A Diablo 4 developer has commented on whether a loot filter is something Blizzard is considering adding to the game in the future. Because many endgame Diablo 4events and bosses frequently drop tons of loot to sort through, fans have been clamoring for a loot filter to be added since the game's launch.

Summer movie season is starting earlier and earlier every year, and this one is no exception. This spring has all kinds of exciting movies, and maybe even a few of the best and biggest movies of the year.As you might expect, the biggest highlights are movies in the big franchises. The MCU is bringing out Thunderbolts* led by Florence Pugh and Sebastian Stan, while Tom Cruise is returning for what could be the (or at least his) last Mission: Impossible movie ever. Meanwhile, Disney is all in on live-action remakes, with Snow White and Lilo & Stitch due out in the next few months. Thankfully, theres some exciting original movies coming too, like David Cronenbergs The Shrouds or Ryan Cooglers vampire horror movie Sinners.To help you keep track of all the fantastic-looking movies that are on the way, weve made a list of the 20 best movies of spring 2025.Plankton: The MovieRelease date: March 7Director: Dave Needham Cast: Mr. Lawrence, Jill Talley, Tom KennySpongeBobs best character finally gets her due. Thats right even though this movie is called Plankton, its Karen, his computer wife, who rises up and decides to dump his lame ass and take over the world herself. Meanwhile, Plankton has to team up with SpongeBob and the rest of the heroes in order to win her back. Petrana RadulovicMickey 17Release date: March 7Director: Bong Joon-hoCast: Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun, Mark RuffaloWhats better than one Robert Pattinson doing slapstick comedy with a funny voice? Two Robert Pattinsons! Well, at least two. Bong Joon-hos newest movie has Pattinson playing a worker in a capitalist sci-fi hellscape whos signed up to test the limits of a new human colony and get cloned every time he dies.PRIn the Lost LandsRelease date: March 7Director: Paul W.S. AndersonCast: Dave Bautista, Milla Jovovich, Arly JoverThe latest in a long series of #powercouplegoals collaborations between spouses Paul W.S. Anderson and Milla Jovovich (the Resident Evil movies, 2020s Monster Hunter, 2011s The Three Musketeers), In the Lost Lands is billed as the first feature adaptation of George R.R. Martins work. Adapted from Martins 1982 short story, its a dark fantasy about an infamous witch (Jovovich) who hires a grizzled hunter (Dave Bautista) to help her track down a werewolf through a post-apocalyptic landscape ruled by a tyrannical overlord and an even more tyrannical church. Just your basic future-fantasy Western slash monster movie, with a heavy side order of Furiosa in the setting and characters. Tasha RobinsonOpusRelease date: March 14Director: Mark Anthony GreenCast: Ayo Edebiri, John Malkovich, Juliette LewisThe second of A24s eight scheduled genre-spanning 2025 movies (after Parthenope in early February), Opus follows a dedicated but frequently sidelined music journalist (The Bear and Bottoms co-star Ayo Edebiri) to the secretive compound of a cultishly adored pop star (John Malkovich) who wants her to hear his first album in 30 years. Mark Anthony Greens directorial debut, a horror-thriller about fame and power, got mixed reviews at Sundance, but the lead performers remain promising. TRThe Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes MovieRelease date: March 14Director: Pete BrowngardtCast: Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter MacNicolDaffy Duck and Porky Pig team up to save the Earth from an alien invasion. But considering their big personalities and generally dysfunctional working relationship, they might just drive each other crazy before they can save anyone. Wheres Bugs? Who knows? But Petunia Pig is also here.PRThe Electric StateRelease date: March 14Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe RussoCast: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley TucciOnce-and-future Avengers directors Anthony and Joe Russo are launching their new sprawling science fiction