The Xiaomi 15 Ultra may just have claimed the crown for the best camera on any smartphone this year. Building on the strengths—and fixing many of the weaknesses—of the 14 Ultra, this new flagship brings improvements across the board: a more efficient chip, better thermals, significantly improved battery life, and an overhauled camera system that shows Xiaomi is listening to user feedback.
📸 Camera: The Star of the Show
The 15 Ultra’s biggest selling point is, of course, its camera. While the main 1-inch sensor remains, the biggest upgrade is a jump from a 50MP to a 200MP periscope telephoto lens. Xiaomi switches from Sony to Samsung’s HP9 sensor, offering improved zoom performance and 36% more light intake. The result? Sharper, more detailed long-range zooms that rival DSLR shots.
However, Xiaomi has removed the variable aperture from the main sensor. While software compensates well, the phone can still struggle with moving subjects, producing blur or ghosting.
With multiple Leica-inspired color profiles, users get both power and creative control. Despite unchanged selfie hardware, image quality has improved thanks to optimized software.
🔋 Battery: A Giant Leap Forward
Battery life sees a massive improvement. The 5410mAh silicon carbon battery lasted an impressive 21 hours and 15 minutes in streaming tests. Backed by 90W wired and 80W wireless HyperCharge, the only drawback is the lack of an included charger.
⚙️ Performance & Thermals
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 “Elite” chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB UFS 4.1 storage. It delivers:
- 38% faster single-core and 28% multi-core performance than the 14 Ultra (Geekbench 6)
- 30% graphics performance boost
- Cooler temperatures under load, thanks to improved 3D IceLoop cooling
Even under stress, the phone runs cooler and smoother—a major upgrade from last year’s overheating issues.
🖥️ Display: A Top-Tier Visual Experience
The 6.73-inch WQHD+ AMOLED display delivers stunning visuals with HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and up to 3200 nits brightness. It features 300Hz touch sampling and 1920Hz PWM dimming for eye comfort. While it lacks anti-reflective coating, it still ranks among the best Android displays.
📦 Design: Big Camera, Subtle Changes
Design-wise, not much has changed. The phone is slightly thicker and heavier, with a more prominent circular quad-camera bump. It drops the faux leather back for glass (though a PU leather variant is available). Still IP68 rated, but no IP69 certification, which rivals now offer.
🧰 Bonus Features & Photography Kit
For serious photographers, Xiaomi offers a separate kit with:
- A physical camera grip with shutter button
- An extra 2,000mAh battery
- A 67mm filter adapter ring
Notably, the phone lacks a built-in UWB chip. However, it introduces Bluetooth 6—a future-proof addition, though still early in adoption.
📹 Video: Near-Pro-Level Results
Video capabilities are excellent, with seamless 4K 60fps recording across all lenses and 4K 120fps slow motion. While stabilization at higher zooms could improve, Xiaomi has nearly caught up with Oppo and Samsung in video performance.
🧠 Software & AI
The phone runs Android 15 with HyperOS 2, a light but bloatware-heavy interface. Xiaomi promises four years of updates and offers a rich AI editing suite, including:
- AI Eraser
- Reflection Remover
- AI Image Expansion
- Clarity Enhancer
- AI Summarization & Transcription
🏁 Verdict: A Powerhouse With Minor Flaws
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a top-tier flagship with:
- A flexible and powerful camera system
- Massively improved battery life
- Blazing fast performance
- A top-class display
It’s a compelling device for photography lovers and power users, though it’s not flawless—motion blur still crops up, and the design plays it safe.
Should You Buy It?
If camera quality is your top priority—then yes, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is absolutely worth it. It brings smartphone photography closer than ever to professional-grade equipment, while fixing key flaws from its predecessor.
