Smartphone cameras have come a long way in just a few years. These days, we rarely think twice before reaching for our phones to shoot videos or snap photos — and for good reason. While some professional cameras will charge you upwards of 2 Lakhs for abilities like 4K 60fps recording, camera-focussed smartphones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offer that along with multiple different lenses at almost half the price. And hey, it still makes calls. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra called for all the ‘attention’ last year but with the 15 Ultra, Xiaomi has raised the stakes — and delivered impressively. I’ve been using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a month, putting it through its paces across the stunning landscapes of Costa Brava and the sweltering heat of Delhi. Here’s my full review.
Cameras
While I usually start my review with the design and build aspect of the smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera capabilities have forced me to start with this. The camera setup remains largely the same, but the focal lengths differ slightly. Moreover, the 15 Ultra now also introduces a new 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera.
| Cameras | Specifications |
| Primary camera | 50-megapixel, LYT-900 image sensor, f/1.6, 23mm, 1.0″-type, OIS |
| Secondary camera | 50-megapixel, Sony IMX858 image sensor, /1.8, 70mm (telephoto), OIS, 3x optical zoom |
| Tertiary camera | 200-megapixel, Samsung HP9 sensor, f/2.6, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS, 4.3x optical zoom |
| Quaternary camera | 50-megapixel, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76″ |
| Selfie camera | 32-megapixel, f/2.0, 21mm (wide) |
| Video recording capabilities | Up to 8K at 30fps, Dolby Vision |
The 50-megapixel primary camera continues to boast the 1-inch sensor — making it one of the few phones to still sell a large sensor camera in the Indian market. Both Vivo’s X200 Pro and OPPO’s Find X8 Pro have both opted out of it. But, the 15 Ultra’s main camera does not come with a variable aperture anymore. While that may sound like a downgrade in theory, the camera never really faced a challenge when dealing with light. The post-processing handled the dynamic range and exposure without any hiccups. Xiaomi’s long-term partnership with Leica continues with the 15 Ultra too, with Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant photography modes in the standard mode. And, with the help of Leica Summilux lenses, the camera can manage the intake of light well.
Just like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, it’s tough to click a bad photo with these cameras. Images look stunning in the daylight with a perfect balance of accurate colours and sharp details. The 15 Ultra takes wonderful photos of human subjects as well, keeping the skin tones natural. The large sensor also adds natural blur, without having to switch to portrait mode. Speaking of which, clicking portrait shots with both the telephoto camera is extremely fun. It just offers you more freedom to experiment with different frames. The 70mm lens is the ideal choice for human portraits because it gives you a good closeup photo without any visual distortion. The edge detection is flawless, and the Leica Portrait adds a bit of finesse to the images without needing to edit them later.
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item5 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item6 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item7 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item8 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item9 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item10 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item11 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item12 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item13 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item14 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item15 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item16 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item17 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item18 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item19 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item20 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item21 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item22 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item23 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item24 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item25 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item26 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item27 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item28 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item29 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item30 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item31 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item32 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item33 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item34 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item35 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item36 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item37 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
The 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera can optically zoom up to 4.3x which is 100mm equivalent. It uses the Samsung HP9 sensor, similar to what we saw on the Vivo X200 Pro. This lens is extremely consistent throughout different situations. It’s perfect for clicking extreme close-up photos, some of which turn out to be wallpaper-level. While the post-processing might push the vibrant colours to their extremes, it never feels off. Having said that, it’s one of the most versatile lenses on the 15 Ultra. And, that’s also because it can shoot 4K videos at 120fps. The only other camera with the same superpower is the main.
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item5 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item6 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item7 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item8 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item9 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item10 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item11 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item12 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item13 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item14 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item15 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item16 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item17 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s low-light capabilities are just as impressive as its daylight shots. The images easily preserve details under low-light conditions, while also keeping most of the noise at bay. The ultra-wide camera also pushes you to get wide landscapes of beautiful places. The images have good details and keep the barrel distortion at the edges to a minimum. The selfie camera hasn’t really changed much from last year, but that’s not a bad thing. It still captures good colours and detailed photos with a balanced dynamic range.
