Introduction
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform, fabricated on a 3 nm TSMC process with an Oryon CPU reaching up to 4.32 GHz and delivering 80 TOPS of AI performance for unparalleled multitasking and gaming. It offers up to 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage in 512 GB or 1 TB capacities, ensuring lightning-fast application load and seamless background processing. The device sports a 6.73‑inch “All Around” LTPO AMOLED display with WQHD+ (3200 × 1440) resolution, a 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh rate, up to 3200 nits peak brightness, 68 billion colors, Dolby Vision®, HDR10+, and is protected by Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0.
Its Leica‑co‑engineered quad‑camera array includes a 1‑inch 50 MP Sony LYT‑900 main sensor with f/1.63 aperture and OIS, a 50 MP ultra‑wide lens, a 50 MP floating telephoto lens, and a 200 MP periscope telephoto lens offering 4.3× optical zoom and advanced AI image processing. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports 8K@30 fps and 4K@60/120 fps video recording, 10‑bit color capture with Dolby Vision® HDR, cinematic 4K 120 fps slow-motion, and enhanced stabilization via 4‑axis OIS with EIS. Powering all‑day use is a 5,410 mAh battery with support for 90 W wired HyperCharge, 80 W wireless HyperCharge, and 10 W reverse wireless charging for ecosystem flexibility. It runs MIUI’s HyperOS 2 on Android 15, featuring AI Writing, AI Search, and dynamic live wallpapers alongside four major Android upgrades. Announced on February 27, 2025 and launched internationally on March 3, 2025, the 15 Ultra is available across China, Europe, India, and select regions but remains unavailable officially in the US.
Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra showcases the next‑generation Xiaomi Guardian Structure, built around a CNC‑crafted 6M42 high‑strength aluminum frame for exceptional durability. All metal surfaces are precision CNC‑machined for consistent tight tolerances and a refined finish. Its front panel is fortified by Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, offering up to +25% improved drop resistance over previous generations. The rear camera area is protected by Corning® Gorilla® Glass 7i with an anti‑scratch coating and +82% nanoindentation hardness enhancement on the camera deco. You can choose between Black and White versions with a dual‑layer glass back or a Silver Chrome model that combines aerospace‑grade glass fiber with premium PU leather. Despite its rugged structure, the phone measures just 161.3 × 75.3 × 9.35 mm (Black/White) or 161.3 × 75.3 × 9.48 mm (Silver Chrome) and weighs 226 g or 229 g respectively.
Drawing inspiration from classic Leica rangefinders, the 15 Ultra integrates a 3D camera deco seamlessly into its wraparound quad‑curve frame for a timeless, cinematic aesthetic. Its micro quad‑curved “All Around” display features ultra‑thin bezels for an immersive viewing experience. The device carries an IP54 rating, protecting against dust and splashes under everyday conditions. Subtle antenna lines run along the frame to maintain strong connectivity without disrupting the smooth silhouette.
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform built on TSMC’s 3 nm process, combining an octa‑core Oryon V2 CPU (2× 4.32 GHz “Phoenix L” + 6× 3.53 GHz “Phoenix M”) with an Adreno 830 GPU. This configuration delivers up to 80 TOPS of AI performance, with CPU multi‑core gains of +45% and GPU performance gains of +44% over the previous generation.. These represent Qualcomm's claims, and real-world performance may vary depending on the specific usage scenarios, while maintaining energy efficiency. Thermal throttling is minimized by Xiaomi’s 3D Dual‑Channel IceLoop system, which incorporates a 5100 mm² liquid‑cooling vapor chamber and graphite layers to dissipate heat effectively during extended gaming or intensive workloads.
Storage options include 256 GB UFS 4.1 paired with 12 GB LPDDR5X RAM, or 512 GB / 1 TB UFS 4.1 paired with 16 GB LPDDR5X RAM, ensuring ultra‑fast read/write speeds and seamless multitasking. Connectivity features dual‑mode 5G (SA/NSA), Wi‑Fi 7 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7), Bluetooth 6.0 with LE Audio, NFC, an IR blaster, and dual Nano‑SIM slots (plus eSIM) to cover global use cases.
