King of Optical Night Photography?

Xiaomi’s Ultra smartphones have become the brand’s pride and joy, representing their biggest leap forward in high-end tech over the past five years. Since 2022, each Ultra model has pushed boundaries: the 12S Ultra (2022) kicked off Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica, the 13 Ultra (2023) revolutionized mobile photography, and the 2024 Xiaomi 14 Ultra set new standards. Now, the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra (2025) aims to dominate as the ultimate camera phone—even before its launch, competitors are already scrambling to keep up.

Why Xiaomi’s Ultra Series Stands Out

• No More Copying Apple: While many Android brands once imitated iPhones, Xiaomi is now the trendsetter. Competitors are now mirroring Xiaomi’s ideas—like adopting names similar to Xiaomi’s code name “Nexus”—proving Xiaomi’s leadership.
• Peak Imaging Tech: The 15 Ultra isn’t just a camera phone—it’s a “flagship of imaging technology,” combining cutting-edge hardware, battery life, and connectivity.

Camera Powerhouse: Leica’s Best Meets Xiaomi’s Innovation
The 15 Ultra’s Leica Ultra-Pure Optical System is a game-changer:

• 14mm Ultra-Wide Lens: Perfect for landscapes/buildings with minimal distortion.
• 23mm Main Camera: The largest aperture (f/1.63) ever on a 1-inch sensor for DSLR-like shots.
• 70mm Telephoto Lens: Great for portraits and macros (10cm close-ups!).
• 100mm Super Telephoto: 200MP lens with 400mm zoom and night-mode superpowers.
  Every part of the lens system is upgraded, even the glass, which reduces glare and resists scratches.

Battery & Connectivity Upgrades

• 6000mAh Battery: Xiaomi’s biggest yet, lasting 1,000 charge cycles with 90% capacity remaining. Charges fast with 90W wired/80W wireless speeds.
• Superior Signal: Triple antennas, dual satellite support (Beidou + Tiantong), and 42% stronger Wi-Fi/GPS signals.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra isn’t just a phone—it’s a showcase of Xiaomi’s boldest innovations. From unmatched cameras to beastly battery life, it’s built to lead in 2025. Stay tuned for hands-on impressions and real-world tests!

Design and Appearance

Crafted with an iconic color-matching technique, the Xiaomi Mi 15 Ultra debuts in a timeless pine green hue. Drawing inspiration from a century of imaging history, its design harmonizes a silver metallic finish with dark green lychee-textured leather, creating a bold contrast that exudes sophistication.

The device’s camera lens features an advanced anti-reflective coating, layered with microscopic pyramid-shaped structures to minimize light reflection. This innovation ensures clearer optical performance, particularly in low-light conditions. The deep-set circular lens seamlessly integrates with the body, enhancing both aesthetics and functionality.

Encased in aviation-grade 6M42 aluminum alloy, the mid-frame adopts a sleek quad-curved wraparound design, balancing durability with a lightweight, elegant profile. A retro-inspired “Ultra” nameplate, reminiscent of classic camera rangefinders, graces the rear, adding a touch of professional-grade heritage.

The front boasts a 6.73-inch 2K LTPO display by Huaxing Optoelectronics, supporting a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate and peaking at 3200nit brightness. Enhanced by Dynamic Tone and Gamma Mapping, the Super Sunlight Display maintains vivid color accuracy and contrast even under direct sunlight, rivaling professional monitors. Its full-depth micro-curved edges blend the crisp visuals of a flat screen with the ergonomic comfort of a curved design.

Protected by Dragon Crystal Glass 2.0, the screen’s upgraded formula reduces alkali metals, boosting mechanical strength by 20–30% and improving drop resistance by 25–30%.

The streamlined design features minimal top-mounted antenna bands, while the bottom houses a SIM slot, microphone, Type-C port, and speaker. A dual-speaker system delivers rich audio, and 90W wired fast charging (included) ensures rapid power-ups.

Cameras

In professional photography, the “Big Three” lens trio—spanning 14mm ultra-wide-angle to 200mm telephoto—has long been revered for its versatility, optical precision, and creative potential. However, smartphones have historically struggled to replicate the full focal range and optical performance of traditional cameras due to sensor and physical constraints. Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra challenges this limitation by reimagining the “Big Three” concept for mobile, integrating a groundbreaking 14-400mm lossless zoom system powered by a 200MP sensor. This innovation marks the first comprehensive adaptation of professional-grade focal coverage on a smartphone, enabling exceptional versatility across 99% of shooting scenarios.