#tdi_3_66f .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_3_66f .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
The camera can also easily fit a group of four to five people in the frame, but it misses out on autofocus. Besides this, the 15 Ultra can zoom up to 120x, beating the zoom capabilities of the S25 Ultra. While it’s obvious that at higher zoom levels the image will lose out on details, Xiaomi’s processing enhances the photos to keep as many details as possible.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is not only for photographers but also for videographers. It offers 4K 120fps video recording which can be used to shoot some stunning footage that can be slowed down. In fact, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has started to replace our in-house cameras for quick b-roll captures. It can also record footage in LOG and Dolby Vision.
The Xiaomi Photography Kit Is a Must-have for Serious Photographers
I sadly couldn’t test the photography kit from last year, but the 15 Ultra’s kit looks absolutely stunning in the red and black uniform. It’s not just about looks though, it’s a utilitarian unit that every photographer/videographer will appreciate. Well, as long as you click photos in landscape mode.
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
Built with high-quality materials, a leather back panel, and a camera grip — the kit gives easy access to physical controls, transforming it into a camera-like experience. The grip is detachable and also acts as an emergency power bank with a 2,000mAh capacity. It features a shutter button, a video recording button, a jog dial, and a rotating dial. The jog dial is an interesting inclusion, as it allows you to quickly zoom into the subject. The left side of the grip is home to a USB-C port for charging. It also features an LED indicator that shines in red when charging and green when full.
The photography kit also includes interchangeable rings and a lanyard to carry the Xiaomi 15 Ultra with more ease. This kit will cost you Rs 11,999.
Design and Display
My first impressions article of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a deeper dive into the design aspect of the phone. You can read it here. It’s not really a major departure from the outgoing model, but still builds on it for a more ergonomic design. The new dual-tone finish with the silver trim adds a bit of freshness to a sea of generic smartphones. It also introduces a very subtle ‘Ultra’ branding on the top, which is something you’ll also find on the newly launched Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.
#tdi_5_888 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_5_888 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
| Design | Specifications |
| Colours | Silver Chrome |
| Weight | 229 grams |
| Dimensions (HxWxD, mm) | 161.3mm x 75.3mm x 9.48mm |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
That said, Xiaomi has limited this phone to a single colour option, which is a bit disappointing. It’s always great to have multiple options to cater to different personalities. The huge camera module remains a head-turner and a conversation starter every time I step out. It’s not a hassle to carry the phone in your pocket, but it’s surely a huge fingerprint magnet.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 6.73-inch, WQHD+ |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 3200 x 1440 pixels, 522 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz |
| Peak brightness | Claimed – 3200nits, Tested – 1956 nits |
| Minimum brightness | 20 nits |
| Screen protection | Xiaomi Shield Glass 2 |
| Other features | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1920Hz PWM dimming, DCI-P3 colour gamut |
The 6.73-inch quad-curved AMOLED display remains majorly unchanged. I’m actually fine with that because if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The panel is extremely bright, and colour-accurate, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps things buttery smooth. It supports Dolby Vision content, so you can watch TV Shows such as The Residence at its best quality. For protection against scratches and accidental drops, Xiaomi layers the glass with the Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.
The display remains unscathed after having used it for over a month. The stereo speaker setup on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra further adds to this experience with immersive sound. It gets loud enough with a good balance of bass.
Performance and Software
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite sits at the heart of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The same chip can also be found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, OnePlus 13, iQOO 13, and the Realme GT 7 Pro. While Xiaomi doesn’t really market this as a performance-focused phone, it’s definitely capable of full-throttle. It outscores the S25 Ultra in the AnTuTu test but falls behind its sibling, the Xiaomi 15.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | Up to 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | Up to 512GB UFS 4.1 |
| Software version | Xiaomi HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity details | Bluetooth 6.0, eSIM |
It flies through daily tasks with ease. Be it multitasking with multiple Google Sheets or assigning tasks on Slack, the 15 Ultra can handle all of this without breaking a sweat. Games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile also run smoothly. The former can go to Smooth + Extreme+ framerates, which means you can play the game at 120fps. It manages things well without getting toasty. So, if you ever find a break from snapping photos and recording videos, the 15 Ultra is more than capable of handling a few rounds of gaming too.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with Xiaomi HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 out of the box. The company promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches. While it’s not on par with what Google and Samsung offer, the four-year cycle will still provide peace of mind. HyperOS 2 doesn’t really see a major change from the previous version, so if you are used to this skin, you’ll feel right at home.