Camera Systems
Co‑engineered with Leica, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s rear system features a VARIO‑SUMMILUX 23 mm Summilux lens paired with a 1‑inch 50 MP Sony LYT‑900 sensor (3.2 µm 4‑in‑1 Super Pixel, f/1.63) with OIS, delivering ultra‑high dynamic range of up to 14 EV for lifelike detail in bright and low‑light conditions. The 50 MP ultra‑wide camera utilizes a 1.28 µm 4‑in‑1 pixel sensor, f/2.2 aperture, and 14 mm equivalent focal length with a 115° field of view to minimize distortion and capture expansive scenes.
For telephoto, a floating 50 MP 70 mm equivalent lens (1.4 µm pixel, f/1.8, OIS) handles mid‑range zoom, while a periscope 200 MP sensor (2.24 µm Super Pixel, f/2.6, OIS) provides up to 4.3x optical zoom and 120x digital zoom. A 32 MP in‑display front camera (OmniVision OV32B, f/2.0, 21 mm equivalent, 90° FOV) powers high‑resolution selfies, with HDR portrait mode, palm/voice shutter, and screen flash.
Video recording supports 8K@30 fps Dolby Vision® HDR on the main lens and 4K@30/60/120 fps across all rear cameras, alongside Movie mode, shoot steady stabilization may have certain limitations in video resolution and frame rate, and time‑lapse features. The front camera captures 4K@30/60 fps video and includes Dolby Vision® recording for broadcast‑quality vlogging and calls.
Battery and Charging
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is powered by a 5 410 mAh (typ) Xiaomi Surge Battery (6 000 mAh in the Chinese variant), capable of delivering up to 25 hours of continuous video playback in internal lab tests and achieving an Active Use Score of 16 h 13 min—comprising 13 h 18 min of web browsing, 19 h 25 min of video, 10 h 41 min of gaming, and 40 h 51 min of voice calls—for all‑day endurance under mixed‑use conditions. Xiaomi’s Surge Battery Management System pairs the Surge P3 charging chipset with the Surge G2 battery management chipset to intelligently adjust charging currents and background processes, extending cycle life and maintaining long‑term performance.
Fast‑charging support includes 90 W wired HyperCharge (USB PD3.0/PPS), 80 W wireless HyperCharge, and 10 W reverse wireless HyperCharge for powering accessories. A full suite of safety protections—covering over‑voltage, over‑current, over‑temperature, and short‑circuit defenses—ensures secure, efficient charging across all modes.
Operating System and Interface
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra runs Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0, promising four major Android upgrades and six years of security patches to keep the software both fresh and secure.
HyperOS 2.0 introduces a streamlined UI: you can choose between an app drawer or a homescreen‑only layout, plus a “Light” UX mode for larger icons and enhanced accessibility. Notifications and the Control Center are on separate pages, homescreens support widgets and two styles of folders, and the –1 screen is dedicated to Google Discover.
Deep AI integration powers features like AI Dynamic Wallpapers that animate your lock screen; a unified AI menu for tools such as AI Writing, AI Search, and AI Subtitles; real‑time AI Interpreter for face‑to‑face and in‑call translation; Recorder app with automatic transcription and speaker separation; and Notes app with on‑device translation, proofreading, summarization, and layout suggestions.
A hardware‑level security framework—MiTEE microkernel and TEE system—provides isolated protection for biometric data, payment credentials, and personal information, functioning similarly to a Secure Element Chip.
Features and Connectivity
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra supports dual SIM (nano SIM + nano SIM or nano SIM + eSIM) and a full suite of cellular bands including 5G SA/NSA, 4G LTE, 3G UMTS, and 2G GSM with 4×4 MIMO. It offers flagship Wi‑Fi 7 alongside Wi‑Fi 6E and Wi‑Fi 6 (802.11 be/ax/ac/ax) with dual‑band simultaneous, 2×2 MIMO, 8×8 sounding for MU‑MIMO, Wi‑Fi Direct, and Miracast. Wireless connectivity includes Bluetooth 6.0 with Dual‑Bluetooth support for SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, LDAC, and LHDC codecs. NFC is onboard for contactless payments and quick device pairing.
Audio is handled by stereo speakers. It bears Hi‑Res and Hi‑Res Audio Wireless certification and Dolby Atmos® for immersive sound. A 4‑microphone array captures clear voice recordings. It supports advanced noise reduction. An IR blaster adds universal remote control functionality for home entertainment devices. Navigation and positioning are driven by multi‑band GNSS: GPS L1+L5, Galileo E1+E5a, and GLONASS G1. It also supports Beidou, QZSS L1+L5, NavIC L5, and A‑GPS supplementary positioning. An electronic compass provides orientation in mobile mapping.