At its core, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra combines a 1-inch LYT-900 primary sensor with a 15EV dynamic range and 70,000e-full well capacity, a 50MP Sony IMX858 3x optical zoom lens, and a 200MP Samsung S5KHP9 periscope telephoto lens leveraging 4.3x in-sensor zoom. Together, they achieve 28x lossless zoom and a staggering 200MP resolution via an Octa-PD microlens array. The 100mm ultra-telephoto module, with a compact 2.51cm physical focal length, defies traditional mobile design limits. Enhanced by dual native ISO Fusion Max technology, it delivers shallow depth-of-field effects comparable to full-frame cameras in low-light scenarios. Complemented by a 14mm Samsung S5KJN5 ultra-wide lens (120° FOV), the device ensures seamless coverage across all focal lengths.

Xiaomi’s dual-path cooling system and independent heat dissipation channels enable sustained 8K/30fps video recording, eliminating overheating constraints and propelling mobile imaging into a new era of professional-grade videography.

Imaging Performance: Real-World Testing

Primary Camera:

The 1-inch LYT-900 sensor excels in daylight, capturing crisp architectural lines and natural textures with remarkable clarity. In Leica Vivid Color mode, colors strike a balance between vibrancy and realism—sunlit building facades and serene water reflections are rendered with lifelike precision. The wide dynamic range preserves detail in challenging lighting, such as sunset landscapes, while natural bokeh enhances subject isolation and depth.

Night Photography:

The “Pyramid” anti-reflective coating minimizes lens flare and ghosting, producing clean, noise-free nightscapes. Complex light sources, from neon signage to city skylines, are reproduced with vivid accuracy. The lens maintains color fidelity even in high-contrast scenes, preserving the richness of golden-hour hues and the subtle gradients of illuminated structures.

3x Telephoto:

The f/1.8 aperture 3x lens delivers bright, distortion-free images with minimal chromatic aberration. Colors remain saturated and true-to-life, excelling in portrait and mid-range scenarios.

4.3x Periscope Telephoto (100mm):

The 200MP periscope lens achieves 4.3x optical zoom (96mm in testing) with a default 12.5MP output. Images exhibit striking clarity, even in backlit conditions, resolving fine details like distant text and textures. The 4x in-sensor zoom extends to 400mm (17.2x equivalent), maintaining sharpness post-crop. Ship hulls, facial expressions, and signage remain legible at extreme magnifications, showcasing the lens’s computational prowess.

Ultra-Wide (14mm):

The 50MP ultra-wide lens minimizes barrel distortion while preserving edge-to-edge sharpness. In daylight, its white balance accuracy rivals that of the telephoto modules, and the 120° field of view captures expansive scenes without compromise.

Hardware and Performance

As a flagship device, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is equipped with the cutting-edge Snapdragon 8 Extreme Edition chipset, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage. The unit reviewed here features a 16GB+1TB configuration, ensuring ample power and space for demanding tasks.

Advanced Cooling Technology
Xiaomi has prioritized thermal management in this model, introducing an industry-leading cooling solution dubbed the “Dual-Channel 3D Loop Cooling System.” This innovative design addresses heat dissipation for both the processor (SoC) and the camera module, ensuring sustained performance during intensive use.

The system employs two distinct pathways:

• Processor Cooling: A dedicated channel maintains optimal temperatures for the SoC, enabling consistent high-performance output.
• Imaging System Cooling: A separate pathway regulates heat from the camera hardware, preserving image quality during prolonged shooting sessions.

Further enhancements include a 0.4mm raised heat sink at the SoC location, secured with thermally conductive adhesive for direct contact with heat sources. A dual-wing structure overlaps with the frame to boost heat transfer efficiency, significantly improving overall cooling.

Performance Benchmarks
Testing was conducted in a 26°C environment with performance mode enabled, auto-brightness disabled, and memory expansion turned off.

• AnTuTu Score: The device achieved an impressive 2.738 million points, marking a 32.7% increase over the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
  • CPU: 589,300+ points (35.3% YoY improvement)
  • GPU: ~1.171 million points (35.1% YoY gain)
• Geekbench 6: Single-core score of 3,058 and multi-core score of 9,161, reflecting 39% and 26% annual improvements, respectively.
• Storage Speed: Androbench recorded sequential read/write speeds of 3,987.11MB/s and 3,936.84MB/s, confirming UFS 4.0 compatibility.

Gaming Performance Evaluation
Two graphically intensive titles were tested under maximum settings at 26°C ambient temperature:

1. Genshin Impact (60 FPS, Ultra Settings):
   • Average frame rate: 59.8 FPS over 15 minutes in Sumeru City.
   • Minor frame drops occurred but did not disrupt gameplay.
   • Peak back temperature: 37.4°C.
2. Honkai: Star Rail (60 FPS, Max Settings):
   • Average frame rate: 54.5 FPS during a 15-minute “Golden Moment” stress test.
   • The initial 5 minutes maintained full frames, followed by gradual instability and stuttering after 7 minutes.
   • Power consumption: ~9.039W (6.03 FPS/W efficiency).
   • Peak back temperature: 46.2°C.

