Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review – The Beast Is Back!
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is here, and it aims to be the ultimate camera smartphone in 2024. With a massive 1-inch sensor, a 200MP periscope telephoto, and Snapdragon 8 Elite, it’s a photography powerhouse. But is it worth the premium price? Let’s break it down!
📌 Key Features & Upgrades
✔ 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor (f/1.63 aperture)
✔ 200MP periscope telephoto lens (4.3x optical zoom)
✔ Snapdragon 8 Elite – Faster, Cooler, More Efficient
✔ 5410mAh battery – Best-ever battery life for Xiaomi Ultra series
✔ HyperOS 2.0 with AI-powered features
✔ IP68 water resistance & new two-tone design
📸 Camera – The Ultimate Smartphone Camera?
The quad-camera setup includes:
| Camera | Sensor | Aperture | Zoom |
| Main Camera | 50MP (1-inch Sony LYT-900) | f/1.63 | 1x |
| Ultra-Wide Camera | 50MP (Samsung JN5) | f/2.2 | 0.6x |
| Telephoto Camera 1 | 50MP (Sony IMX858) | f/1.8 | 3x Optical |
| Periscope Telephoto | 200MP (Samsung HP9) | f/2.8 | 4.3x Optical (up to 120x Digital) |
✔ Incredible detail in both daylight and low-light conditions.
✔ Leica’s color processing = Professional, natural-looking images.
✔ Super-detailed zoom shots (30x and 60x retain clarity).
✔ Cinematic Portrait Mode with natural depth of field.
✔ 4K 120FPS video on main and periscope lens.
✔ 8K video recording on all rear cameras.
🔴 What’s missing?
- No variable aperture (removed from last year’s model).
- Still struggles with fast-moving subjects (some blurring issues).
- Ultra-wide camera aperture downgraded (f/1.8 → f/2.2).
🏆 Verdict: One of the best smartphone cameras ever, but motion clarity still needs improvement.
🎥 Video Performance – Pro Filmmaking on a Phone?
✔ Smooth lens switching between ultra-wide to periscope zoom.
✔ 4K 120FPS slow-motion for cinematic shots.
✔ 10-bit LOG mode with LUT preview (Pro video editing capabilities).
✔ AI-powered video enhancements for dynamic lighting & HDR balance.
🏆 Verdict: A filmmaker’s dream phone, but not quite as stable as Samsung’s S25 Ultra at high zoom levels.
📱 Design & Build – A Massive Camera Bump!
✔ New two-tone glass & vegan leather design (Silver, Black, White).
✔ IP68 water resistance (but not IP69 like some rivals).
✔ Bigger than the 14 Ultra (0.15mm thicker, 10g heavier).
✔ Optional Photography Kit:
- 2,000mAh extra battery.
- Dedicated shutter button & zoom dial.
- 67mm filter adapter for pro photography.
🔴 What’s missing?
- No ultra-wideband (UWB) support for precise location tracking.
🏆 Verdict: Sleek, stylish, and premium, but big and heavy. The Photography Kit is a must-have for camera enthusiasts.
🚀 Performance & Cooling – Snapdragon 8 Elite Delivers!
✔ Snapdragon 8 Elite (TSMC 3nm) – 38% faster than 14 Ultra.
✔ 16GB LPDDR5X RAM + UFS 4.1 storage.
✔ Much better cooling (13% larger vapor chamber) = Runs cooler & more efficiently.
🏆 Verdict: Blazing-fast performance, better cooling, and no overheating issues.
🔋 Battery & Charging – A Massive Upgrade!
✔ 5410mAh battery (Up from 5000mAh in 14 Ultra).
✔ Silicon Carbon battery = Higher density, better efficiency.
✔ 90W wired charging (0-72% in 30 minutes, full charge in 51 minutes).
✔ 80W wireless charging (but no charger included in the box).
🏆 Verdict: Finally, a Xiaomi Ultra with excellent battery life!
📱 Display – One of the Best Screens?
✔ 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED, 3200 nits peak brightness.
✔ 1440p resolution, 120Hz refresh rate.
✔ HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 12-bit color support.
✔ 1920Hz PWM dimming = Less eye strain in low light.
🔴 What’s missing?
- No anti-reflective coating like Samsung S25 Ultra.
🏆 Verdict: One of the top 3 smartphone displays in 2024!
🤖 Software – HyperOS 2.0 & AI Features
✔ Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0.
✔ 4 years of major updates, 6 years of security patches.
✔ AI-powered text & image tools (Summarization, Object Eraser, AI Expansion, etc.).
✔ Circle to Search & AI transcription tools.
🔴 What’s missing?
- Less AI-powered features than Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
🏆 Verdict: A good mix of AI & customization, but not as polished as Samsung’s AI features.
💰 Price & Value – Is It Worth It?
📌 UK Price: Expected $1,300 USD)
📌 Comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra & iPhone 15 Pro Max.
✔ Same price as Xiaomi 14 Ultra but with more storage (512GB standard).
✔ Photography Kit is an optional extra but worth considering.
🏆 Verdict: Expensive, but a good deal if you value photography & premium features.
⚖️ Final Verdict – Is It the Best Camera Phone?
✅ Buy the Xiaomi 15 Ultra if:
✔ You want the best smartphone camera hardware & zoom capabilities.
✔ You need pro-level photography & videography.
✔ You want top-tier battery life & performance.
✔ You prefer Leica’s photo processing & cinematic video.
❌ Skip the Xiaomi 15 Ultra if:
❌ You need a compact & lightweight flagship.
❌ You prefer Samsung’s AI-powered camera features & ecosystem.
❌ You want the best moving-subject photography (some blurring issues remain).
🏆 Final Score: 9/10 – The Best Xiaomi Phone Yet!
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is one of the best smartphones of 2024, especially if you love photography. The new 200MP zoom lens, improved battery, and Snapdragon 8 Elite make it a powerhouse. However, motion clarity still needs work, and the price is high.
Also Read :iPhone 16 vs iPhone 16e – Ultimate Comparison
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