movie on Netflix: Loosely based on a 2018 novel from Swedish retrofuturist Simon Stlenhag (whose work also inspired the Tales from the Loop TV show, board game, TTRPG, etc.), The Electric State has a teenager (Stranger Things Millie Bobby Brown) on a road trip to track down her missing brother via a robot (Anthony Mackie) he sent to find her. The twist: Theyre living in a post-robot-apocalypse world where the robots have all been banned to a wasteland. Early looks at this one have a strong A.I. Artificial Intelligence feel, with a side order of Ready Player One and a whole lot of familiar names: Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Woody Harrelson, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, and a lot more. TRSnow WhiteRelease date: March 21Director: Marc WebbCast: Rachel Zegler, Gal Gadot, Andrew BurnapIts another Disney live-action remake! This one is full of well, lets just say that the CG dwarfs are a choice. And they did Rachel Zegler so damn dirty with that haircut and Party City-esque dress. But Zegler has pipes, and maybe the fact she looks and acts like a literal Disney Princess might be enough to save this one.PRAshRelease date: March 21Director: Flying LotusCast: Eiza Gonzlez, Aaron Paul, Iko UwaisIn space, no one can hear you say Hey, whered all my crewmates go? Eiza Gonzlez (3 Body Problem) stars as a woman who wakes up in a space station, her memory missing and her companions all dead. Breaking Bads Aaron Paul co-stars as the ominous figure from her past who arrives to help. Directed and soundtracked by composer Flying Lotus (Kuso), this original science fiction thriller looks like a banger, hitting some discomfiting Alien vibes without being yet another derivative Alien movie. TRDeath of a UnicornRelease date: March 28Director: Alex Scharfman Cast: Paul Rudd, Jenna Ortega, Will PoulterA24s new comedy horror fantasy is about the fallout of a man and his daughter hitting a unicorn with their car. The mans pharmaceutical CEO boss immediately wants to exploit the unicorns magical properties. But if theres one thing we should all take away from old legends, its that you should not fuck around with a magical animal with a spear on its head.PRThe Woman in the YardRelease date: March 28Director: Jaume Collet-SerraCast: Danielle Deadwyler, Okwui Okpokwasili, Russell HornsbyProlific director Jaume Collet-Serra has his hits and misses: He was behind the virally popular Netflix thriller Carry-On, the excellent shark-attack movie The Shallows, and the startling horror film Orphan, but also the infamous superhero flop Black Adam. Here, hes back with a mysterious Blumhouse movie that looks a bit like a creepypasta riff: A grieving woman (Danielle Deadwyler) and her family are haunted by a threatening apparition with an opaque warning.TRA Minecraft MovieRelease date: April 4Director: Jared HessCast: Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Emma MyersThe Minecraft movie is a little bit like Jumanji, but instead of being sucked into a jungle, the group of misfits gets pulled into the Minecraft world, where everything is cube-shaped and thrives on imagination. Also, Jack Black is here! So it is really like Jumanji.PRThe Ritual Release date: April 18Director: David MidellCast: Al Pacino, Dan Stevens, Ashley GreeneIt feels late in the game for a movie about an old priest (Al Pacino) and a young priest (Dan Stevens) facing a young woman whos allegedly possessed by a demon. The twist in this case is that the young woman was inspired by Emma Schmidt, aka Anna Ecklund, a real-life woman whose alleged possessionand monthslong exorcism in 1920s Iowa inspired several other horror movies. TRSinnersRelease date: April 18Director: Ryan CooglerCast: Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, Miles CatonThe exciting return of Ryan Coogler (Black Panther, Fruitvale Station) stars Michael B. Jordan and, well, Michael B. Jordan as a pair of twins menaced by a supernatural force in the 1930s. The initial trailer looks slick, confident, and hard-hitting somewhere between a ghost story and a bootlegger crime thriller. But the marketing has deliberately kept most facts about the movie