Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: The Super Leica Phone

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: The Super Leica Phone

The 15 Extremely, Xiaomi’s third-generation camera-focused smartphone, is a powerful contender within the phase that appeals to digital camera fanatics in India. Premium smartphone customers are spoilt for selection in the present day, particularly if there’s an inclination to get a telephone that nails smartphone images. Within the lengthy listing of telephones out there in the present day, together with the Xiaomi 15 Extremely and Xiaomi 15, there are different choices like Vivo X200 Professional, Vivo X200, Oppo Discover X8, and Oppo Discover X8 Professional.

If anybody had requested me about which camera-focused telephone to purchase virtually 5 years in the past, I might have really useful the iPhone or Samsung’s top-tier fashions to customers. However that’s not the case. Meaning the phase is increasing and is a win-win state of affairs for customers.

The brand new Xiaomi 15 Extremely continues the great work achieved by its predecessor – Xiaomi 14 Extremely – by being a really efficient evolution (and if we take Xiaomi 13 Professional additionally into consideration). Xiaomi has achieved an incredible job by sticking to the successful components and ensuring there’s the Leica branding on it. That is greater than a successful badge of honour for a class targeted on images, and having the legendary digital camera maker emblem is extra than simply reassuring.

So, in case you are out available in the market and need to purchase a digital camera flagship smartphone, do you have to choose the Xiaomi 15 Extremely? Let me reply that in my assessment.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely Design: Mimics Basic Leica Digital camera

  • It is available in a single Silver Chrome color
  • It weighs 229 grams and is on the heavier aspect
  • The 15 Extremely measures 9.48mm thick

You do not must be an professional to inform that the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is geared toward digital camera fanatics. Iconic appears to be like and legendary Leica rangefinder digital camera series-inspired aesthetics are on level, making the 15 Extremely stand out available in the market. The rear sports activities an aerospace-grade glass fibre and PU leather-based mixture, providing a premium and basic look. The unibody body of the 15 Extremely feels strong and provides a superb in-hand really feel.

Xiaomi 14 Extremely (on the left) and Xiaomi 15 Extremely (on the best)

 

For somebody who could also be choosing a camera-focused smartphone, the digital camera deco in the back of the 15 Extremely could possibly be an excessive amount of. The 4 cameras match into a big round digital camera module. At 229 grams, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is on the heavier aspect, and it took me just a few days to get aware of the gadget and begin utilizing it extra with only one hand. The aesthetics are wonderful, and due to the rear design (PU leather-based + glass fibre mixture), it really works nicely for a one-hand grip.

For enhanced safety from unintentional drops and each day put on and tear, Xiaomi has gone a notch above for the 15 Extremely and used the Xiaomi Guardian Construction, which utilises an aluminium body, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i for the digital camera deco, and the Xiaomi Defend Glass 2.0 on the entrance.

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Rear design comparability: Xiaomi 14 Extremely (on the left) and Xiaomi 15 Extremely (on the best)

 

The quad-curved show provides to the character of the gadget, and skinny bezels make it perfect for multimedia consumption. The telephone additionally will get an IP68 ranking for mud and water ingress safety. Whereas many customers could begin nitpicking Xiaomi for not including an IP69 ranking to the Extremely, I do not see any level on this until you actually like to make use of your telephone round water jets. Sure, it is good to have in your spec sheet, however I do not suppose you’re lacking so much. Xiaomi 15 Extremely additionally switches to an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner from the optical we bought on its predecessor.

One factor I completely love in regards to the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is its consideration to element. The addition of the Extremely hallmark on the again (prime left) provides to the enchantment and makes the design impeccable for a digital camera fanatic. 

General, the 15 Extremely is the purest digital camera telephone for fanatics.

