the new king of mobile photography?

This year, the Chinese giant released the Xiaomi 15 Ultra photo flagship. It is a continuation of last year’s device with a giant «puck» behind, which hides various surprises for those who like to shoot and film on their phones. The fresh flagship costs a lot, but it is able to compete with new iPhones and the top line Samsung Galaxy S25. But this comes at a price in terms of convenience, as the aforementioned camera has a significant impact on weight, user experience, and appearance. And the real price tag is not insignificant. Therefore, the main question in such cases always remains relevant: is it worth it? Let’s find out.

Specifications of Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Screen	LTPO AMOLED, 6.73 inches, 1440×3200 pixels, 120 Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support, peak brightness – 3200 nits, pixel density – 522 ppi
Body	Glass, plastic, aluminum
Moisture protection	Yes, IP68 (immersion to a depth of 1.5 meters for 30 minutes)
Colors	Black, White, Silver Chrome, Green
Processor	3-nanometer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 2 Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores with a clock speed of 4.32 GHz + 6 Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores with a clock speed of 3.53 GHz
Graphics accelerator	Adreno 830
Operating system	Android 15, proprietary HyperOS 2 add-on
Memory	12/256, 16/512, 16/1 TB LPDDR5X and UFS 4.1 formats
Main camera	50 megapixels, f/1.6 aperture, 23 mm sensor, 1.6µm pixel size, 1.0» sensor, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS; telephoto lens 50 megapixels, f/1.8 aperture, 70 mm sensor, ½.51» sensor size, 0.7µm pixel size, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom; periscope telephoto lens: 200 megapixels, f/2.6, 100 mm sensor, 1/1.4» matrix size, 0.56µm pixel size, dual-pixel PDAF, OIS, 4.3x optical zoom; ultra-wide-angle module also at 50 megapixels, f/2.2 aperture, 14 mm sensor, 115˚ viewing angle, ½.76» matrix size, 0.64µm pixel size, dual-pixel PDAF; video recording up to 8K@30fps
Front camera	32 megapixels, f/2.0 aperture, 21 mm sensor, 1/3.14» matrix size, 0.7µm pixel size, 4K@60fps video recording
Technologies and interfaces	Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, navigation services GPS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC, GLONASS, NFC, IR port
Battery	5410 mAh, wired charging 90 W, wireless charging 80 W, reverse charging 10 W
Dimensions	161.3 × 75.3 × 9.4 mm
Weight	226 grams

Packaging and equipment

Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes in a rather thick black box with the name of the device on it. Judging by its size, there should be a power supply, but there isn’t.

Therefore, inside we find the flagship itself with a film stuck to the screen, documentation, a paper clip to open the SIM card slot, a transparent silicone case and a USB-C cable.

Design and ergonomics

Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a glass front, a plastic back, and a metal frame. The front panel is flat, the corners are rounded, and the back is also flat, if not for the large and thick platform for the main cameras and flash, which prevents the smartphone from lying flat.

«The» washer doesn’t add much weight because it’s normal here (226 grams), but it definitely changes its balance and also increases the dimensions to 161.3×75.3×9.35 mm. That’s why the smartphone looks very thick next to it, and you need to understand this.

We reviewed the white and pearlescent version of Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and there is also a black textured version and a special version with a design to match the old cameras, the Silver Chrome Edition.

On the front panel we see thin black bezels and a front module in the screen.

On the back, there is a Xiaomi inscription and a large «puck» with smartphone cameras and a flash. It has a textured metal finish and LEICA inscription.

On the right side there is a grooved screen lock button and volume buttons. There’s nothing on the left, just like on the top. And on the bottom we see a speaker, microphone, USB-C port and a card slot.

Overall, the new photo flagship looks stylish and modern. It fits well in the hand, but the giant camera module changes the weight distribution and sticks out a lot, so you’ll need to get used to this arrangement. And the body is slippery, so I immediately advise you to put it in a case.

There are many things available in the settings, including texture enhancement, reading mode, variable refresh rate (60 or 120 Hz), and when the screen is off, it will be 1 Hz because it is an LTPO screen. You can also change the screen resolution (FHD+, 2400×1080 pixels or WQHD+, 3200×1440 pixels).

We have not forgotten about the AI visualization system, where you can set ultra-high resolution, improve HDR, and enable MEMC. Also, pay attention to the change of color scheme because in this case it really affects the image significantly.

I liked the «Standard PRO» mode best, in which the colors are quite saturated, but still realistic. But here you can play with the settings, activate adaptive colors, etc.

The display also has an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. It not only works instantly, but also recognizes wet fingers without any problems. Probably the best solution on the market at the moment.

The screen of the flagship is appropriate and really very bright, with rich colors and true black. Of course, it’s not difficult for such a matrix to work in the sun, so there are no problems with this. Indoors, I recommend switching to auto brightness.

Also, the difference between the normal resolution and the enhanced one is not very noticeable because the screen is still small, but it affects the battery life. In any case, the image will be clear and detailed.