That said, it does offer some excellent customisation avenues. And, this starts with the lock screen itself which offers depth effect, customisable text and clock styles, dynamic AI wallpaper, and more. Rest, the animations when sliding down the control centre appear smoother and the blur and bounce effects upon closing and opening apps look better. While Xiaomi has majorly kept bloatware apps at bay, it does include Spotify and GetApps. But, the latter does not push any intrusive notifications, so that’s a win.
With AI in the mix, Xiaomi does include a wide variety of tools like AI Writing, AI Image Enhance, Live Transcription, Object Eraser, and more. However, it’s not as refined as you would expect it to be. Using Object Eraser to get rid of unwanted objects mostly gave me poor results. This seems to be the case with many of the current AI implementations across the market, including Apple Intelligence — promising, but still a step behind the level of polish and effectiveness seen with Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
Battery Life and Charging Speeds
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra gets a slight bump in the battery department with a 5,410mAh battery. This is 410mAh more than what we saw on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It uses a silicon carbon type battery, which the company calls Xiaomi Surge. This is why despite the slightly larger battery, the 15 Ultra does not really add more weight to its structure. The phone easily lasted in my usage with more than eight hours of screen time. My usage usually included playing games, scrolling through Instagram, reading articles, and randomly clicking photos.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery capacity | 5,410mAh |
| Charger in the box? | Yes, 90W HyperCharge |
| PCMark Battery Test (FHD+) | 17 hours and 37 minutes |
In our PCMark Battery test, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra lasted for 17 hours and 37 minutes. This is more than what the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with the 5,000mAh battery could offer. But, it loses out against the OPPO Find X8 Pro, Vivo X200 Pro, and even its younger sibling Xiaomi 15 — now that’s twice the 15 Ultra has come up short against its compact brother.
The 90W HyperCharge brick inside the box will give you a full charge from the dead within 49 minutes, which is great.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a reliable and versatile camera setup in their pocket. The word ‘versatile’ is very important because half of the phone’s back panel is filled with cameras. These are shooters that can be handy in almost every situation — be it for photos or videos. So, if you are planning to finally start that YouTube channel, but don’t want to invest in expensive gears, this might be the way to go. But yes, if that’s what you are considering the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for, then definitely also get the Photography Kit.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is not only about cameras, the Snapdragon 8 Elite under the hood does a good job of handling the load — be it gaming or other multitasking duties. Speaking of which, it’s also capable of editing videos on the go. The 5,410mAh battery is more than reliable and the included 90W charger is pretty fast.
As for alternatives, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra sees itself in a fight against the Vivo X200 Pro and the Find X8 Pro — both of which are cheaper and offer excellent camera capabilities. This is where Xiaomi could have been more aggressive with the pricing to close the gap. But, then again, if you were thinking of getting the S25 Ultra for cameras, then you’ll be saving up a lot and getting much better output. That said, Samsung will any day take the crown for other productivity tasks that include Galaxy AI and its S Pen.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will stand against the oncoming wave of Ultras, but for now, it remains an excellent, no-nonsense choice for camera enthusiasts.
The post Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: The Camera Monster appeared first on MySmartPrice.
Smartphone cameras have come a long way in just a few years. These days, we rarely think twice before reaching for our phones to shoot videos or snap photos — and for good reason. While some professional cameras will charge you upwards of 2 Lakhs for abilities like 4K 60fps recording, camera-focussed smartphones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offer that along with multiple different lenses at almost half the price. And hey, it still makes calls. The Xiaomi 14 Ultra called for all the ‘attention’ last year but with the 15 Ultra, Xiaomi has raised the stakes — and delivered impressively. I’ve been using the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for over a month, putting it through its paces across the stunning landscapes of Costa Brava and the sweltering heat of Delhi. Here’s my full review.