 

Images Equipment Legend Version – How can we discuss in regards to the design and never convey up the unique Images Equipment for the 15 Extremely? The camera-inspired accent provides extra firepower to the already highly effective Xiaomi 15 Extremely. The equipment features a removable shutter button and thumb assist, together with a 2000mAh battery pack that provides extra juice when you’re busy snapping images or movies. The equipment additionally features a grip case that enhances the general feel and appear of the telephone. Then, there is a customisation dial for adjusting EV, shutter, ISO and white steadiness, the zoom lever provides a brand new dimension to the general zooming expertise. The great contact is a fast video button that immediately begins video recording and allows you to customise facet ratio, auto publicity, and extra. The equipment additionally allows a customisable UI model Fastshot mode for fast pictures, and your entire package deal is IP54 rated (together with the battery pack). Whereas the equipment undoubtedly provides worth to your entire proposition, I can not deny that it makes the entire package deal sort of cool and makes the telephone a head-turner in each approach.

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The telephone is available in a Silver Chrome color choice and weighs 229 grams

 

Lengthy story quick, for those who’re somebody who actually desires to unlock the beast images mode in your 15 Extremely, then go for the equipment.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely Show: Straight to the Prime of the Class

  • Provides 3200nits peak brightness
  • Helps HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient
  • Xiaomi Defend Glass 2.0 safety

The 15 Extremely retains the show from its predecessor, and it’s among the many finest we have now seen on a Xiaomi gadget but. There’s one massive addition, and that is for peak brightness. From 14 Extremely’s 3000nits peak brightness, Xiaomi has bumped 15 Extremely to 3200nits. In real-world utilization, you could not be capable to inform the distinction, however having a better quantity for brightness is sweet. This helps Xiaomi beat many of the competitors available in the market, like Pixel 9 Professional XL (3000nits peak brightness), Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely (2600nits), and even iPhone 16 Professional Max (2000nits). Nonetheless, it stays behind Vivo X200 Professional (4500nits), Discover X8 Professional (4500nits), and OnePlus 13 (4500nits).

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It includes a 6.73-inch LTPO show with a 1440×3200 pixels display screen decision

 

The show additionally options an adaptive 120Hz refresh price that may go all the way down to as little as 1Hz. The telephone will get the remainder of the bells and whistles one expects from a flagship-grade Android smartphone, together with HDR10+ and Dolby Imaginative and prescient assist. It additionally helps Widevine L1 so you’ll be able to watch HDR content material on common OTT apps.

The 6.73-inch OLED show of the 15 Extremely serves as a superb multimedia display screen in your gaming, binge watching or Web looking. It additionally will get 1920Hz PWM dimming, DC dimming, and moist contact tech, which turns out to be useful whereas utilizing the telephone with sweaty arms. Aside from all these, the 15 Extremely additionally will get TUV Rheinland Low Blue Mild and related certifications to make your bedtime studying in your telephone handy. General, the 15 Extremely sports activities an excellent show; you will not be left demanding extra.

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The most important spotlight of the show is it helps 3200nits peak brightness

 

Xiaomi 15 Extremely Cameras: The Firm’s North Star

  • 50-megapixel Leica 23mm major digital camera (1-inch LYT-900 picture sensor)
  • 200-megapixel extremely Leica telephoto with 100mm equal focal size
  • 50-megapixel 70mm Leica floating telephoto
  • 50-megapixel ultra-wide digital camera with 115-degree area of view
  • 32-megapixel in-display selfie digital camera

The 14 Extremely was a strong telephone for images final 12 months, so the most important doubt I had in regards to the 15 Extremely was how it will surpass its predecessor. There are some additions to the 15 Extremely, like the brand new 200-megapixel telephoto sensor, that add muscle to the general package deal, and thoughts you, not one of the competitor units have that form of functionality. You get 0.6x, 1x, 2x, 3x, and 4.3x zoom choices on the digital camera app. Nonetheless, there’s one little downgrade: omitting the variable aperture on the 15 Extremely, however that is not a deal-breaker by any means.

So, let’s bounce to the digital camera samples, beginning with daylight SAMPLES. The Xiaomi 15 Extremely can click on good daylight images with loads of element, correct publicity and a large dynamic vary. The color science of Leica is obvious within the outcomes and is just too good for smartphone images fanatics. The colors are pure and seem crisp. The pores and skin tones are pure, too, and there is barely noise in daylight images.