Sound and vibration response

Xiaomi 15 Ultra has stereo sound, which is realized with the help of one full-fledged and one earpiece speaker. Despite this, the sound of the flagship is very high quality, I did not even expect it. The sound is as surround as possible, rich and very loud. Watching videos, movies or listening to music will be a pleasure.

There are also two standard sound modes for this manufacturer in the settings: Dolby Atmos and Xiaomi Sound. Personally, I don’t feel any difference between them, but there is a difference when switching ready-made sound presets. You can really play around and choose which one you like best. And for the most ardent, there is an equalizer.

The vibration motor of the smartphone is also serious, strong and definitely of the flagship level. You can’t customize the patterns, but you can turn on/off the tactile feedback and change its level.

Cameras

Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a full-fledged camera phone, so a lot of attention has been paid to the modules, they are different, advanced, and can create professional-quality photos and videos.

Like its predecessor, the new camera has four main modules customized in partnership with Leica. The main module here is a 50-megapixel Sony LYT-900 module with a 23 mm lens and a fixed f/1.63 aperture. It was the same in last year’s model, but the aperture was variable.

The second is a 50 MP Sony IMX858 periscopic telephoto lens with f/1.8 aperture and 70 mm focal length. The third camera has an ultra-wide 50 MP Samsung JN5 lens with f/2.2 aperture, 14 mm focal length, and 115 degree viewing angle. And the main innovation of the new product is the 200-megapixel Samsung HP9 telephoto lens with 100 mm optics and f/2.6 aperture.

All available modules can shoot video up to and including 8K/30 fps, as well as 4K at 60 frames per second. The main sensor and telephoto lens can also shoot in 4K/120 fps. There is optical and electronic stabilization. Both work well, especially the former, although it’s logical that they sprinkle the frame.

I would like to mention the LOG function. This is a simplified version of the popular S-Log3 color spaces from Sony or HDR PQ from Canon, which are used in full-fledged cameras. Simply put, it’s an extended video format that can then be beautifully «colored» in a video editor to make the picture more cinematic or to customize its style. Of course, if you know how to do that. You can also use various loots and so on. But again, you need to know all this.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra takes high-quality photos with all four modules. I liked the detail, sharpness, and dynamic range in all of them, and the zoom is excellent because it is not digital, but optical. Therefore, you can safely take photos with all available modules and zoom in if necessary. In almost all cases, especially if you use the standard switches in the Camera app (0.6x, 1x, 2x, 3x, and 4.3x), the quality and especially the detail of the photos is good.

But the colors are not everywhere. For example, I like them only on the main module, and on the ultra-wide module and telephoto lenses the colors are either too saturated or, on the contrary, somehow dull.

Night shots are also good and relatively detailed. Of course, the more light you have, the better, but I liked that the smartphone doesn’t make night into day, which is often the case with iPhones. At the same time, the quality of night shots is not wow.

Also, the cameras have a great «About» mode, like in photos and videos. Therefore, if you want to squeeze the maximum photo quality out of this (and any other) smartphone, I recommend learning how to use this mode. Dig into the settings and functions, experiment, and go to places in the «Camera» application that you have never visited in regular flagships.

And only then will you get the excellent results that Xiaomi 15 Ultra can really deliver. But even in auto mode, on different modules, you can take great photos from your smartphone and shoot vlogs, videos, etc.

Some people say that the examples of photos from this smartphone are often indistinguishable from those taken with a camera. But I disagree. Even in a modern camera phone like this, there is a difference with a modern mirrorless camera, and it is not in favor of the smartphone.

And the difference in quality with other new flagships is not so great, and sometimes it is not visible at all. At least not to professional photographers and videographers. Therefore, this once again reminds us of a balanced decision to buy this particular model. Because «puck» camera is large, it causes certain nuances in use and the need to get used to the smartphone, but the result will not be as good as others, and there is no need for such sacrifices.

The front sensor here are 32 megapixels with a focal length of 21 mm and f/2.0 aperture. It can shoot video in 4K/60 fps.

The photos are beautiful and detailed. This is the level that you can easily post on social media. The portrait mode also works well, but «brains» even here it is difficult to blur the picture against the background when there are many details.

Productivity, software and games

Xiaomi 15 Ultra is powered by the flagship 8-core Snapdragon 8 Elite chip (2 Oryon V2 Phoenix L cores with a clock speed of 4.32 GHz + 6 Oryon V2 Phoenix M cores with a clock speed of 3.53 GHz), made using the 3 nm process technology. This is a modern classic for flagships, which we have seen more than once in other new models (for example, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or OnePlus 13). The only difference is how manufacturers have handled its cooling because Qualcomm processors, as always, get seriously hot.

In the case of Xiaomi 15 Ultra, it’s not so good because the chip gets very hot and throttles. At least this is what stress tests show. During actual use, I did not notice any trotting in games, everything worked fine, but the smartphone got very hot after about half an hour of active gaming, which really caused discomfort. I don’t remember this for a long time.

