Over the weekend, Xiaomi introduced its flagship smartphone series, the Xiaomi 15 line. Within this range, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands as the top-of-the-line model, blurring the lines between a smartphone and digital camera thanks to its Leica quad camera system. We take a look at it in this review.
Xiaomi’s Ultra line of devices started only a few years ago but stand out in the crowded smartphone market for doubling as an actual digital camera. Featuring Leica lenses and a dedicated photography kit, it has become my favourite line of Android smartphones for daring to be different. I was thrilled to see a new Ultra model with the Xiaomi 15 Series and we’ll take a closer look at it in this review.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra contents and specs
Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with 2 storage variant, starting from EUR 1499, and comes with the following items:
Upon unboxing this premium phone, I was surprised to see that it did not come with a charging adapter. This is a major downer as it supports 90W HyperCharge and 80W wireless HyperCharge. With no adequate adapter, the user cannot make use of such features unless they buy one which really should be included considering the cost of the device. I really hope that this doesn’t become the norm.
As for the specs of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, you can find them below:
A camera phone with a camera-like design
In terms of aesthetics, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra follows a design closer to that of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra with a flat back panel and a large, off-centre camera lens. It comes in three colourways, namely Black, White and Silver Chrome. The latter is arguably the best-looking model as it really emulates the camera look with its retro-style stitching and PU leather. That said, the Black variant under review is also a classy piece. Its high-end aluminium frame is finely crafted to ensure durability while being elegant.
Despite the attention to the looks and quality of the frame, it seems like not as much attention has been paid to the lens itself. On the first day of use and taking the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in and out of my pocket, the camera lens suffered from some scratches. The company could have used a more scratch resistant lens or provided a lens cover, but this is not the case. Considering the size of the lens, it is likely to be more prone to scratches and protecting it should be a priority considering the focus on photography.
Other than that, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra feels good to use and is relatively lightweight at 226g. It fits neatly in the hands, with all buttons easily accessible and it also features a responsive in-screen fingerprint sensor. It looks and feels like a premium, and will surely attract some attention with its unique looks, especially if paired with the Photography Kit.
Available as a separate purchase for EUR 199, the Photography Kit includes a dedicated case and hand grip. The latter doubles as a 2000mAh power bank and connects to the phone via USB-C. Its main use is, of course, for photography and it really makes the experience more camera-like. This has always been the aim of the kit since the 13 Ultra introduced it, but with this model, Xiaomi has upped the ante.
This kit comes with a decorative ring, a multifunctional 67mm filter adapter ring, and, new to the 15 Ultra, detachable thumb support and shutter buttons. The latter further hammer in the camera aesthetics, further blurring the line between smartphone and digital camera. These add-ons also make taking pictures and videos more ergonomic thanks to the physical keys that reduce reliance on touch controls as you can tune aspects such as zoom and exposure value.
I personally preferred the grey look of the Photography Kit of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra but this accessory is highly functional, allowing me to overlook the color scheme. While it does come at an extra cost, I think it is a must-have for owners of the 15 Ultra (but really, it should be included in the package considering the sheer cost of the phone alone).
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra as a daily driver
As with other Xiaomi phones, the 15 Ultra is also powered by Xiaomi HyperOS, with this version based on Android 15. While it does come with the expected bloatware from Xiaomi phones, it delivers a fluid experience. The 6.73” AMOLED display with upto 120Hz refresh rate delivers crisp visuals and is complemented with quality stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos support. Watching videos, reading articles and typing is enjoyable, making the device very well suited to be used as a daily driver. This phone also follows the AI hype with a suite of AI features from writing to image editing, but they are mostly nice-to-haves that you can safely ignore should you wish to.
With the Ultra line, Xiaomi usually raises the bar when it comes to smartphone photography and they achieve this once again with the 15 Ultra. Its Leica quad-camera system, including a 50MP main, a 50 MP floating telephoto, 200MP periscope telephoto and a 50MP ultra wide, ensures that you can capture high-fidelity images and videos in virtually any situation with rich details and faithful colours. Whether it’s for immortalising sweeping landscapes or highlighting details in low lighting conditions, the 15 Ultra promises a professional photography experience with simple point-and-click maneuvers.
Gaming performance
As Xiaomi’s flagship model, the 15 Ultra packs the corresponding specs. Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, this phone positions itself at the very apex in GeekBench 6 benchmarks.
You can throw any Android game at it and it will run flawlessly on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. For example, Zenless Zone Zero at max settings runs at a fluid 60fps. Likewise, Dead Cells and Evoland 2 run steadily at 60 fps.
It is also well capable of handling emulation, with Dreamcast games Crazy Taxi 2 and Dead or Alive 2 running at 60fps. For Gamecube at 3x resolution, Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes runs at 60fps and Twilight Princess at the capped 30fps. PS2 at 3x resolution is also not a problem to run on this device, with Ratchet & Clank and Shadow of the Colossus playing at 60fps.
However, it seems like Switch emulators might not yet be optimised for the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip. Some games work well at 60fps like Cuphead while others like Untitled Goose Game run at 60fps but with some graphical glitches. As for Super Mario Odyssey, I would only get a grey screen, indicating the need for more optimisation and others have experienced issues with Switch emulators on this chip.
Xiaomi flexes again with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra
With its professional-grade imagery prowess and premium price tag, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is decidedly a niche device. However, it is more of a flex from Xiaomi’s part to show what it can achieve in the smartphone market. I applaud it for daring to be different, in a landscape that is all too familiar and similar. I do wish it was more affordable for others to adopt and that it came with a complete package including the Photography Kit, charger and scratch resistant camera lens. But these downsides don’t prevent it from being a great device. If you are looking for the very best in terms of photography and performance, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra won’t disappoint.
Verdict
What We Liked …
- High-end camera prowess with Leica optics
- Seamless gaming and emulation performance
- Premium daily driver experience
- Photography Kit enhances mobile photography experience
What We Didn’t Like …
- No charging adapter included
- Scratch-prone lens and no lens cover included
- Photography Kit sold separately
- Pricey device
8.5 out of 10
Overall
With professional grade photography and high-end performance, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands at the apex of flagship smartphones of this generation.