under wraps, leaving the real nature of the horror here thrillingly opaque.TRUntil DawnRelease date: April 25Director: David F. SandbergCast: Ella Rubin, Michael Cimino, Odessa AzionThe sort-of movie adaptation of the 2015 horror game Until Dawn puts a few new twists on the story, uniting some squabbling characters against an immediately obvious supernatural evil, and setting the story in a time loop, where different horrific monsters kill the characters every night, setting up a scenario where they have to out-think the setting and escape the loop before their 13th and final death. The execution looks a bit like 13 different iterations on The Cabin in the Woods, due to the proliferation of creepy creatures, the self-awareness of it all, and the sense of a trap closing on a pretty familiar cast of characters, but it remains to be seen whether Until Dawn the movie has any such sense of humor to it. TRThe Legend of OchiRelease date: April 25Director: Isaiah SaxonCast: Helena Zengel, Finn Wolfhard, Willem DafoeIn a remote village in the Carpathian mountains, humans fend off the monstrous ochi. But when a lonely girl discovers a baby ochi, shes determined to return it to its family and discovers that maybe these strange creatures arent as vicious as she was led to believe.PRThe ShroudsRelease date: April 25Director: David CronenbergCast: Vincent Cassel, Diane Kruger, Guy PearceDavid Cronenbergs latest body-horror movie is a heavy one: It centers on a grieving CEO (Vincent Cassel) who invents a technology that lets people monitor their loved ones graves, using a phone app to watch their bodies decay in real time. When vandals destroy a cemetery featuring his technology including desecrating his wifes grave he has to figure out who and why. TRThunderbolts*Release date: May 2Director: Jake SchreierCast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David HarbourThe Marvel Cinematic Universes answer to the Suicide Squad forces a group of reluctant antiheroes including Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), and Red Guardian (David Harbour) to team up for a mission. Will they get a chance at redemption? Or, more importantly, will the MCU?PRFinal Destination BloodlinesRelease date: May 16Directors: Zach Lipovsky, Adam SteinCast: Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Teo Briones, Richard HarmonThe sixth installment in the Final Destination series has been pitched as a bit of a soft reboot for the series, not that continuity has ever mattered in movies built around people who escape death in a freak accident, and are then stalked by death via increasingly unlikely accidents. This time around, the action kicks off with a college student having recurring nightmares about death. Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein, directors of the underseen, extremely fun 2018 sci-fi thriller Freaks, take the wheel this time out. TRMission: Impossible The Final ReckoningRelease date: May 23Director: Christopher McQuarrieCast: Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon PeggTom Cruise takes up where he left off with Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One, back in 2023, still fighting a world-spanning, all-powerful AI via lots of dangerous stunts. Expect the mission to be possible, just barely. TRLilo & Stitch Release date: May 23Director: Dean Fleischer CampCast: Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders, Sydney AgudongMost of what weve seen of the live-action Lilo & Stitch hasnt exactly been live action. But hey, at least Stitch is cute. Well have to see how Lilo, Nani, and the rest of the human cast, not to mention the other, weirder-looking aliens, translate to this style. PR

It looks as though the follow-up headphones to the Sony WH-1000XM5 will be arriving sooner rather than later.

Honor has announced plans to support its newest flagship smartphones with seven years of OS and security updates.

Cryptocurrencies rallied on Sunday after President Donald Trump announced the creation of a U.S. strategic crypto reserve.

Honor is looking to expand outside of China and push into the higher-end part of the market where Apple and Samsung play.