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The corporate is promoting the Images Equipment Legend Version individually for the Xiaomi 15 Extremely

 

Switching between 1x and 2x would not spoil photograph high quality – a powerful feat. The samples captured utilizing the 2x lens are equally outstanding.


Xiaomi 15 Extremely daylight digital camera samples (faucet photos to broaden)

 

 

The portrait mode is a sort of USP of the Xiaomi Extremely units, and 15 Extremely nails it. Portraits with folks come out nicely, and depth estimation, topic isolation and pure blur are easy.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely portrait digital camera pattern (faucet picture to broaden)

 

On the subject of zoom efficiency, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely will certainly be among the many prime telephones this 12 months. I managed to click on a ship within the ocean that was barely seen on the telephone digital camera at 0.6x with the assistance of the long-range tele digital camera. When premium telephones just like the iPhone misplaced observe of the topic past 25x zoom, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely impressed me with its sturdy zoom credentials. For those who’re somebody who clicks many zoom images, simply seize this one. The 3x zoom images come out nicely with wonderful colors, dynamic vary, low noise, and particulars. The 4.3x telephoto is even higher for portraits and provides you sufficient room to suit your topic within the body. The outcomes are beneath, and I used to be blown away by what the 15 Extremely can obtain with this terrific mixture.

A ship within the ocean seems like a dot in 0.6x (faucet picture to broaden)

The ship is seen with the identify being readable, displaying the 15 Extremely’s zooming functionality

Xiaomi 15 Extremely zoom samples (faucet photos to broaden)

 

 

 

The telephone can also be succesful relating to close-up images, and a 3x telephoto lens is used for that. Glorious close-up photos with sufficient particulars and natural-looking pictures with correct colors.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely can also be a succesful smartphone for close-up pictures (faucet photos to broaden)

 

On this whole ensemble, the ultrawide digital camera on the 15 Extremely is the one one that might have been barely higher. Thoughts you, it isn’t a letdown and may reproduce some nice images with wonderful dynamic vary. It is simply that whenever you examine ultrawide with the primary digital camera, it barely lacks general high quality.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely ultrawide samples (faucet photos to broaden)

 

 

In fact, there are Leica photographic types – Leica Genuine and Leica Vibrant – to boost your portraits and take the higher hand on social media platforms.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely low-light samples (faucet photos to broaden)

 

That is the place it will get actually attention-grabbing. The evening images on the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is unbelievable. The telephone is able to capturing excessive ranges of element in low-light conditions. Throughout my testing, the 15 Extremely largely maintained highlights, sharpness, shadows, and particulars and stored noise in test in low-light situations. The telephone was additionally able to retaining wonderful textures in test.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely selfie pattern (faucet picture to broaden)

 

If there’s one division the place I may actually ask the Xiaomi crew to enhance within the digital camera division, it needs to be a selfie shooter. It is not unhealthy, but it surely’s not outstanding too. For a telephone made for smartphone images fanatics, you count on extra from each digital camera sensor. The entrance digital camera is succesful in the course of the daytime with no main points with particulars, however within the low-light situations, it will get a bit unpredictable.

In fact, the digital camera telephone can also be constructed for movies. It helps 4K 60fps log video recording throughout all focal lengths and 4K 120fps cinematic sluggish movement video recording with each the primary and periscope telephoto cameras. The video high quality is top-notch, however how a lot would a content material creator need to convey it into their each day workflow will rely upon the ecosystem of units for faster video modifying.

General, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely would be the digital camera smartphone to beat in 2025, and I am guessing competitors, together with the likes of Oppo and Vivo, are already engaged on new Ultras. The 14 Extremely is already a succesful smartphone for images, however with the 15 Extremely, it has been pushed to the intense with two tele cameras. It is the final word point-and-shoot smartphone for fanatics. If you wish to increase the stakes, spend some extra and seize the Images Equipment Legend Version for the 15 Extremely that takes you to a different degree.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely Efficiency: Boringly Good

  • Snapdragon 8 Elite Cellular Platform
  • 16GB + 512GB (single variant)
  • HyperOS 2.0 based mostly on Android 15
  • 4 years of software program assist and 6 years of safety updates promised

Xiaomi 15 Extremely is amongst a handful of units launched this 12 months with Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite platform. In on a regular basis utilization, there’s barely something that this telephone cannot deal with, be it multitasking, streaming movies, photograph modifying on the go, video modifying, gaming or the rest you’ll be able to consider. For context, I examined the telephone with virtually 32 apps open within the background, and even when leaping between them, it did not stutter – completely top-tier efficiency – as anticipated.

The telephone ships in a single RAM and ROM variant in India – 16GB and 512GB storage. Nonetheless, Xiaomi despatched me a 1TB variant, solely out there in China, for assessment. Speaking about specifics, the 15 Extremely will get LPDDR5X and UFS 4.1 storage.

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In India, the telephone is accessible in single RAM and storage trim – 16GB + 512GB

 

Speaking about biometrics, the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is fast in comparison with the one we noticed on the 14 Extremely. There’s additionally face unlock, which works nicely, however I most well-liked the fingerprint sensor in the course of the assessment for each day use. For individuals who love gaming, there is a 3D Twin-Channel IceLoop system which helps calm down the telephone. In my time with the gadget, I observed that the 15 Extremely did warmth up whereas working Google Maps for repeatedly 45 minutes or extra, gaming for greater than 40 minutes, and even whereas digital camera use for greater than 25 minutes. However, it by no means grew to become too difficult to deal with, and naturally, the cooling system kicked in rapidly.

I examined the Xiaomi 15 Extremely with a collection of benchmarking apps, and as anticipated, the telephone shines with spectacular scores, which you’ll test beneath.

Benchmark Xiaomi 15 Extremely iPhone 16 Professional Max Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely Google Pixel 9 Professional XL
Geekbench 6 Single 2,980 3,203 3,053 1,944
Geekbench 6 Multi 8,870 7,846 9,832 4,667
AnTuTu v10 25,19,481 15,87,059 21,23,303 10,67,971
PCMark Work 3.0 18,189 N/A 19,266 12,922
GFXB T-rex 120fps 59fps 120fps 120fps
GFXB Manhattan 3.1 306fps 59.7fps 115fps 105fps
GFXB Automobile Chas 120fps 59.4fps 94fps 55fps
3DM Slingshot Excessive OpenGL Maxed Out N/A Did not run Did not run
3DM Slingshot Maxed Out N/A Did not run Did not run
3DM Wild Life Maxed Out 8,942 Maxed Out 8,902
3DM Wild Life Limitless Did not run N/A 23,683 9,294

Calling on the 15 Extremely was clear, and I confronted no points with 5G connectivity with Airtel and Jio networks. I like typing on the 15 Extremely because it packs a superb haptic motor that’s wonderful for typing, texting, and gaming.

The telephone options stereo audio system and comes with Dolby Atmos assist. The setup is the same old one, with one on the backside firing down and one other constructed into the earpiece. The audio system are loud and ample to fill a medium-sized room.

Transferring to the software program aspect of issues, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely ships with Android 15-based HyperOS 2.0 out-of-the-box. Xiaomi guarantees 4 Android updates and 6 years of safety updates for the 15 Extremely, which will not be as complete as what Samsung and Google provide for his or her units. However, retaining in thoughts the telephone change cycle, something above 3 years is sweet assist from the corporate aspect.

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The brand new aerospace-grade glass fibre and PU leather-based again make an incredible rear design

 

The HyperOS 2 feels the identical as HyperOS 1, albeit with some neat additions for general optimisation and AI options. Now, you’ll be able to test notifications and fast toggles on the management centre individually, like on iOS. You get loads of customisation choices in your house display screen and lock display screen.

