Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: A Flagship That Dares to Be Different

In a market where smartphones often blend into a sea of similarity, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a rare standout — a phone that doesn’t just compete with the big names like Samsung and Apple but dares to do things differently. It’s a true camera-first flagship, a power user’s dream, and a bold experiment in smartphone design.

With Leica optics, the latest Snapdragon processor, and a stunning display, Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra feels like the brand’s most complete premium phone to date. After spending nearly two weeks with it as my daily driver, here’s why this might be the most underappreciated Android powerhouse of 2025.

Unboxing and First Impressions

Right out of the box, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra makes a statement. It’s big, bold, and unmistakably premium. Xiaomi continues its partnership with Leica, which is proudly engraved near the camera island — a subtle but firm flex to photography enthusiasts.

The unit I reviewed came in Ceramic White, and it felt like holding a piece of high-end tech art. The matte finish resists fingerprints while feeling cool to the touch. The camera bump? Massive — but purposeful. If you’re going to claim the title of “best smartphone camera,” you better look the part.

Design & Build: Functional Elegance

Let’s get this out of the way: the 15 Ultra is a large and slightly heavy phone. Weighing in at just over 220g, it’s not a one-hand wonder. But the weight distribution is well balanced, and the curved back (thankfully not the screen) makes it easier to grip.

Materials are top-tier: ceramic back, aluminum frame, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 up front. There’s IP68 water and dust resistance, and Xiaomi now offers the phone in vegan leather options for those who want a lighter feel.

Ports? Just the USB-C — no headphone jack. But the stereo speakers (tuned by Harman Kardon) are loud, crisp, and surprisingly bassy.

Display: Visual Bliss

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra packs a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED panel, and it’s nothing short of breathtaking. With a WQHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and peak brightness of 3,000 nits, this is easily one of the best smartphone displays available today.

Watching HDR content on Netflix or YouTube is a joy. Colors are punchy but accurate, contrast is deep, and Xiaomi’s adaptive refresh rate makes scrolling buttery smooth while saving battery in idle states.

Touch response, even for mobile gamers, is sharp and instant. Xiaomi also includes an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor that’s both faster and more reliable than the optical ones in many competing flagships.

Performance: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 at Its Best

Under the hood, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Translation? It’s a performance beast.

From multitasking to 4K video editing, from demanding games like Genshin Impact to AI-based photo rendering, the phone never skips a beat. Thermal management is solid too, with Xiaomi’s improved vapor chamber cooling system keeping things relatively cool even under load.

Benchmarks aside, real-world usage is where the 15 Ultra shines. App launches are instant, animations are smooth, and it just feels snappy all the time.

Battery Life: All-Day Confidence

The phone comes equipped with a 5,300mAh battery, slightly larger than most flagships. Paired with a power-efficient chip and Xiaomi’s smart battery optimization in HyperOS, you’re looking at 6.5 to 8 hours of screen-on time, depending on usage.

Even on heavy days — lots of camera use, 5G, streaming, and gaming — the phone comfortably lasted till bedtime with 15–20% left.

But here’s the best part: charging.

• 90W wired charging gets you from 0 to 100% in about 28 minutes.
• 50W wireless charging fills the tank in under an hour.
• Reverse wireless charging at 10W is handy for topping off your earbuds or smartwatch.

Charging anxiety? Not here.

Camera System: The Star of the Show

Now let’s talk about the crown jewel of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra: the camera.

Rear Camera Setup (Quad System with Leica Optics):

• 50MP Main (Sony LYT-900 sensor, f/1.6)
• 50MP Ultra-Wide (122° FoV, f/1.8)
• 50MP 3.2x Telephoto
• 50MP 5x Periscope Telephoto

Yep, that’s four 50MP sensors, all co-engineered with Leica, and all exceptional.

Main Sensor Performance:

Daylight photos are sharp, dynamic, and natural-looking — especially in Leica Authentic mode. Colors lean toward realism rather than oversaturation, which gives the Xiaomi 15 Ultra a DSLR-like vibe. Shadows retain detail, and highlights are rarely blown out.

Night shots are equally impressive, thanks to the large 1-inch sensor and Xiaomi’s multi-frame AI processing. Images are clean, bright, and textured — no excessive noise reduction here.

Ultra-Wide:

No distortion at the edges, and image quality is nearly on par with the main sensor — something rare for ultra-wides.

Telephoto:

The 3.2x and 5x zoom lenses cover most needs, and the in-sensor crop gives usable shots up to 30x digital zoom. Portraits are stunning — bokeh is creamy, edge detection is accurate, and skin tones are balanced.

Video Capabilities:

• Up to 8K at 30fps
• 4K at 60fps (all lenses)
• 10-bit LOG and Dolby Vision recording
• Cinematic mode with manual focus

Video footage looks professional — with excellent stabilization, dynamic range, and accurate colors.

Software: HyperOS Matures

The 15 Ultra ships with HyperOS, Xiaomi’s new global Android skin, built on Android 14. Compared to MIUI, HyperOS is smoother, cleaner, and more responsive.

Bloatware is minimal. There are tons of customization options — from always-on displays to icon packs — but everything feels more polished than ever before.

Standout features:

• Smart Sidebar for multitasking
• AI Image Expansion for auto-cropping photos
• Private Safe 3.0 for secure file storage
• Dynamic Island-like notification capsule

Updates? Xiaomi promises 4 years of Android updates and 5 years of security patches, which is competitive but not quite Google/Samsung-level yet.

Connectivity & Extras

• 5G Dual SIM
• Wi-Fi 7
• Bluetooth 5.4
• IR Blaster (yes, it’s still here!)
• USB-C 3.2 for fast data and display output
• In-display heart rate sensor

You also get support for Hi-Res Audio, Dolby Atmos, and seamless pairing with Xiaomi’s ecosystem of wearables and smart devices.

Pricing & Availability

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra starts at around $999 / €999, depending on your region. For a phone with this much flagship muscle — and arguably the best camera system on a phone — that’s extremely competitive.

It undercuts the Galaxy S24 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and even Google’s Pixel 8 Pro while matching or exceeding them in many departments.

Verdict: A True Flagship for Power Users

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra isn’t for everyone — and that’s what makes it special.

It’s a phone for people who care about photography, power, display quality, and design innovation. It’s not chasing trends like folding screens or gimmicky AI; instead, it refines what matters and pushes the envelope where it counts.

Yes, it’s big. Yes, it’s bold. But if you want one of the most capable Android phones of the year — with Leica-powered optics, monster performance, and charging speeds that blow the competition away — this is it.