Gen Z workers have been branded as demanding, unmotivated, and even entitleda word that was used not too long ago to describe millennials. In an Intelligent.com survey last fall, 60% of employers said they had fired Gen Z workers not long after hiring them, and one in six managers said they were hesitant to hire recent college graduates.Its no surprise that Gen Z continues to be misunderstood, or that older employees might rely on lazy tropes as they try to make sense of a new generation. While its true that Gen Z employees may have higher expectations for the workplace, that isnt necessarily a bad thingin fact, it may just be a necessary corrective in the face of questionable leadership.What many have labeled [quiet] quitting is actually a rational response to workplaces that lack fairness, structure, and alignment with employee values, leadership strategist Jeff LeBlanc wrote recently. Instead of writing off an entiregeneration, leaders should be asking:What are we doing wrong?As baby boomers age out of the workforce, its imperative that employers find a way to better understandand courtGen Z employees, who will be a key part of the next generation of workers. So what can employers do to not just attract Gen Z workers, but make sure they stick around?Understand how Gen Z employees are differentRather than typically dismissing the concerns of Gen Z or painting them as difficult to work with, companies and managers should consider why younger employees might differ from their older counterparts when it comes to their expectations of the workplace. GenZgrew up amid economic uncertainty, social justice movements, and anincreasing focus on mental health, LeBlanc wrote. They dont just want jobs; they want workplaces that prioritize psychological safety, transparency, and fairness.Research indicates that Gen Z is far more socially conscious than previous generations, and that these employees prize diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and employee wellness. What older employees may perceive as being demanding is actually about advocating for themselves.This is also a generation of workers who grew up on the internet. Gen Z is used to putting every thought out for others to like, dislike, and amplify, wrote Amelia Dunlop, chief experience officer for Deloitte Digital. When they show up at work, they expect their voice and opinions to be heard and taken into consideration.Consider the impact of the pandemicGen Z has also come of age during a period of intense upheaval, changing their experiencesand perhaps expectationsof the workplace. Many of these young workers finished college or started working at the height of the pandemic, which meant they had to acclimate to professional life while working from home.While there are benefits to young workers being in an office setting, many of them are also seeking more flexibility and want the option of working remotely. Flexibility in the workplace is not just a perk for Gen Z, it is a necessity, wrote leadership expert Cheryl Fields Tyler. Despite this, many organizations operate with the assumption that Gen Z employees need to work in traditional office settings to earn the right to have flexibility.Think about what they want out of a jobGen Z employees do tend to have higher expectations of their colleagues and managers. That can be a shift for older employees who might expect them to pay their dues or show more deference. Unlike previous generations, Gen Z may not be as satisfied with an inspirational leader. Instead, they prize qualities like psychological safety and fairnesswhich includes equitable pay and access to professional opportunitiesas well as a high degree of transparency, according to LeBlanc.Gen Z also wants to find meaning in the work they do. That shouldnt come as a surprise to managers who have already worked alongside millennials. Thats also why younger workers may expect their employers to not just engage with social issues, but also align with their own personal values. In fact, research shows that Gen Z employees are three times more likely to stay at a job if they believe in the mission.And while work-life balance is important to other generations as well, its a major priority for Gen Z. As Andrew Roth, who runs the Gen Z consulting firm dcdx, explained: Quiet quitting or stronger pushes for work-life balance are not threats or insults to tradition, but merely calls for respect, protection of our health, and the desire for a more fulfilling life for a generation growing up in this always-online world.In many ways, Gen Z is simply looking for qualities that all employees should hope to find in their workplace, including transparency, clear expectations, and equitable treatment. Companies that take their concerns seriously are likely to cultivate more loyal, committed employeesof any age.

