On the eve of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Xiaomi has officially unveiled its highly anticipated 15 Series smartphones, featuring the Xiaomi 15 and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The company boldly claims these devices to be “the ultimate professional imagery flagship” for mobile photography and video, a statement that was reinforced by an appearance from Leica CEO Matthias Harsch, as Leica celebrates its centenary this year. Following the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in 2024, excluding North America, Xiaomi emphasizes that its partnership with Leica has evolved, enhancing the sophistication of its latest devices.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra showcases impressive specifications, although the upgrades from the previous 14 Series models are not as dramatic as some might expect. It features a 50-megapixel Type 1 LYT-900 sensor carried over from its predecessor, complemented by a Summilux lens that maintains the f/1.63 aperture and 14EV of dynamic range. Xiaomi claims that this camera can capture double the light of the previous model, significantly improving low-light performance. The camera supports multiple focal lengths including 23mm, 28mm, and 35mm equivalents, although the variable aperture from the 14 Ultra has been omitted without any explanation from the company.
The main telephoto camera retains its impressive 50-megapixel resolution with a 70mm equivalent at 3x optical zoom, and is joined by a remarkable 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with a 100mm equivalent at 4.3x optical zoom. Xiaomi highlights a 136% improvement in light-gathering capabilities for the telephoto lens, despite its tighter f/2.6 aperture. Hybrid zoom capabilities extend the lens reach to 200mm, 400mm, and beyond, promising varying degrees of success, which will be evaluated in an upcoming review.
Moreover, the 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera offers a slightly tighter 115-degree field of view compared to the previous iteration. Xiaomi has incorporated a 24-layer ultra-low reflection glass with a special coating for the camera module, aimed at minimizing reflections and glare—a common issue in past Xiaomi phones. The video capabilities are equally impressive, with support for Dolby Vision on all rear cameras and the ability to record in 4K at 120fps. Additionally, all four cameras come with 10-bit Log recording, along with optical image stabilization (OIS) and electronic image stabilization (EIS) for smoother video footage.
The design of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is available in three striking colors: black, white, and silver chrome. The silver chrome variant particularly stands out, giving the phone a retro point-and-shoot aesthetic when tilted in landscape mode. Xiaomi claims that this is its most durable phone yet, featuring IP68 dust and water resistance, enhanced drop resistance with Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, and Gorilla Glass 7i. The device boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with an impressive peak brightness of 3,200 nits. Although the glass is more durable, the screen remains largely similar to the 14 Ultra, with the addition of a highly responsive ultrasonic fingerprint sensor.
The battery capacity has been slightly increased to 5410mAh (up from 5000mAh), but it falls short of the 6000mAh available in the China-only variant. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports wireless charging at an astonishing 80W, making it one of the fastest options available for compatible wireless chargers. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, this device comes with options for 12GB or 16GB of RAM, and storage capacities of 256GB, 512GB, or even 1TB. Additionally, it includes Snapdragon Sound for high-resolution audio playback.
Xiaomi is committed to incorporating AI as a foundational aspect of its software suite, introducing HyperOS 2. This new software includes a range of HyperAI editing features within the Gallery app, all of which are cloud-based and require a Xiaomi account. Furthermore, Google Gemini will play a significant role in the integration with select apps, enhancing user experience. Xiaomi also emphasizes its HyperConnect feature, which aims to bridge devices, platforms, and ecosystems, including iOS and Macs.
One particularly intriguing feature is the Cross-device Camera, which allows users to access another device’s camera while utilizing the imaging pipeline of the 15 Series. The Combined Cameras feature enables users to combine video feeds from multiple devices simultaneously, showcasing Xiaomi's innovative approach to mobile technology.
The smaller and more affordable Xiaomi 15 also offers many of the features found in its Ultra counterpart. It utilizes Summilux lenses with a similar anti-reflective coating, and supports Dolby Vision and 4K video recording at 60fps across its rear cameras. While it lacks a periscope telephoto lens, it does feature a wider 60mm equivalent for its regular telephoto lens, with cropped options to enhance focal range.
The Xiaomi 15 also includes a dual Portrait mode combining Leica’s and Xiaomi’s Master Portrait options, with a new “Sunset Portrait” feature designed to optimize bokeh and skin tones during golden hour photography. The device shares all the HyperAI features and Gemini integrations with its Ultra sibling, ensuring that it remains competitive in the market.
Xiaomi is set to release a new photography kit for the 15 Ultra, which boasts a stylish, modular design. This kit includes a built-in 2000mAh battery, providing approximately one-third of the phone’s battery life back for extended shooting sessions, along with an adapter for 67mm filters. Features like a zoom lever, exposure dial, and video recording button are also included.
While the Xiaomi 15 Series will not be available through retailers in Canada or the U.S., interested customers can find them through online vendors in other regions, with international shipping options available. It’s noteworthy that Xiaomi provides four years of Android updates and six years of security updates—though this is less comprehensive than the offerings from competitors like Samsung and Google. Pricing is set at €999 for the Xiaomi 15 and €1,499 for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which converts to approximately $1,030 and $1,550, respectively. Additionally, Xiaomi will offer one free out-of-warranty repair and one screen replacement within the first year of purchase for both models.
