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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The new Xiaomi 15 Ultra sees improvements in almost all the right places, with a 200MP periscope lens and a more durable design.
- The camera configuration is still one of the most competitive ones on the market.
- If you’re in the US, you’ll have to pay to play, with conversions nearing $1,555.
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The moment I unboxed the Xiaomi 15 Ultra<!–>, I knew I was in trouble. While the flagship had launched in China earlier this year, its global debut at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in March raised some flags among its Android competitors – and perhaps Apple, too.
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I tested the phone for a little less than a month, having swapped my SIM over from the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and as each day went by, I found it tougher to switch back. I partly have T-Mobile to thank for that, as most international phones like the Xiaomi support just enough GSM-based cellular bands to make calling, messaging, and browsing on LTE work here in the US.
Other reasons range from the new 200MP periscope camera (that’s more than just a marketing gimmick) to the industrial design and surprisingly smooth software experience. In other words, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra may be the best all-rounder phone I’ve tested so far. But even then, the reasons to upgrade to it are just as clear as the reasons to look elsewhere. Here’s the breakdown.
With the 15 Ultra, you don’t have to look far to understand how Xiaomi wants to sell you on it. The absolute island of a camera bump demands attention, whether you’re staring directly at it or feeling the weight of it when holding the phone.
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But don’t let that distract you from the rest of the hardware, which Xiaomi says has become much more durable than last year’s model, from the Shield Glass 2.0 for better drop protection to the high-strength Gorilla Glass 7i layering that protects the rear cameras. The subtle grooves on the power button are a nice touch.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is also heavier than its predecessor – a surprising twist considering recent trends to slim-down devices – likely due to the updated camera stack and larger battery capacity. At 226 grams, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is still lighter than the iPhone 16 Pro Max–> but noticeably heavier than the Galaxy S25 Ultra<!–> (218g). The curved dimensions make the phone much more manageable than Samsung’s boxier aesthetic.
Powering this year’s model is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, which, when paired with 16GB of RAM and a rather well-optimized HyperOS skin over Android, delivers a snappy, near-burdenless software experience. I’ll still knock on Xiaomi for the excessive bloatware, including pre-loaded apps like WPS Office and AliExpress. But beyond that, the device almost never stutters or drops frames, even when I use it after running benchmarks. It’s that optimized.
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For charging, you’re looking at 90W wired and 80W wireless ratings, which aren’t record-breaking globally but essentially twice as fast as the best phones in the US (sans OnePlus.) You’ll need the proper charging brick to achieve faster charging speeds, but the efficiency is well worth it. It’s just unfortunate that Xiaomi downsized its battery to a 5,400mAh capacity when the China version of the 15 Ultra has a 6,000mAh size.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra (left) and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (right)
Prakhar Khanna/ZDNET
Now, for the elephant in the room: Wi-Fi 7 connectivity. I’m kidding. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s quad-camera setup is one of the most competent that I’ve tested, and I say “one of” because its domestic rivals, like the Vivo X200 Pro, are just as good.
While Xiaomi has kept most of the camera hardware the same this year, including the Leica-partnered and branded optics, it’s made subtle but meaningful upgrades across the board. The main 50MP lens still captures subjects with a level of dynamic range and depth that only a one-inch sensor can achieve, and I’m a big fan of the Ultra RAW image capturing, which preserves details for when I’m editing in Lightroom. Still, the new 200MP periscope lens has become my default shooting tool.
A range of shots captured with the 200MP sensor, with no adjustments or edits.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
It’s a big spec bump from last year’s 50MP sensor and the added pixels help when you capture photos in low-light environments or want to crop in after the fact. Just know that the optical zoom has been shortened to 4.4x from 5x, which may take some getting used to if you’re coming from an iPhone or Samsung with 5x.
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I’ve been testing the 200MP camera for portraits, landscape shots, and recording cinematic video in Pro mode, and the results made me consider retiring my $3,500 Sony A7S III<!–>. While the phone can take a few extra seconds to fully render and process images, meaning you won’t see the final shot right after you capture it, the results have just the right amount of natural color, sharpness, and contrast to my liking.
The streets of Barcelona, captured with the 50MP ultra-wide camera.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
That’s to say, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a phone that would make sense to have a dedicated camera/shutter button. Putting one beneath the power button would also encourage users to stabilize the phone (and top-heavy camera bump) with their index finger, possibly resulting in a more comfortable and reliable capturing experience.
ZDNET’s buying advice
As is the case with all global variants of phones (read: ones that aren’t officially sold in the US), you’ll have to export the Xiaomi 15 Ultra<!–> to use one. It currently retails for 1499 EUR, roughly $1,555 USD. That’s not counting the impending upcharges due to recent US tariffs. So if you want one of the best phones on the market, you’ll have to pay to play.
Fortunately, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is one of the easier phones for me to recommend to power users and tech enthusiasts, thanks to its capable camera system and onslaught of specs. At this point, I might even use just the phone to capture product shots and videos for work instead of my bulkier Sony camera.
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