ForgetSpongeBob SquarePants,Sesame Street,and thesourdough starter craze: a depressed German loaf of bread named Bernd das Brot is celebrating his 25th anniversary as the reluctant star of achildrens television programthat accidentally became equally popular with adults.A cult classic in Germany, Bernd das Brot (Bernd the Bread) is a puppet renowned for his deep, gloomy voice, his perpetual pessimism and his signature expression, Mist! (Think crap! in English.)Played and voiced by puppeteer Jrg Teichgraeber, Bernd is a television presenter who wants nothing to do with TV and cant wait to go home to stare at the wallpaper.This year, his friendsa sheep and a flower bushare urging him to become a bread influencer.Bernds beginningsBorn as a sketch on the back of a napkin in a pizzeria, Bernds infamous grimace was drawn by Tommy Krappweis who modeled it after co-creator Norman Csters face. The duo had been asked to come up with mascots for KiKA, a German childrens public television channel.Comic artist Georg Graf von Westphalen designed Bernd asa pullman loafwhite bread typically sliced for sandwicheswith short arms and a permanent scowl. Bernd channels German stereotypes with his grumpy disposition, penchant for complaining and dry sense of humor and irony.Bernds first episode aired on KiKA in 2000 alongside his more-optimistic pals, Chili the Sheep and Briegel the Bush.A reluctant popularityBecause KiKA is a childrens channel, there was typically dead air from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. On January 1, 2003, the network put Bernds short episodes into the night loop for the first time.The move brought an adult audience into Bernds world, often those sitting at home and smoking pot, or returning after a long night of partying. The night loop cemented his popularity as a German cult classic.In 2004, Bernd won theAdolf Grimme Prize, the German television equivalent ofan Emmy. The jury said he represents the right to be in a bad mood.Bernd shows you that you are less vulnerable with humor and self-irony. And perhaps the most important point is: Its totally okay if you dont feel well sometimes. Thats completely fine, Krappweis, Bernds creator,said in a KiKA Q&A about Bernds anniversary.Bernds broken heartBernd is depressed for a multitude of reasons, including his failed attempt to be the mascot for a bakerys advertising campaign (thats how he ended up as a TV presenter, as a last resort).But its in Episode 85 that we finally learn about Bernds broken heart.A long, long time ago I fell in love with a beautiful, slim baguette. She was so incredibly charming and funny, Bernd tells Chili and Briegel. But unfortunately it was in vain.She only had eyes for this run-of-the-mill multigrain bread with its 10 types of grain. It was so depressing.The kidnappingDespite Bernds best effortsone of his catchphrases is I would like to leave this showthe episodes have never become stale. He sings, he dances, hes been to space. Hes the star of merchandise, a video game, and headlines like Give Us Our Daily Bernd.He was even kidnapped! In 2009, his 2-meter-tall (6.56 feet) statue was stolen from his traditional place outside the town hall inErfurt, where KiKA is based.A claim of responsibility surfaced on YouTube, by sympathizers of a group of demonstrators who were protesting a company that had produced cremation ovens for theNazi extermination camp Auschwitz. The demonstrators, however, denied involvement in Bernds kidnapping and the video was removed from the internet.Bernd was held hostage for nearly two weeks before being discovered unharmed in an abandoned barracks.The anniversary yearKiKA is honoring Bernds 25th anniversary, despite his complaints. New episodes, an update to his hit song, and online activities for kids and adults alike will be featured. The celebrations begin now, asBernds birthday is February 29.The latest series will premiere in September as Bernd, Chili, and Briegel launch the social media channel Better With Bernd in their efforts to make him into a bread influencer.The trio will present inventions to make school, and life, easier for viewers, but naturally their concoctions backfire. Bernd instead becomes a defluencerand an involuntary trendsetter.By Stefanie Dazio, Associated PressAP journalist Kirsten Grieshaber contributed to this report.

PROS:Exceptional camera performance in both photos and videosImpressive Zoom capabilityPowerful performanceOptional Photography Kit for enhanced camera experienceCONS:Premium priceModerate battery capacityRATINGS:AESTHETICSERGONOMICSPERFORMANCESUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITYVALUE FOR MONEYEDITOR'S QUOTE:With its versatile camera system and premium build quality, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers a flagship phone that sings to the hearts of shutterbugs.Xiaomi has emerged as a major player in the smartphone world, now ranking third globally in smartphone sales. The companys Ultra series represents its highest-end flagship phones, showcasing the best of what Xiaomi can offer. Following its Chinese debut, the latest Ultra model made its global appearance at the Mobile World Congress this year, alongside the standard Xiaomi 15 and several other new devices that demonstrate the companys growing range of products.Following in the footsteps of earlier Ultra phones, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra aims to be more than just another flagship device. Its designed to appeal to anyone who takes their phone photography seriously, from casual shooters to professional photographers. But with a premium price tag and bold promises, does it deliver the experience users expect? Lets explore what makes this phone special and whether its worth your attention.Designer: XiaomiAestheticsXiaomis Ultra series has always been deeply centered around photography, and the design leaves no doubt about that from the very first glance. Its immediately clear that this phone is built to deliver an outstanding camera experience. And what better way to say that than with a design that, depending on the color variant, looks almost like a traditional digital camera?The large, circular camera module takes center stage, housing a sophisticated quad-camera setup. This includes a telephoto camera, an ultra-wide camera, and the main camera, all positioned vertically. Next to them, youll find the Leica branding and a periscope telephoto camera, also arranged in a vertical row, with an LED flash placed on the left edge of the camera island.