Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review – Flagship Camera, Performance & Battery
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra follows a familiar design, featuring a large circular camera module on the back. Compared to its predecessors, it has a slightly thicker body at 0.15mm more and weighs 10g extra.
The phone is available in black, white, and a new chrome silver variant. The black model comes with a glass back, while the other two have a more textured finish, improving grip. Some may find the return to glass less practical than the previous PU leather.
The 15 Ultra includes IP68 water and dust resistance but lacks IP69, which would have offered better protection against high-pressure water jets. Despite its flagship status, there is no Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip, a feature seen in many premium devices.
Box Contents
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- USB-C cable
- Protective plastic case
- No charger included
Display
The phone features a high-end 6.73-inch AMOLED screen with a peak brightness of 3200 nits, making it one of the brightest displays available. HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support improve content viewing, while the 1920Hz PWM dimming reduces eye strain at lower brightness levels. The touch sampling rate has increased from 240Hz to 300Hz, making interactions feel even more responsive.
Performance and Hardware
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset, offering a 38% boost in single-core performance and 28% in multi-core tasks compared to the previous generation. The device comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, ensuring fast app loading (like an international casino online) and smooth multitasking.
Benchmark Results
|
Test |
Xiaomi 15 Ultra |
Xiaomi 14 Ultra |
| Geekbench 6 (Single-core) | +38% improvement | – |
| Geekbench 6 (Multi-core) | +28% improvement | – |
| Graphics Performance | +30% improvement | – |
The upgraded cooling system, featuring a larger 3D dual-channel Ice Loop, ensures the phone stays cooler during intensive tasks. This system is 13% bigger than in the 14 Ultra, helping with heat dissipation.
Battery and Charging
Battery life has seen a major improvement. The 15 Ultra features a 5410mAh silicon-carbon battery, offering greater energy density. Video streaming tests show a battery life increase from 14 hours 55 minutes on the 14 Ultra to over 21 hours on the new model.
Charging Features
- 90W wired charging
- 80W wireless charging
- No charger included in the box
Camera System
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra continues to focus on photography, but there are some changes. The main camera retains the 1-inch sensor but no longer has a variable aperture, now fixed at f/1.63. The ultra-wide sensor has been replaced with a Samsung JN5, which improves performance but has a smaller f/2.2 aperture compared to f/1.8 on the previous model.
The biggest upgrade is in the periscope telephoto lens, which now has a 200MP Samsung HP9 sensor instead of last year’s 50MP version. This larger sensor captures 36% more light, improving zoom capabilities and detail.
Camera Specs
| Camera Type | Sensor | Aperture |
| Main Camera | 1-inch | f/1.63 |
| Ultra-Wide | Samsung JN5 | f/2.2 |
| 3x Telephoto | 50MP | f/1.8 |
| 4.3x Periscope | 200MP Samsung HP9 | f/2.8 |
| Front Camera | 32MP | f/2.0 |
Camera Performance
Photos taken with the 15 Ultra show improved colour accuracy, less aggressive sharpening, and more natural white balance. The periscope zoom delivers significantly better detail, especially at high magnifications. However, motion blur remains an issue in some shots, particularly in low light or when capturing moving subjects.
The camera software offers Leica modes with different colour profiles:
- Leica Authentic: More natural, true-to-life colours
- Leica Vibrant: Enhanced saturation and contrast
Video Recording
The 15 Ultra records 4K at 60fps across all lenses, with smooth transitions when switching cameras. Colour consistency between lenses has improved, but there is a noticeable drop in quality when using the ultra-wide sensor. 4K 120fps slow-motion recording is also available, producing good results in well-lit conditions.
Software
Running on Android 15 with HyperOS 2, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with several AI-enhanced features for photography, including:
- AI image expansion
- AI eraser
- Reflection removal
However, HyperOS includes a significant amount of pre-installed apps, commonly referred to as bloatware. Xiaomi promises four years of Android updates.
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is priced at £1299 in the UK, making it slightly more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. However, the Xiaomi model includes 16GB RAM and 512GB storage as standard, compared to the base 12GB RAM variant of the Samsung.
A Photography Kit is available separately, featuring:
- Hand grip with a dedicated shutter button
- Extra 2000mAh battery
- 67mm filter adapter ring
This accessory enhances camera usability but adds bulk to the phone.
Final Verdict
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers noticeable upgrades in battery life, performance, and camera capabilities. The new periscope lens offers much better zoom quality, and the device runs cooler than its predecessor. However, the removal of the variable aperture, motion blur issues, and lack of IP69 protection may disappoint some users. While the software experience is smooth, bloatware remains a drawback.
Pros
- Improved battery life
- Better zoom camera
- Faster performance with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite
- High-brightness display with 3200 nits peak
- 90W wired and 80W wireless charging
Cons
- No variable aperture on the main camera
- Motion blur in moving subjects
- No Ultra-Wideband (UWB) support
- No charger included in the box
FAQ
Does the Xiaomi 15 Ultra come with a charger?
No, Xiaomi does not include a charger in the box. Users need to purchase a compatible charger separately.
How long does the battery last on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra?
In video streaming tests, the battery lasted over 21 hours, making it a significant improvement over previous models.
Is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra waterproof?
It has an IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water. However, it lacks IP69 protection against high-pressure water jets.
Does the Xiaomi 15 Ultra have a variable aperture?
No, the main camera now has a fixed f/1.63 aperture, removing the variable aperture feature seen in previous models.
What storage and RAM options are available?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage as standard.
Can I buy additional camera accessories?
Yes, Xiaomi offers a Photography Kit that includes a hand grip, extra battery, and a 67mm filter adapter ring.