There is 12 or 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, plus the ability to add up to 16 GB of virtual RAM. The flagship has 256, 512 GB or 1 TB of internal storage, all in the fast UFS 4.1 format. Other interfaces, modules and technologies include Bluetooth 6.0, Wi-Fi 7, GPS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC, GLONASS, NFC, and an IR port.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a full-fledged flagship, so it works very quickly and runs any modern «heavy» mobile game at maximum graphics settings with the best fps without any problems. You don’t have to worry about this at all, so we have not only a camera phone, but also a model for mobile gamers.

The new product has Android 15 and the proprietary HyperOS 2 shell. The manufacturer promises four years of software updates and six years of security updates.

As always, the Chinese add-on is user-friendly and has many customization options, as well as its own app store. There are many programs here that you won’t find in the usual Play Market. But we also have to keep in mind the ads and dozens of pre-installed apps, most of which are of little use to anyone. It’s because of the latter that I don’t really like this particular shell, but at the same time, many people are using it.

Like all modern flagships, Xiaomi 15 Ultra has AI functions. Moreover, in the settings there is a separate sub-item with instructions where you can see what and where exactly artificial intelligence can change, where it can help, what it can do, and so on. It’s a pity that they didn’t immediately switch to the corresponding apps, but it’s still better implemented than competitors. At least from what I’ve seen.

There is Gemini, where you can switch to Ukrainian. However, it also warns you that it is not supported by Google Assistant, but this does not prevent the AI from communicating with you in Ukrainian. And if you don’t switch to Ukrainian, you can simply ask Gemini to always communicate with you in Ukrainian, which it will do without any problems.

Among other features, there are many standard basic-level platitudes, including erasing objects in a photo (not always works correctly), photo enhancement (works so-so), and additional tools in the notebook.

Overall, Gemini is the best performer here, and it may also be the most useful for a smartphone owner. It’s definitely not as smart as Chat GPT, but it’s definitely more useful than all the available AI functions combined.

And judging by my tests of other flagships and the tests of our authors in other flagships, this applies not only to Xiaomi 15 Ultra, but also to most modern flagships.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra battery life

Xiaomi 15 Ultra is equipped with a 5410 mAh battery. It has 90-watt wired charging and 80-watt wireless and 10-watt reverse charging. But this is on the condition that you have a branded power supply and charging station, or another similar power supply with this power. If you have a suitable power supply, a full charge will take 40 minutes.

The PC Mark test showed a result of 22 hours and 2 minutes, and this is a very serious indicator.

With a standard screen resolution with auto-brightness and a refresh rate of 120 Hz, and with standard use with social networks, instant messengers, calls, and the Internet, a full charge easily lasts for a day and a half. Two days can be achieved, but you have to try hard, so it’s better to count on a full day and a little more. Still, the powerful hardware and the corresponding screen «consume» enough, even when saving, and the battery here is not so big, although it has 10% silicon carbide, which makes it more durable.

User experience

Xiaomi 15 Ultra definitely made a positive impression on me. This is a full-fledged flagship that can do everything, it has a great screen, good battery life, and a price that is certainly in its category.

However, you also need to understand that this is a photo flagship that has many features. It takes better pictures than most competitors, but not in all scenarios. Also, when buying it, you should be prepared to understand more about photography and video than with other flagships.

Because out of the box, you won’t get significantly better photo quality than the same iPhone 16 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra or OnePlus 13 but they don’t have big washers, they are easier to use, quicker to get used to, etc.

I don’t recommend Xiaomi 15 Ultra for everyone. If you plan to do a lot of serious photography or video shooting, with subsequent processing and editing, then this smartphone is for you.

To fully unleash the power of Xiaomi 15 Ultra, you need a person with the appropriate knowledge, or someone who wants to do it and learn, experiment, try, etc. If you think that with such a puck you will just take it out of your pocket, press one button and do something super cool, even cooler than your competitors, then this is most likely not going to happen.

Think carefully about whether you need all this. If you do, this new product will definitely surprise you and provide a lot of opportunities for cool videos or photos. But if this is not for you, then take a closer look at another model.

Price and competitors

Xiaomi 15 Ultra is sold at a price of 51,100 hryvnias. This is the 16/512 GB version. Smaller versions are not sold in Ukraine. But the official price tag in large networks, in the same «Allo», is UAH 54,999. In my opinion, this is a good price for a smartphone of this kind with its capabilities, but I understand those who will find it expensive. And the model has many serious competitors, which are mostly better suited to people who do not want unnecessary problems, training, addictions, etc.

There is a model from last year Xiaomi 14 Ultra with a price tag of 40,000 hryvnias. It is close to the new model, but you will have to pay less. And the main competitor is considered to be Vivo X200 Pro with a price starting at UAH 48,999.

There are also new flagships with good cameras: Google Pixel 9 (price from UAH 24,000), Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max (price from UAH 48,900), OnePlus 13 (price from UAH 26,300), Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with a price tag of UAH 36,150.

Дякуємо мережі магазинів «Алло» за наданий на огляд смартфон Xiaomi 15 Ultra.