Hands-on with the Xiaomi 15 Series: A new era of smartphone photography?
Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 launch in Barcelona. Picture: Xiaomi.
Xiaomi has officially unveiled its latest flagship lineup, the Xiaomi 15 Series, and I had the chance to go hands-on with these devices at an exclusive event in Barcelona. The brand makes big claims about its professional-grade photography capabilities, next-gen AI features, and a refined user experience powered by Xiaomi HyperOS 2. But do these smartphones live up to the hype?
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a striking camera-inspired design and is available in black, white, and silver chrome finishes. The silver chrome edition feels particularly unique, blending aerospace-grade glass fibre and PU leather, giving it both style and durability. Xiaomi has gone the extra mile with Guardian Structure technology, claiming 16x better drop resistance thanks to Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0. Holding the device, it’s clear that Xiaomi has focused on aesthetics and durability — it feels solid yet surprisingly lightweight.
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 is a more compact, 6.36-inch alternative with a sleek design and ultra-thin bezels. It’s comfortable to hold, and the liquid silver variant, with its shimmering glass curves, looks particularly eye-catching. Xiaomi says its LIPO technology helps achieve a 94% screen-to-body ratio, and it certainly feels immersive in the hand.
Both models feature stunning AMOLED displays, with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra boasting a 6.73-inch WQHD+ panel with 3,200 nits peak brightness. The screen was crisp and vibrant even under bright lighting conditions at the event. The Always-on display is now more functional, showing essential info like time, notifications, and battery percentage.
Performance is another strong point. Both devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite promise a 45% CPU boost and 52% power efficiency improvement over their predecessors. From my hands-on experience, the UI was silky smooth, apps launched instantly, and switching between tasks felt effortless. Xiaomi’s IceLoop cooling system also aims to maintain performance without overheating — a claim I’ll be eager to test in real-world conditions.
Xiaomi has doubled down on professional-grade mobile photography, and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s camera system is impressive. Featuring a quad-camera setup with Leica Summilux optics, the primary 50MP 1-inch sensor boasts a variable aperture (f/1.63), allowing for more control over light and depth. Xiaomi claims this setup delivers better dynamic range, improved low-light performance, and more natural bokeh effects.
I tested it briefly in different lighting conditions, and the results were sharp, well-balanced, and detailed, especially in low light. The 70mm floating telephoto lens works great for portraits and macro shots, while the 100mm periscope camera provides optical-level zoom up to 200mm. The 14mm ultra-wide camera rounds out the system, capturing expansive landscapes without distortion.
The Xiaomi 15, on the other hand, features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP main sensor, 60mm floating telephoto lens, and 14mm ultra-wide shooter. While it doesn’t have the full-fledged Leica camera system of the Ultra, Xiaomi still claims high-quality image processing and fast shutter speeds.
Xiaomi is making bold claims about its videography capabilities, particularly with 4K 120fps cinematic slow-motion recording and Dolby Vision support at 4K 60fps.
The AI Creativity Assistant introduces tools like AI Image Enhancement, AI Eraser Pro, and AI Magic Sky, allowing users to edit and optimise their photos with minimal effort. Meanwhile, the Cross-Device Camera feature lets users connect and control cameras from multiple Xiaomi devices — great for content creators or multi-angle shoots.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra houses a 5,410mAh battery with 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging, while the Xiaomi 15 packs 5,240mAh with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Xiaomi’s Surge Battery Management promises all-day battery life, but I’ll need more time to see how well it holds up under heavy usage.
From my hands-on experience, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 are shaping up to be some of Xiaomi’s most refined flagships to date. With premium design, powerful performance, and a class-leading camera system, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is clearly targeting photography enthusiasts and power users. The Xiaomi 15, while more compact, still brings flagship performance and impressive imaging capabilities.
With prices starting at €1,099 for the Xiaomi 15 and €1,599 for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Xiaomi is placing these firmly in the premium smartphone market. Whether they can compete with Samsung and Apple in real-world performance remains to be seen, but based on my initial experience, Xiaomi is bringing something truly special to the table. Stay tuned for the full reviews!
Xiaomi 15 is available in Black and Green, with a 12GB+512GB configuration, priced at €1,099. Black can be purchased via Eir, Tesco, Vodafone, and Harvey Norman. Green is also available at Harvey Norman.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra is available in Silver Chrome, with a 16GB+512GB configuration, priced at €1,599, and can be purchased via Harvey Norman and Tesco. Customers who purchase a Xiaomi 15 or Xiaomi 15 Ultra are eligible for one free screen replacement within 6 months. Exclusive offers are available from 2nd to 31st March 2025 to celebrate the arrival of Xiaomi 15 series. Buy a Xiaomi 15 and get a free Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Cleaner X20 Pro worth €559.
