The Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G has arrived, and it’s making waves in the smartphone world as one of the most anticipated devices of 2025. Launched globally on March 2, 2025, at Mobile World Congress, this flagship from Xiaomi builds on the success of its predecessors, particularly in the camera department, while delivering top-tier performance and a refined design. After spending time with the device, here’s an in-depth review of what the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G offers, its strengths, its quirks, and whether it’s worth your investment.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G Phone Review: A Photography Powerhouse with Premium Flair
Design and Build: Premium Yet Polarizing
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G sports a striking design that’s both elegant and bold. Measuring 161.3 x 75.3 x 9.4mm and weighing 226g, it’s not the lightest flagship out there, but it feels substantial in hand without being unwieldy. The phone features a quad-curved 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display, framed by a high-strength aluminum chassis, with options for a glass-fiber back or a silicone polymer (eco-leather) finish. The IP68 dust and water resistance rating adds durability, ensuring it can withstand submersion up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes.
The standout design element is the massive “volcano-shaped” camera module on the back, a nod to its Leica-inspired aesthetics. While it gives the phone a distinctive, almost retro-cinematic look reminiscent of classic cameras, it’s undeniably top-heavy and protrudes significantly. This makes it prone to catching on pockets and requires a case—thankfully, Xiaomi includes one in the box, and an optional Photography Kit enhances the experience further. Available in Black, White, and Silver Chrome, the design is a love-it-or-hate-it affair, but it undeniably exudes premium quality.
Display: Bright and Beautiful
The 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display is a stunner, boasting a 1440 x 3200 resolution (522ppi), a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, and support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and HDR Vivid. With a peak brightness of 3,200 nits—one of the highest in the market as of March 2025—it’s exceptionally readable even under direct sunlight. Colors are vivid yet natural, and the quad-curved edges give it a sleek, immersive feel, though the bezels are slightly thicker than some competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
The display also features 1920Hz PWM dimming for flicker-free viewing and Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 for enhanced durability, claiming up to 16 times better drop resistance than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G. Whether you’re streaming movies, gaming, or editing photos, this screen delivers a top-notch experience.
Performance: Snapdragon 8 Elite Shines
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. This is one of the most powerful processors available in 2025, and it shows—benchmark scores obliterate last year’s flagships, with a CPU performance boost of over 40% compared to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G. Everyday tasks like multitasking, gaming, and video editing are buttery smooth, and the phone handles demanding titles like Genshin Impact with ease.
Running Android 15 with HyperOS 2.0, the software experience is polished but not without flaws. HyperOS brings useful AI tools—summarization, proofreading, and real-time translation—but it’s also laden with bloatware, which can feel intrusive. Xiaomi promises four major Android updates and six years of security patches, ensuring longevity, though some rivals offer longer support.
Camera: A Photographer’s Dream
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G camera system is its crown jewel, co-engineered with Leica to deliver exceptional imaging. The quad-lens setup includes:
- 50 -50MP main camera (1-inch sensor, f/1.6, 23mm): Captures stunning detail and light, excelling in low-light conditions.
- 50MP ultra-wide (115°, f/2.2): Offers solid performance, though it struggles slightly in low light compared to the main sensor.
- 50MP telephoto (3x, 70mm, f/1.8): Delivers sharp, natural portraits.
- 200MP periscope telephoto (4.3x, 100mm, f/2.6): A game-changer, providing incredible zoom range and clarity.
The 200MP telephoto lens steals the show, offering optical-level zoom from 14mm to 200mm and producing clean, detailed shots even at long range. Leica’s Authentic and Vibrant modes cater to different tastes, with the former prioritizing realism and the latter boosting colors. HDR can be inconsistent at times, and bright light sources occasionally blow out highlights, but overall, this is one of the best camera systems on a smartphone in 2025. Video recording supports up to 8K at 30fps, with strong stabilization and LOG capture for pros.
The 32MP front camera is decent for selfies but doesn’t match the rear array’s brilliance. For photography enthusiasts, the optional Photography Kit—with a grip, shutter button, and filter adapter—turns the phone into a near-mirrorless camera experience.
Battery and Charging: Long-Lasting Power
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G houses a 5,410mAh battery (6,000mAh in the Chinese variant), a welcome upgrade from the 5,000mAh in the 14 Ultra. It easily lasts a full day of heavy use—think photo shoots, gaming, and browsing—with over 30% remaining after a busy day. Charging is blazing fast at 90W wired (full charge in under an hour) and 80W wireless with a compatible Xiaomi charger, though it lacks Qi2 support. Smart charging features help prolong battery health, capping it at 80% if desired.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exceptional Leica-tuned camera system, especially the 200MP telephoto.
- Stunning, bright AMOLED display.
- Top-tier performance with Snapdragon 8 Elite.
- Long battery life and fast charging.
- Premium build quality with IP68 rating.
Cons:
- Bulky camera module affects ergonomics.
- HyperOS bloatware can be annoying.
- No U.S. availability officially.
- HDR inconsistencies in bright conditions.
- Slightly heavier than some rivals.
Verdict
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G is a triumph for photography enthusiasts and power users alike. Its camera system sets a new standard, rivaling even dedicated cameras, while the display and performance keep it competitive with the likes of the Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max. However, its polarizing design, software quirks, and limited availability (priced at £1,299/$1,630 globally, with India at ₹1,09,999) may deter some.
If you prioritize cutting-edge photography and premium hardware over a flawless software experience, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra 5G is one of the best phones of 2025. It’s not perfect, but it’s a bold step forward for Xiaomi—and a tantalizing glimpse of what’s possible in mobile imaging.