Then, there is a suite of Google options like Gemini Entry and Circle to Search. For me, Circle to Search has been the best addition by Google these days and simply makes issues to go looking as a substitute of typing all of it. Xiaomi additionally bakes in loads of AI options, specifically AI writing, which gives proofreading and summarising your writing options; AI Gallery Editor, which provides picture modifying instruments powered by AI; and AI speech recognition, which gives options like transcription and extra. There are extra options like Interpret Conversations with AI, AI Interpreter, and AI subtitles. It is good to have a full-blown AI suite that can assist you be extra productive.

However, the AI options in HyperOS 2 nonetheless want refinement. The AI-powered post-processing picture modifying instruments like Object Remover lack polish, and I ended up with not-so-great edits. The identical was true with some recorded conversations, and the speech recognition function virtually misplaced observe of the recorded dialog and confirmed a random abstract. This isn’t simply Xiaomi however virtually each different main OEM. Even Apple has did not nail its much-hyped Apple Intelligence options. I hope 2025 is when AI options get superior and do what they’re anticipated to do with extra finesse.

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The rear design of the 15 Extremely makes it stand out within the crowd

 

Xiaomi 15 Extremely Battery: Exceeds Expectations

  • 5410mAh Battery
  • 90W HyperCharge
  • Totally costs in lower than an hour

The battery division is one other one the place there’s a important incremental replace in comparison with the predecessor. The 15 Extremely packs a 5410mAh battery, which is far more than what we bought on the 14 Extremely (5000mAh).

In our inner video loop check, the 15 Extremely ended up with spectacular figures of over 20 hours of steady video playback, thus placing it among the many prime units we examined in 2025 and late 2024. The telephone ships with a 90W adapter and is amongst a handful of units that also get a charger within the field. It could totally cost (from 0 to 100%) inside an hour, however the gadget will get heated up – a compromise you make to get extra charging speeds. It is value noting that the gadget comes with commonplace wired charging mode enabled by default, which normally means it is going to take extra time to cost totally. For faster charging, you should go for “Prime Pace.”

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The telephone comes with 90W fast-charging assist that may cost the telephone totally inside an hour

 

In real-world utilization, the bump in battery capability offers the Xiaomi 15 Extremely some edge over competitors units like Pixel 9 Professional XL and the like. With heavy utilization, which included important digital camera app utilization, the telephone lasted over a day, included an hour of gaming, calls lasting about an hour, looking, streaming, picture modifying on the go, Instagram, X, and different work-related apps open within the background always. Through the assessment, I bought over seven hours of screen-on time on the 15 Extremely, which is spectacular.

General, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely exceeded my expectations when it comes to battery output.

Xiaomi 15 Extremely Verdict

The Xiaomi 15 Extremely is a wise digital camera telephone that’s achieved very, very nicely and will likely be a strong contender in subsequent 12 months’s finest smartphone digital camera class at our NDTV Devices 360 Awards.

It’s packed to the brim with options like Snapdragon 8 Elite that handles all efficiency wants effectively, a unbelievable digital camera setup tuned with legendary digital camera maker Leica, a big 5410mAh battery, 90W HyperCharge assist, and way more. The concept of promoting the Images Equipment Legend Version individually is well-timed and will enchantment to true Xiaomi followers and digital camera fanatics.

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Xiaomi 15 Extremely can also be an incredible gadget for gaming and may deal with video games like BGMI, COD: Cellular at excessive graphics settings

 

The 15 Extremely is accessible at Rs. 109,999 on Amazon, Mi.com and thru the corporate’s offline channel companions. The corporate is working some financial institution provides that may convey down the worth of the smartphone to beneath a lakh, which makes it a candy deal. In fact, in case you are a professional and need to add the Images Equipment Legend Version, add one other Rs. 11,999. General, you get a strong smartphone digital camera constructed to final just a few years at round Rs. 1,21,998 minus any provides.

In comparison with some rivals, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely (plus Images Equipment Legend Version) prices lower than the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely (Assessment), which is accessible at Rs. 141,999 and iPhone 16 Professional Max (Assessment) out there at as little as Rs. 137,900 on Amazon. There are some cheaper alternate options, just like the Vivo X200 Professional (Assessment), out there at Rs. 94,999, and the Discover X8 Professional (Assessment), retailing at Rs. 99,999.

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