Hey there, tech lovers! If you’re hunting for a smartphone that does it all—stunning cameras, blazing-fast performance, and a design that turns heads—the Xiaomi 15 Ultra might just be your next daily driver. I’ve spent two weeks testing this beast, and let me tell you, it’s packed with surprises. From its Leica-powered camera setup to its buttery-smooth display, Xiaomi is gunning for the big players like Samsung and Apple. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into this honest, no-BS review.
First Impressions: Sleek, Premium, and Heavy
Unboxing the Xiaomi 15 Ultra feels like opening a luxury gadget. The phone arrives in a sleek black box with a vegan leather finish (nice touch, Xiaomi!). Inside, you get the phone, a 120W hypercharger, a USB-C cable, and a premium-looking silicone case.
The moment I held the phone, I noticed two things:
- It’s stunning. The matte glass back (available in Black, Ceramic White, and Forest Green) resists fingerprints, and the aluminum frame adds a solid grip.
- It’s heavy. At 234 grams, this isn’t a featherweight. If you’re used to smaller phones, the 15 Ultra might feel like a brick initially. But hey, premium weight for premium specs, right?
The circular camera module dominates the back, housing four lenses and a flash. It’s thick too—so thick that the phone wobbles on flat surfaces. Xiaomi includes a case in the box, which helps balance it out.
Display: A Screen That’s Almost Too Good
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra sports a 6.81-inch Quad HD+ AMOLED display with a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate. Translation? Everything looks insanely crisp, colors pop like a Netflix documentary, and scrolling through TikTok feels smoother than butter.
Brightness? Oh, it’s blinding. At 3,000 nits peak brightness, I could read texts under direct sunlight without squinting. Watching HDR content on YouTube felt like I was holding a mini OLED TV.
Gamers, rejoice! The adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate means you get silky gameplay without murdering the battery. I played Genshin Impact at max settings, and the phone didn’t stutter once. Plus, the Dolby Vision support makes movies look cinematic.
One gripe: The curved edges. While they look fancy, they sometimes cause accidental touches. If you’re clumsy like me, you’ll need to adjust your grip.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Goes Brrrrr
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset, paired with 12GB/16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Let’s break this down:
- Speed: Apps launch instantly. I had 25 Chrome tabs open while streaming Spotify and switching between Instagram—zero lag.
- Gaming: Call of Duty: Mobile ran at 120fps without breaking a sweat. The phone does get warm after 30 minutes, but not uncomfortably so.
- Multitasking: The 16GB RAM variant is overkill for most, but if you’re a power user (or just love flexing), it’s future-proof.
The cooling system here is a beast. Xiaomi uses a dual-loop liquid cooling setup, which kept temperatures in check during my 2-hour Zoom calls.
Cameras: Leica Magic Meets Computational Wizardry
Alright, let’s talk about the star of the show: the quad-camera setup developed with Leica. Here’s the breakdown:
- Main Camera: 50MP, 1-inch Sony IMX989 sensor, f/1.6 aperture, OIS
- Ultra-Wide: 50MP, 122° field of view, f/2.2
- Telephoto: 50MP, 5x optical zoom (120x digital zoom), OIS
- Periscope Telephoto: 50MP, 10x optical zoom, OIS
Daylight Photos:
The main sensor captures insane detail. I took shots of graffiti-covered walls, and you could see every crack and drip of paint. Colors are vibrant but natural—no oversaturation.
Portrait Mode:
The Leica lenses nail bokeh. My dog’s fur looked sharp against a creamy background, and edge detection was flawless.
Low-Light Performance:
Night mode is witchcraft. I snapped a photo of a dimly lit alley, and the result looked like it was taken at dusk. Noise? Barely any.
Zoom Test:
The 10x optical zoom is wild. I zoomed into a distant billboard, and the text was legible. At 120x digital zoom, things get fuzzy, but it’s fun for moon shots.
Videography:
It shoots 8K at 24fps and 4K at 120fps. The footage is crisp, and the stabilization is so good, I filmed a bike ride without a gimbal.
Selfie Camera:
The 32MP front camera is solid. Skin tones look natural, and the portrait mode blurs backgrounds nicely.
Battery Life: Two Days? Seriously?
The 5,500mAh battery is a tank. Here’s how it held up:
- Moderate Use: Social media, emails, YouTube = 14 hours screen-on time.
- Heavy Use: Gaming + 4K recording = 7-8 hours.
And when it dies? The 120W charger juices it up to 100% in 19 minutes. Wireless charging at 80W? Xiaomi isn’t playing around.
Software: MIUI 15 + Android 14 = Love or Hate?
Xiaomi 15 Ultra runs MIUI 15 on top of Android 14. If you’ve used Xiaomi before, you know MIUI is feature-rich but polarizing.
Pros:
- Customization: Themes, app icons, always-on displays—go nuts.
- Tools: Built-in screen recorder, second space, and a system booster for RAM cleanup.
Cons:
- Bloatware: Apps like GetApps and Mi Store can’t be uninstalled.
- Ads: Some system apps show ads, but you can disable them in settings.
Overall, MIUI 15 feels snappier than previous versions, and the Android 14 base keeps things modern.
Price and Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra starts at $1,099 (12GB+256GB), goingupto $1,399 for the 16GB + 1TB model.
Who’s it for?
- Photography nerds who want DSLR-like quality in their pocket.
- Gamers and multitaskers needing raw power.
- Battery life warriors.
Who should skip?
- Folks who prefer compact phones.
- iOS loyalists (unless you’re ready to switch).
Final Thoughts
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra isn’t just a phone—it’s a statement. With best-in-class cameras, a jaw-dropping display, and endurance that puts the Energizer Bunny to shame, it’s a flagship that’s worth every penny. Sure, it’s bulky and MIUI isn’t perfect, but if you’re after a no-compromise Android experience, this is it.
Rating: 9.5/10
Alternatives: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (better software, pricier), iPhone 15 Pro Max (iOS ecosystem, weaker zoom).
What do you think? Would you rock the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, or stick to your current phone? Let me know in the comments! 👇