html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"Xiaomi 15 UltraMSRP$1,640.00 Score Details The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a highly capable smartphone with a unique design, the latest tech, and an incredible camera specification.ProsUnique camera-like designHighest performance processorBright screenIncredible camera specificationTwo-day battery lifeConsCamera lacks some characterSoftware is complex and sometimes unreliable Table of ContentsTable of ContentsSpecsXiaomi 15 Ultra: designXiaomi 15 Ultra: screen and performanceXiaomi 15 Ultra: cameraXiaomi 15 Ultra: softwareXiaomi 15 Ultra: battery and chargingXiaomi 15 Ultra: price and availabilityDoes the Xiaomi 15 Ultra live up to expectations?Its fair to say I had high expectations for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Its 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 arent the only challenged faced by the phone, as how will Xiaomi go about making it even better in the first place? After a while with the phone, I realized I should have kept my exceptions in check, but this isnt a knock against the phone itself. Let me explain.Recommended VideosXiaomi 15 UltraSize161.3 x 75.3 x 9.48mmWeight229 gramsScreen and resolution6.73-inch AMOLED, 1-120Hz, 3200 x 1440, 3200 peak brightness, 1920Hz PWM dimmingOperating systemXiaomi HyperOS 2, Android 15Storage512GB or 1TBProcessor and RAMQualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, 16GB RAMCameras50MP main, 50MP wide-angle, 50MP telephoto, 200MP periscope telephoto, 32MP front cameraDurabilityAluminum frame, Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, IP68Battery and charging5,410mAh, 90W HyperCharge wired, 80W Hypercharge wireless.ColorsBlack and Chrome, Black, WhitePrice1,299 British pounds 16GB/512GB, 1,499 pounds 16GB/1TBRelatedAndy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe Xiaomi 15 Ultra looks like a camera from the back, and I think its a fantastic design. The top section (viewed in landscape) is made of metal and the lower section is covered with a vegan leather, but its a panel of leather, meaning the metal chassis surrounds it. Its 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 doesnt 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 youd prefer something a bit less camera-like, Xiaomi makes the 15 Ultra in black and white too.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsTheres no getting away from the size and weight of the phone though. Its quite top heavy in portrait orientation, thick at 9.5mm, and you know its in your pocket due to the 229 gram weight. The screen has a neat 3D curve around the edge, so the phone doesnt 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 its a big improvement over the 14 Ultra, plus its durable with an IP68 dust and water resistance rating too.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIve not had any issues seeing the big 6.73-inch AMOLED screen even in bright sunlight, and I dont think it has even reached its 3,200 nits peak either. It has a 1 to 120Hz refresh rate, and Ive 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 Im watching videos or playing games.The same can be said for the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor. Its so powerful I question whether anyone will reach its limits, and certainly not on a regular basis. Theres 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 doesnt seem to reoccur either. Very odd.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIve 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 its not the fastest Ive used. What Im 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?Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe spec list for the Xiaomi 15 Ultras 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 Leicas Vario Summilux lens, theres a host of AI work behind the scenes, and some interesting editing features including a take on Apple and Samsungs 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 its 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 Ultras wonderful character?1 of 17Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Wide-angle Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 4.3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Wide-angle Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 4.3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Wide-angle Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 4.3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 4.3x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends 30x zoom Andy Boxall / Digital Trends I think it may have done. The 15 Ultras camera is still excellent, but it does seem to have lost that special something. Some of Xiaomis 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. Theres 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. On the more positive side, the main camera has a lovely natural depth of field and its photos have lots of detail. But theres nothing here that made me really keen to use it over the OnePlus 13 for example. Its still really good, and I like the photos Ive taken, but theres some frustrating inconsistency, and Im not sure as much time has been spent on the tuning as there was with the 14 Ultra.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsOne final thing to note is I havent used a Photography Kit for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and havent heard whether one will be released. Theres a strong chance the Photography Kit and its hardware filters helped make the 14 Ultra such a winner. After several hundred photos with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, it hasnt instantly become my go-to camera phone, something I did expect. That doesnt make it bad, far from it, but I cant help but feel it should be a little more consistent, and for its versatility to encourage me to really get out and use it more.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe Xiaomi 15 Ultra has the companys 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. Its 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 dont always refresh correctly either, and my Microsoft Teams app doesnt update chats until you manually go into each one. Im sure theres some kind of power management system at work here, but I shouldnt have to go searching for ways to disable it.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsIm 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. Its awkward and annoying, but can be changed in the settings menu. Theres a lot of customization in HyperOS, which some may enjoy, but its 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. Its 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. Theres 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. Its not a problem as such, but if youre a hardcore mobile gamer, the phone may warm your hands a bit after a while.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsThe size of the phone reflects the size of the battery inside, and its a 5,410mAh whopper. The phone supports the 90W HyperCharge proprietary wire charging system, and 80W wireless charging. Theres no charging block in the box, and unusually its 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. Its efficient too, with a 40-minute YouTube video in 1080p taking just 4%.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsXiaomi 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.This 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.Andy Boxall / Digital TrendsPerhaps my expectations for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra were too high. This is by no means a bad phone its a high performance, supremely capable, and superbly usable every day partner. However, because the camera hasnt blown me away, the devices idiosyncrasies frustrate more. Whether its the software or the overall size, you have to accept those compromises. Before, the Xiaomi 14 Ultras camera made them easier to accept.It reminds me a lot of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Its very good and you probably wont regret buying it, but will you want to buy it? The cameras amazing specification will tempt you, but at this point, it hasnt quite lived up to its promise. Its very good indeed, but its not quite as stellar as I hoped it would be. At least for now.Ill end the review by saying I havent finished with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. I do think theres more to come from the camera, as I refuse to believe Xiaomi and Leica have take a step back from the 14 Ultra. Ill take more photos with it, play with the many new features I havent fully explored yet, wait for a possible Photography Kit accessory, and really look for the magic that Im sure is there somewhere. I think thats a recommendation, just maybe not a wholehearted one.Editors Recommendations