Xiaomi 15 Ultra Full Review – The New Camera King?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is here, and it aims to be the ultimate camera-centric flagship. With a massive 1-inch sensor, a 200MP periscope zoom lens, and the new Snapdragon 8 Elite, this phone is packed with premium features. But is it truly the best camera phone? Let’s break it down!
📌 Key Features & Upgrades
✔ 1-inch main sensor (Sony LYT-900) with f/1.63 aperture.
✔ 200MP periscope telephoto camera with 4.3x optical zoom.
✔ Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset – faster and more power-efficient.
✔ 5410mAh battery – much better than the Xiaomi 14 Ultra.
✔ New AI-enhanced HyperOS 2.0 (Android 15).
📸 Camera – The Best on Any Phone?
The main highlight of the 15 Ultra is its quad-camera system, which includes:
| Camera | Sensor | Aperture | Zoom |
| Main Camera | 50MP (1-inch sensor, 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) |
✔ Huge sensor + wide aperture = Excellent low-light performance.
✔ AI-enhanced Leica color science = More natural & professional-looking shots.
✔ Super-detailed zoom shots (30x and 60x retain clarity).
✔ Up to 4K 120FPS video recording on main and periscope lens.
✔ 8K video recording on all rear cameras.
🔴 What’s missing?
- No variable aperture (removed from last year’s 14 Ultra).
- Moving subjects still struggle with blur in some conditions.
- Ultra-wide camera aperture downgraded from f/1.8 to f/2.2.
🏆 Verdict: The best Xiaomi camera ever and one of the best smartphone cameras in 2024. Excellent for photographers, but not flawless for fast-moving subjects.
🎥 Video Performance – Pro-Level Filmmaking
✔ Smooth lens switching (from ultra-wide to periscope).
✔ 4K 120FPS slow-motion on main and periscope lens.
✔ Leica color science for cinematic video output.
✔ New LOG mode with LUT preview (Professional video editing).
🏆 Verdict: Excellent for vlogging and professional video recording. Better than most phones but not as stable as Samsung’s S25 Ultra at higher zoom levels.
📱 Design & Build – A Massive Camera Bump!
✔ Glass & vegan leather options (Silver, Black, White).
✔ IP68 water & dust resistance (No IP69 like some competitors).
✔ 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) for precise location tracking.
🏆 Verdict: A solid design, but not a major step forward. The Photography Kit is a must-have for serious photographers.
🚀 Performance & Thermals – Snapdragon 8 Elite is Here!
✔ Snapdragon 8 Elite (TSMC 3nm) – 38% faster than 14 Ultra.
✔ 16GB LPDDR5X RAM + UFS 4.1 storage (faster than last year).
✔ **Runs cooler than 14 Ultra thanks to better cooling system.
🏆 Verdict: Top-tier performance, cooler temperatures, and faster storage make it one of 2024’s best flagships.
🔋 Battery & Charging – A Major Improvement
✔ 5410mAh battery (up from 5000mAh in 14 Ultra).
✔ New Silicon Carbon battery = More density + efficiency.
✔ 90W wired charging (0-72% in 30 minutes, full charge in 51 minutes).
✔ 80W wireless charging.
🔴 What’s missing?
- No charger in the box (standard for Xiaomi now).
🏆 Verdict: A huge battery upgrade compared to last year! One of the longest-lasting flagships in 2024.
📱 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.
✔ Improved PWM (1920Hz) for eye comfort at low brightness.
🔴 What’s missing?
- No anti-reflective coating like on Samsung’s S25 Ultra.
🏆 Verdict: One of the top 3 smartphone displays in 2024, but slightly behind Samsung’s anti-glare display.
🤖 Software – HyperOS 2.0 & AI Features
✔ Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0.
✔ 4 years of major updates, 6 years of security patches.
✔ AI-enhanced photo & video editing tools (AI eraser, AI expansion, etc.).
✔ AI-powered text tools (summarization, transcription, and translation).
🔴 What’s missing?
- Still a lot of bloatware pre-installed.
🏆 Verdict: Better AI features than most flagships (except Samsung’s Galaxy AI).
💰 Price & Value – Worth It?
📌 UK Price: £1,299 (~$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.
🏆 Verdict: Good value if you’re buying for the camera, but expensive overall.
⚖️ Final Verdict – Is It the Best Camera Phone?
✅ Buy the Xiaomi 15 Ultra if:
✔ You want the best 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 want flawless moving-subject photography.
❌ You prefer Samsung’s AI-powered camera features.
🏆 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, massive battery improvements, and Snapdragon 8 Elite make it a powerhouse. However, the camera still struggles with moving subjects, and the price is high.
Also Read :Samsung Galaxy A56 vs A36 – Which One Should You Buy?
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