Battery

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, a flagship device renowned for its imaging capabilities, sets a new standard in battery capacity among smartphones of its class. Despite its compact design and advanced camera hardware, the device avoids compromising on power capacity—a feat achieved through innovative engineering.

Central to this achievement is Xiaomi’s cutting-edge silicon anode battery technology, which incorporates a 10% silicon content. This breakthrough enables the 15 Ultra to house a substantial 6000mAh battery—a 700mAh increase over its predecessor. Complementing this are robust charging capabilities, including a standard 90W HyperCharge adapter, 80W wireless charging, and wireless reverse charging support.

Charging Performance

To evaluate real-world charging speeds, we conducted tests starting from 1% battery with the screen off. The device reached 34% in 10 minutes, 58% by the 20-minute mark, and 76% within half an hour, achieving a full charge in just 45 minutes. For a smartphone with a 6000mAh battery, this sub-one-hour charging time highlights exceptional thermal management and optimized power delivery. Such efficiency allows users to rapidly replenish battery levels during short breaks, significantly reducing power concerns.

Battery Endurance Assessment

For battery life testing, we employed Battery Dog, a professional benchmarking tool developed by Fast Technology. The test simulates real-world usage by combining CPU-intensive tasks, AI processing, media playback, web browsing, and image viewing, all while maintaining consistent conditions: 50% screen brightness (auto-adjustment disabled) and 30% volume.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra lasted 7 hours, 41 minutes, and 16 seconds before dropping to 20% remaining capacity. Extrapolating this result suggests approximately 9 hours of continuous use on a full charge. This endurance comfortably meets the demands of typical daily use patterns, ensuring reliable all-day performance for most users.

By balancing high-capacity battery design with advanced charging solutions, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra delivers a compelling combination of longevity and rapid power restoration, positioning it as a leader in flagship smartphone energy management.

Conclusion

Reflecting on Xiaomi’s journey, the launch of the Xiaomi 11 Ultra—dubbed the “Android Beacon”—marked a pivotal moment in smartphone photography. Its cutting-edge imaging capabilities not only captivated the industry but also underscored Xiaomi’s bold commitment to redefining mobile photography.

Over the past half-decade, Xiaomi has relentlessly pursued excellence in imaging technology, carving out a distinct path through innovation and precision. The culmination of these efforts is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, a testament to five years of meticulous research and engineering.

At its core, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra features a groundbreaking 1-inch Sony LYT900 main sensor, paired with a 200MP Samsung S5KHP9 periscope telephoto lens—the largest and longest focal length in its class. This “dual flagship” setup enables an unprecedented 14-400mm ultra-wide, lossless zoom system, seamlessly blending ultra-wide, standard, and telephoto capabilities for full-spectrum coverage.

Xiaomi has revolutionized optical design with a suite of advancements: a large aperture, “end-to-end” lossless optics, and a multi-layered “pyramid” coating. These innovations transcend traditional smartphone imaging constraints, shifting reliance from computational night modes to true optical night photography.

Daytime tests reveal the LYT900 sensor’s prowess in capturing intricate details with striking clarity. In Leica Vivid Color mode, images burst with lifelike hues, expansive dynamic range, and natural bokeh. After dark, the pyramid coating minimizes noise, glare, and ghosting, rendering vibrant cityscapes with unmatched fidelity.

The 200MP telephoto lens excels in challenging lighting, preserving detail even in backlit scenarios. Cropping retains sharpness, revealing distant textures with precision, whether under sunlight or city lights.

The 15 Ultra houses a robust 6000mAh battery supported by 90W wired and 80W wireless charging, achieving a full charge in 45 minutes for 9+ hours of use—ideal for extended shoots.

Xiaomi’s proprietary Star Communication System, powered by dual T1 and T1S chips, ensures seamless connectivity. Dual-mode satellite technology bypasses traditional base stations, enabling reliable communication in remote or emergency scenarios.

From the trailblazing 11 Ultra to the nocturnal mastery of the 15 Ultra, Xiaomi’s five-year journey epitomizes a relentless quest for imaging perfection. As pyramid-coated lenses capture pristine nightscapes and 400mm horizons become accessible, this evolution transcends hardware—it embodies Xiaomi’s vision for the future of mobile photography.

While this revolution continues, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands as a milestone, illuminating the path for the next era of imaging innovation.

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