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra maintains the familiar design language of the Ultra series, with subtle refinements that give it a fresh, distinct personality. The global version of the phone is available in three color options: Black, White, and Silver Chrome. Both the black and white variants feature a matte finish with a captivating texture. The black model showcases a sandblasted surface that seamlessly blends the camera module with the body in a sleek, stealthy manner, accented by a striking red ring around the camera module. In contrast, the white variant highlights the bold juxtaposition between the black camera module and the white body, while boasting a sophisticated hairline-patterned design that adds an extra touch of elegance to its polished appearance.However, for those with a deep appreciation for Leica cameras, the Silver Chrome variant stands out as the ultimate choice. Inspired by the iconic Leica M series, this variant combines the timeless appeal of silver chrome with the luxurious feel of Lychee leather. The Ultra logo, which echoes the font of Xiaomis EV SU 7 Ultra logo, is positioned above the right-hand side of the camera module.ErgonomicsThe Xiaomi 15 Ultra measures 161.3mm x 75.3mm x 9.35mm for the Black and White variants, and 161.3mm x 75.3mm x 9.48mm for the Silver Chrome variant. The Black and White models weigh 226g, while the Silver Chrome variant is slightly heavier at 229g. Despite the large camera module making the device top-heavy, it remains surprisingly comfortable to hold one-handed, thanks to the improved weight distribution.The quad-curve display gently curves on all four sides, seamlessly blending the front glass with the aluminum frame to enhance comfort. The sides are mostly flat with a subtle bevel on the back, which further improves grip. Additionally, the fingerprint sensor is positioned at a convenient height, allowing for easy unlocking without the need to shift your hand.For photography enthusiasts, Xiaomi offers an optional Photography Kit that adds extra grip and camera controls. This accessory transforms the phone into something closer to a traditional camera experience, though its worth noting this comes at an additional cost. That might be an acceptable expense, though, as it really gives the phone a makeover.PerformanceThe quad-camera system on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra brings mostly incremental improvements over its predecessor, with the highlight being the new 200 MP 4.3x periscope telephoto camera. All four cameras are equipped with Leica Summilux-branded lenses and Leica Ultra-Low Reflection optical glass, which reduces light reflection by 1.5% and boosts drop resistance by 77% compared to the 14 Ultra.The 50 MP main camera with an f/1.62 aperture and OIS comes a 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor. It is largely unchanged from its predecessor except that it sadly no longer has a variable aperture. Despite this, the photos from the Xiaomi 15 Ultras main camera are still rich in detail, with vibrant colors and excellent dynamic range across various conditions. Thanks to the large sensor, it also offers a naturally shallow depth of field, capturing images with beautiful background blur.The 50 MP telephoto camera, powered by the Sony IMX858 sensor with an f/1.8 lens, delivers exceptional detail and vibrant colors. Meanwhile, the 200 MP periscope telephoto camera, featuring a 1/1.4-inch Samsung HP9 image sensor and an f/2.6 aperture, captures impressively sharp and detailed images. Both telephoto lenses are capable of capturing impressive macro shots, showcasing their versatility.The 50 MP ultrawide camera, with an f/2.2 aperture and a 1/2.75-inch sensor, rounds out the quad-camera setup. Although its a slight downgrade from its predecessor, it still provides solid performance. The front camera, a 32 MP shooter with an f/2.0 aperture and a 90-degree field of view, ensures clear, detailed selfies.One notable strength of the Xiaomi 15 Ultras camera system is its cohesion. Despite having four different lenses, the overall image output feels unified. Whether capturing macro shots or telephoto details, the system delivers consistent, high-quality results.In addition to the Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic modes, Xiaomi offers a variety of filters with adjustable intensity, allowing you to effortlessly customize photos and videos to your preference on the fly. One of my personal favorites is the Leica Black & White filter, which delivers a classic, timeless feel with rich contrasts and stunning detail.