Cameras
While I usually start my review with the design and build aspect of the smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera capabilities have forced me to start with this. The camera setup remains largely the same, but the focal lengths differ slightly. Moreover, the 15 Ultra now also introduces a new 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera.
| Cameras | Specifications |
| Primary camera | 50-megapixel, LYT-900 image sensor, f/1.6, 23mm, 1.0″-type, OIS |
| Secondary camera | 50-megapixel, Sony IMX858 image sensor, /1.8, 70mm (telephoto), OIS, 3x optical zoom |
| Tertiary camera | 200-megapixel, Samsung HP9 sensor, f/2.6, 100mm (periscope telephoto), OIS, 4.3x optical zoom |
| Quaternary camera | 50-megapixel, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76″ |
| Selfie camera | 32-megapixel, f/2.0, 21mm (wide) |
| Video recording capabilities | Up to 8K at 30fps, Dolby Vision |
The 50-megapixel primary camera continues to boast the 1-inch sensor — making it one of the few phones to still sell a large sensor camera in the Indian market. Both Vivo’s X200 Pro and OPPO’s Find X8 Pro have both opted out of it. But, the 15 Ultra’s main camera does not come with a variable aperture anymore. While that may sound like a downgrade in theory, the camera never really faced a challenge when dealing with light. The post-processing handled the dynamic range and exposure without any hiccups. Xiaomi’s long-term partnership with Leica continues with the 15 Ultra too, with Leica Authentic and Leica Vibrant photography modes in the standard mode. And, with the help of Leica Summilux lenses, the camera can manage the intake of light well.
Just like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, it’s tough to click a bad photo with these cameras. Images look stunning in the daylight with a perfect balance of accurate colours and sharp details. The 15 Ultra takes wonderful photos of human subjects as well, keeping the skin tones natural. The large sensor also adds natural blur, without having to switch to portrait mode. Speaking of which, clicking portrait shots with both the telephoto camera is extremely fun. It just offers you more freedom to experiment with different frames. The 70mm lens is the ideal choice for human portraits because it gives you a good closeup photo without any visual distortion. The edge detection is flawless, and the Leica Portrait adds a bit of finesse to the images without needing to edit them later.
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item5 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item6 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item7 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item8 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item9 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item10 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item11 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item12 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item13 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item14 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item15 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item16 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item17 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item18 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item19 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item20 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item21 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item22 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item23 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item24 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item25 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item26 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item27 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item28 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item29 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item30 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item31 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item32 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item33 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item34 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item35 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item36 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_1_78b .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item37 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
The 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera can optically zoom up to 4.3x which is 100mm equivalent. It uses the Samsung HP9 sensor, similar to what we saw on the Vivo X200 Pro. This lens is extremely consistent throughout different situations. It’s perfect for clicking extreme close-up photos, some of which turn out to be wallpaper-level. While the post-processing might push the vibrant colours to their extremes, it never feels off. Having said that, it’s one of the most versatile lenses on the 15 Ultra. And, that’s also because it can shoot 4K videos at 120fps. The only other camera with the same superpower is the main.
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item5 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item6 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item7 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item8 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item9 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item10 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item11 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item12 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item13 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item14 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item15 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item16 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_2_f78 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item17 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s low-light capabilities are just as impressive as its daylight shots. The images easily preserve details under low-light conditions, while also keeping most of the noise at bay. The ultra-wide camera also pushes you to get wide landscapes of beautiful places. The images have good details and keep the barrel distortion at the edges to a minimum. The selfie camera hasn’t really changed much from last year, but that’s not a bad thing. It still captures good colours and detailed photos with a balanced dynamic range.