Pricing and Availability
Announced at MWC 2025 in Barcelona, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is priced in Europe at €1,499.99 for the 16 GB + 512 GB model and €1,699.99 for the 16 GB + 1 TB model, with pre‑orders opening immediately and general availability beginning on March 4, 2025. A separate Photography Kit Legend Edition—featuring a detachable shutter button, ergonomic grip, 67 mm filter adapter, and 2000 mAh power bank—retails for €199.
In the UK, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra goes on sale at £1,299 for 16 GB + 512 GB and £1,499 for 16 GB + 1 TB, with the Photography Kit Legend Edition priced at £179. Pre‑orders began after its MWC unveiling, and the device became broadly available from March 4, 2025 via Xiaomi’s official channels.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Dimensions & Weight | The thickness varies slightly between the Black/White models (9.35mm) and the Silver Chrome model (9.48mm) |
| Display | 6.73" LTPO AMOLED; 3200 × 1440; 1–120 Hz; 3200 nits peak; Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite (3 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 830 |
| RAM & Storage | 12 GB/256 GB, 16 GB/512 GB, 16 GB/1 TB UFS 4.1 |
| Main Camera | Sony LYT-900 with an aperture of f/1.63. |
| Ultra-wide | 50 MP, f/2.2, 115° FOV |
| Periscope Tele | 200 MP, f/3.4, 4.3x optical zoom |
| Portrait Tele | 50MP with an f/1.8, 3x optical zoom |
| Selfie Camera | 32 MP, f/2.0, 4K@60 fps |
| Battery | 5410 mAh (6000 mAh CN); 90 W wired, 80 W wireless, 10 W reverse wireless |
| OS | Android 15; HyperOS 2 |
| Connectivity | 5G SA/NSA; Wi-Fi 7; Bluetooth 6.0:1 LE Audio; NFC; UWB |
| Audio | Stereo speakers; Hi-Res Audio; Dolby Atmos |
| Security | Ultrasonic fingerprint; Secure Element Chip |
| Price | €1,499 - €1,699 and £1,299 - £1,499. |
| Colors | Black; White; Chrome; Eco-leather |
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra commands attention as one of the most compelling flagship smartphones of 2025, having been announced at Mobile World Congress in February 2025 and immediately praised for its professional-grade capabilities. With its flagship‑tier Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform built on a 3 nm process—featuring two Prime cores up to 4.32 GHz, six Performance cores up to 3.53 GHz, an Adreno™ GPU, and Qualcomm’s AI Engine—the 15 Ultra delivers class‑leading performance across gaming, multitasking, and AI workloads. Its Leica VARIO‑SUMMILUX quad‑camera system pairs a 50 MP 1″ Summilux main sensor (f/1.63, OIS), a 200 MP periscope telephoto (f/2.6, 100 mm, OIS), a 50 MP 70 mm floating telephoto (f/1.8, OIS), and a 50 MP ultra‑wide lens (f/2.2, 14 mm) to cover focal lengths from 14 mm to 135 mm with unparalleled clarity and detail.
The 6.73″ WQHD+ All Around Liquid AMOLED display boasts up to 3,200 nits peak brightness, a 1–120 Hz refresh rate, 1920 Hz PWM dimming, Dolby Vision® and HDR10+, and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 for durability and visibility in any lighting condition. Powering the device is a 5,410 mAh Xiaomi Surge Battery with 90 W wired HyperCharge and 80 W wireless HyperCharge, delivering a full day’s use in minutes of charging. Under sustained load, Xiaomi’s 3D Dual‑Channel IceLoop cooling system maintains peak performance without throttling, ensuring smooth operation during intensive gaming or video editing.
Running on HyperOS 2 (based on Android 15), the 15 Ultra integrates AI‑driven features like Circle to Search with Google and Google Gemini, streamlining productivity and creativity on the go. Xiaomi has pledged four major Android upgrades and six years of security patches—one of the industry’s most generous support commitments—so this flagship remains secure and up‑to‑date well into the next decade. Though positioned at a premium price—starting at €1,499.99 for the 512 GB model—the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s combination of cutting‑edge hardware, Leica‑tuned imaging, and long‑term software support make it a worthy contender for power users and photography enthusiasts seeking a future‑proof flagship experience.
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