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra excels as a video camera, capturing natural, low-noise footage with remarkable detail. All four rear cameras are capable of recording video up to 8K at 30 fps, while also supporting 4K at 60 fps with Log video recording and Dolby Vision at 4K at 60 fps. However, the main camera does not support 4K at 120 fps with Log video recording.The 4-microphone array effectively reduces noise, ensuring clear audio. Image stabilization performs admirably, and in particularly shaky scenarios, the ultra image stabilization feature significantly minimizes shakethough it limits video recording to 2.8K at 30 fps.The Photography Kit, sold separately, truly enhances your experience with the phone. Its surprising how a relatively simple grip with camera controls, which also doubles as a 2,000 mAh power bank, can elevate the phones camera performance to a whole new level. However, attaching the Photography Kit to the phone can make non-photo-related use less comfortable.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra retains a similar AMOLED display to its predecessor, featuring a 6.72-inch panel with a resolution of 3200 x 1440 pixels and 552 ppi. The display supports an adaptive refresh rate of 1-120 Hz, adjusting based on the content on the screen. With a peak brightness of 3200 nits, it ensures excellent visibility even under direct sunlight. The display is sharp and vibrant, while Xiaomis Shield Glass 2.0 offers enhanced durability, providing 16x better drop resistance.Equipped with Qualcomms latest flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra handles demanding tasks like video editing and graphics-intensive gaming effortlessly. Xiaomis 3D Dual-Channel IceLoop cooling system ensures the device stays cool under pressure. Running on Android 15 with HyperOS 2, it offers a range of AI-powered features and Xiaomi HyperConnect for seamless cross-device connectivity.The 5,410 mAh silicon battery may not be the largest in its class, but it easily lasts through a full day of normal use. However, if youre using the camera extensively, youll likely need to recharge at some point during the day. Fortunately, Xiaomi continues to offer fast 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging for the latest Ultra model.SustainabilityEnvironmental impact matters today more than ever, and the longevity and repairability of our devices have become important considerations. Given the large role it plays in the global smartphone market, we expect Xiaomi to have a stronger sustainability strategy in place. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra addresses these concerns in several ways, though theres still room for improvement.The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is designed with durability in mind, featuring an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, ensuring it stands up to everyday wear and tear. The devices outer lens is upgraded to the highly durable Corning Gorilla Glass 7i, while Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 on the display provides enhanced drop resistance. This combination of protective features helps extend the phones lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing electronic waste. When it comes to software longevity, Xiaomi provides four major Android updates and six years of security patches. While this level of support is solid, it does not quite match the extended software and security commitments made by companies like Google and Samsung. Nevertheless, it ensures that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will remain secure and functional for several years, promoting longer device usage and contributing to sustainability by reducing the need for constant upgrades.One area where Xiaomi could improve is in the use of sustainable materials. Unlike some competitors who have begun incorporating recycled materials into their phones, Xiaomi doesnt make any specific claims about using environmentally friendly components in the 15 Ultra. This might be a consideration for environmentally conscious buyers.ValueFlagship smartphones come at a premium price, and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is no exception, starting at 1499 (roughly $1,885). However, considering the performance, camera technology, and overall design, it offers strong value for those looking for top-tier specifications.The phones strongest selling point is its camera system, which rivals or exceeds what youll find in other flagship phones. For photography enthusiasts, this could mean carrying one device instead of both a phone and a separate camera, potentially justifying the investment. The Leica partnership adds real value here, bringing genuine camera expertise to the phones imaging capabilities.Whether the Xiaomi 15 Ultra represents good value depends largely on how you plan to use it. If youre primarily interested in the cameras capabilities and will make full use of its advanced features, the price is easier to justify. For users seeking a premium phone without specific photography needs, there might be more cost-effective options available.VerdictThe Xiaomi 15 Ultra pushes the boundaries of what a flagship phone can offer. With its stunning display, versatile camera system, and premium build quality, it provides an all-encompassing experience that caters to demanding users. While it may not match the long-term software support of Google or Samsung, its blend of performance, design, and camera technology positions it as an attractive choice for those looking for a high-performance device. If youre willing to invest in a cutting-edge smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a solid contender that doesnt disappoint.The post Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: Falling in Love with Mobile Photography first appeared on Yanko Design.