#tdi_3_66f .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_3_66f .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
The camera can also easily fit a group of four to five people in the frame, but it misses out on autofocus. Besides this, the 15 Ultra can zoom up to 120x, beating the zoom capabilities of the S25 Ultra. While it’s obvious that at higher zoom levels the image will lose out on details, Xiaomi’s processing enhances the photos to keep as many details as possible.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is not only for photographers but also for videographers. It offers 4K 120fps video recording which can be used to shoot some stunning footage that can be slowed down. In fact, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has started to replace our in-house cameras for quick b-roll captures. It can also record footage in LOG and Dolby Vision.
The Xiaomi Photography Kit Is a Must-have for Serious Photographers
I sadly couldn’t test the photography kit from last year, but the 15 Ultra’s kit looks absolutely stunning in the red and black uniform. It’s not just about looks though, it’s a utilitarian unit that every photographer/videographer will appreciate. Well, as long as you click photos in landscape mode.
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item3 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_4_6c6 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item4 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
Built with high-quality materials, a leather back panel, and a camera grip — the kit gives easy access to physical controls, transforming it into a camera-like experience. The grip is detachable and also acts as an emergency power bank with a 2,000mAh capacity. It features a shutter button, a video recording button, a jog dial, and a rotating dial. The jog dial is an interesting inclusion, as it allows you to quickly zoom into the subject. The left side of the grip is home to a USB-C port for charging. It also features an LED indicator that shines in red when charging and green when full.
The photography kit also includes interchangeable rings and a lanyard to carry the Xiaomi 15 Ultra with more ease. This kit will cost you Rs 11,999.
Design and Display
My first impressions article of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a deeper dive into the design aspect of the phone. You can read it here. It’s not really a major departure from the outgoing model, but still builds on it for a more ergonomic design. The new dual-tone finish with the silver trim adds a bit of freshness to a sea of generic smartphones. It also introduces a very subtle ‘Ultra’ branding on the top, which is something you’ll also find on the newly launched Xiaomi SU7 Ultra.
#tdi_5_888 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item1 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
#tdi_5_888 .td-doubleSlider-2 .td-item2 {
background: url( 0 0 no-repeat;
}
| Design | Specifications |
| Colours | Silver Chrome |
| Weight | 229 grams |
| Dimensions (HxWxD, mm) | 161.3mm x 75.3mm x 9.48mm |
| IP Rating | IP68 |
That said, Xiaomi has limited this phone to a single colour option, which is a bit disappointing. It’s always great to have multiple options to cater to different personalities. The huge camera module remains a head-turner and a conversation starter every time I step out. It’s not a hassle to carry the phone in your pocket, but it’s surely a huge fingerprint magnet.
| Display | Specifications |
| Size | 6.73-inch, WQHD+ |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 3200 x 1440 pixels, 522 ppi |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz |
| Peak brightness | Claimed – 3200nits, Tested – 1956 nits |
| Minimum brightness | 20 nits |
| Screen protection | Xiaomi Shield Glass 2 |
| Other features | Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 1920Hz PWM dimming, DCI-P3 colour gamut |
The 6.73-inch quad-curved AMOLED display remains majorly unchanged. I’m actually fine with that because if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The panel is extremely bright, and colour-accurate, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps things buttery smooth. It supports Dolby Vision content, so you can watch TV Shows such as The Residence at its best quality. For protection against scratches and accidental drops, Xiaomi layers the glass with the Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.
The display remains unscathed after having used it for over a month. The stereo speaker setup on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra further adds to this experience with immersive sound. It gets loud enough with a good balance of bass.
