amazing specification will tempt you, but if you don’t really intend to make the most of it regularly, you may wonder what all the fuss is about. That’s how I started off with the phone, so don’t make the same mistake as I did. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a camera that demands to be used. If you’re not sure you will, then one of its competitors with a less intensive camera system may be the better choice.
Where does that leave the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for me? I have fallen for its charms, and am spurred on by its need to be tested. When the right situations arise over the coming year, it’ll be the Xiaomi 15 Ultra I reach for to take photos I’m proud of.