Performance and Software
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite sits at the heart of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The same chip can also be found on the Galaxy S25 Ultra, OnePlus 13, iQOO 13, and the Realme GT 7 Pro. While Xiaomi doesn’t really market this as a performance-focused phone, it’s definitely capable of full-throttle. It outscores the S25 Ultra in the AnTuTu test but falls behind its sibling, the Xiaomi 15.
| Hardware | Specifications |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| RAM | Up to 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | Up to 512GB UFS 4.1 |
| Software version | Xiaomi HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 |
| Connectivity details | Bluetooth 6.0, eSIM |
It flies through daily tasks with ease. Be it multitasking with multiple Google Sheets or assigning tasks on Slack, the 15 Ultra can handle all of this without breaking a sweat. Games like BGMI and Call of Duty: Mobile also run smoothly. The former can go to Smooth + Extreme+ framerates, which means you can play the game at 120fps. It manages things well without getting toasty. So, if you ever find a break from snapping photos and recording videos, the 15 Ultra is more than capable of handling a few rounds of gaming too.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with Xiaomi HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 out of the box. The company promises four years of Android updates and six years of security patches. While it’s not on par with what Google and Samsung offer, the four-year cycle will still provide peace of mind. HyperOS 2 doesn’t really see a major change from the previous version, so if you are used to this skin, you’ll feel right at home.
That said, it does offer some excellent customisation avenues. And, this starts with the lock screen itself which offers depth effect, customisable text and clock styles, dynamic AI wallpaper, and more. Rest, the animations when sliding down the control centre appear smoother and the blur and bounce effects upon closing and opening apps look better. While Xiaomi has majorly kept bloatware apps at bay, it does include Spotify and GetApps. But, the latter does not push any intrusive notifications, so that’s a win.
With AI in the mix, Xiaomi does include a wide variety of tools like AI Writing, AI Image Enhance, Live Transcription, Object Eraser, and more. However, it’s not as refined as you would expect it to be. Using Object Eraser to get rid of unwanted objects mostly gave me poor results. This seems to be the case with many of the current AI implementations across the market, including Apple Intelligence — promising, but still a step behind the level of polish and effectiveness seen with Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
Battery Life and Charging Speeds
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra gets a slight bump in the battery department with a 5,410mAh battery. This is 410mAh more than what we saw on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra. It uses a silicon carbon type battery, which the company calls Xiaomi Surge. This is why despite the slightly larger battery, the 15 Ultra does not really add more weight to its structure. The phone easily lasted in my usage with more than eight hours of screen time. My usage usually included playing games, scrolling through Instagram, reading articles, and randomly clicking photos.
| Battery | Specifications |
| Battery capacity | 5,410mAh |
| Charger in the box? | Yes, 90W HyperCharge |
| PCMark Battery Test (FHD+) | 17 hours and 37 minutes |
In our PCMark Battery test, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra lasted for 17 hours and 37 minutes. This is more than what the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra with the 5,000mAh battery could offer. But, it loses out against the OPPO Find X8 Pro, Vivo X200 Pro, and even its younger sibling Xiaomi 15 — now that’s twice the 15 Ultra has come up short against its compact brother.
The 90W HyperCharge brick inside the box will give you a full charge from the dead within 49 minutes, which is great.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a reliable and versatile camera setup in their pocket. The word ‘versatile’ is very important because half of the phone’s back panel is filled with cameras. These are shooters that can be handy in almost every situation — be it for photos or videos. So, if you are planning to finally start that YouTube channel, but don’t want to invest in expensive gears, this might be the way to go. But yes, if that’s what you are considering the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for, then definitely also get the Photography Kit.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is not only about cameras, the Snapdragon 8 Elite under the hood does a good job of handling the load — be it gaming or other multitasking duties. Speaking of which, it’s also capable of editing videos on the go. The 5,410mAh battery is more than reliable and the included 90W charger is pretty fast.
As for alternatives, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra sees itself in a fight against the Vivo X200 Pro and the Find X8 Pro — both of which are cheaper and offer excellent camera capabilities. This is where Xiaomi could have been more aggressive with the pricing to close the gap. But, then again, if you were thinking of getting the S25 Ultra for cameras, then you’ll be saving up a lot and getting much better output. That said, Samsung will any day take the crown for other productivity tasks that include Galaxy AI and its S Pen.
It’ll be interesting to see how the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will stand against the oncoming wave of Ultras, but for now, it remains an excellent, no-nonsense choice for camera enthusiasts.
The post Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: The Camera Monster appeared first on MySmartPrice.
#Xiaomi #Ultra #Review #Camera #Monster
Source link
