My Testimonial After 2 Weeks of Checking It Around Europe

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was just one of the best phones of 2024, many thanks in no tiny component to an outstanding cam system that took several of the most effective pictures I have actually ever before seen from acamera phone At the heart of this was its 1-inch kind photo sensing unit, which is literally bigger than the sensing units discovered in virtually any kind of various other phone. The outcome? Beautiful pictures in a range of problems.

However it’s 2025 currently and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is right here to attempt to attract even more digital photographers far from Apple’s clutches.

The phone has actually had a range of updates, consisting of the effective Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a host of brand-new AI abilities– since obviously, all phones require to have actually AI constructed in whether you like it or otherwise. And while the cam hasn’t seen numerous updates, there are a couple of tweaks to maintain digital photographers interested.

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The Xiaomi 15 Ultra worldwide variation was introduced at Mobile World Congress” target=”_blank in Barcelona. It takes place sale in the UK and broader Europe later on this month for ₤ 1,299 with 512GB of storage space or ₤ 1,499 if you desire 1TB. Similar to various other Xiaomi phones, the 15 Ultra will certainly not be offered to purchase in the United States, but also for recommendation, that base UK cost converts to $1,630 or AU$ 2,630.

Below are one of the most vital points to find out about the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra cam

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra with its home screen showing

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra includes 4 generations of OS updates in addition to 6 years of protection assistance.

I was astonished by the large photo sensing unit inside the 14 Ultra’s primary cam, so I expect I need to be pleased that the 15 Ultra has actually maintained it. However I am a little bit let down that it’s actually the exact same design– the Sony LYT-900. Certain, it’s an excellent sensing unit and not that old, however I had actually intended to see Xiaomi take its winning formula from in 2014 and make it also much better.

Possibly the lens is much better? Theoretically, I ‘d really suggest there’s been a downgrade. The 14 Ultra had an uncommon variable aperture, which went from large open at f/1.6 and can shut down to f/4. It permitted eye-catching star-burst impacts when firing factors of light at night. The 15 Ultra has actually removed this and rather has a set f/1.6 aperture– Xiaomi states it can attain the exact same impacts “via software program optimization and formula updates.” Sigh.

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While you can readjust the deepness of area toughness (the quantity of history blur behind your topic) in the picture setting, I have actually discovered a number of points incorrect. Initially, the photo with the blur does not conserve when you take it, so it looks the exact same regardless of what phony aperture you establish it as. This is most likely simply very early software program troubles and I make sure they’ll be dealt with. However the absence of actual flexible aperture additionally indicates you do not obtain the wonderful celebrity ruptureds on road lights in the evening any longer.

Those starbursts are most likely a specific niche point to be thrilled around, however they really changed the appearance of evening pictures and the impact was just one of my preferred aspects ofshooting with the 14 Ultra To see this type of advancement discarded for a software-based “option” is irritating. It’s additionally precisely what I complained so much about last year, with AI being the only location where business are introducing currently. Actually, because short article, I praised Xiaomi for the 14 Ultra, however I will not have the ability to with this brand-new design.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra's camera app

Below’s the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s cam application.

It’s additionally weird to see that the ultrawide cam’s aperture has actually been gone down from f/1.8 to f/2.2. The only real upgrade to the cams I can see is that the telephoto zoom resolution is greater for good-looking zoomed-in shots.

Images taken with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra

It’s still an effective cam arrangement though and I have actually taken some shots in my screening that I such as. Similar to the 14 Ultra, the cam is accredited by Leica, and there are some Leica-approved shade designs to select from, my fave of which stays the high comparison black and white setting. It’s terrific for punchy monochrome road digital photography.

You can see a choice of my examination pictures right here, however additionally check out my longer gallery of examples if you’re eager to see even more of this cam at work.

A boat at a dock

Dynamic shades and terrific direct exposure and information from this exterior shot tackled the primary cam.

A group of people on a street

I enjoyed making use of the Leica high comparison black and white setting for punchy road digital photography in Edinburgh.

A cat napping in the sun

Absorbed raw and modified in Lightroom, the cam’s capacity to catch lovely light and darkness has actually led to a beautiful image of my magnificent sphere of fascinating fuzzy marvel.

A street with a building on it at dusk

This evening time fired from the primary cam looks amazing, though I would certainly like it much more with a refined celebrity ruptured on the road light.

A street performer with a crowd

Utilizing the telephoto zoom lens, I have actually had the ability to fill up the framework with the clumsiness of this road entertainer requiring 2 unfamiliar people to hold hands for an extensive duration.

A woman with her arms on the shoulders of a man

And right here the telephoto zoom has actually recorded a great all-natural bokeh around this pair.

Xiaomi’s Digital photography Package is optional for the 15 Ultra

Yes, you can purchase the 15 Ultra with the exact same Digital photography Package that was used with in 2014’s design. It consists of an instance, a powered hold with shutter switch and an attachable ring that permits you to make use of normal 67mm digital photography filters. The hold is amazing. It clicks in nicely, includes some added battery life to the phone and the shutter switch and setups wheel permit you to fire similar to you were making use of a portable cam. It’s a lot more comfy than taking pictures without it.

It’s been upgraded also, with a brand-new thumb hold add-on to make it a little bit much easier to hold. There’s additionally a soft-touch, screw-in shutter launch switch, which is larger and much easier to swiftly locate and strike than the initial switch it screws right into. If you like utilizing your phone for road or traveling digital photography, the Digital photography Package deserves obtaining.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra with a Photographer's Kit

Take A Look At the Xiaomi 15 Ultra using its optional Professional photographer’s Package.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is a giant

The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip discovered inside the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has currently amazed us on phones like the OnePlus 13 and its power is obvious right here, also. It placed in remarkable ratings on our criteria examinations, while daily procedure is quick and lag-free.

It’s terrific for players, also, with requiring titles like Genshin Effect playing efficiently at max setups and at 60 frameworks per secondly. Qualcomm’s 8 Elite chip isn’t simply made for raw power though, it’s constructed for much better AI handling. Which brings me nicely on …

New AI abilities with Gemini on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra

Google Gemini and Gemini progressed are constructed in as common, consisting of the conversational Gemini Live and Circle to Browse. However Xiaomi has actually included a few of its very own functions, also. There’s a generative message device to develop blocks of message based upon your motivates, in addition to a valuable device that develops message transcriptions from voice recordings– terrific for an active technology reporter.

There’s additionally a range of image-focused AI devices for broadening a photo making use of generative AI, eliminating points in a scene or merely honing the photo. The AI devices all function in addition to I would certainly wish, however it deserves bearing in mind that every one of them need a net link in order to make use of– consisting of the voice records device, for one reason or another.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra with the Android 15 logo on the screen

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra works on Android 15.

An appropriate software program assistance duration

The 15 Ultra launches with Android 15 aboard, and Xiaomi assures it’ll obtain 4 generations of Android updates in addition to 6 years of protection assistance. It’s much less than what both Samsung and Google offer their front runners (7 years of both software program and protection assistance) and I ‘d absolutely have actually suched as to see Xiaomi suit, and even defeat its competitors right here, particularly thinking about the high cost of the phone.

Still, a service life of 6 years is suitable sufficient (a third of people keep their phones for 3 years or longer) and matches what OnePlus deals for its current OnePlus 13 front runner.

The remainder of the phone is strong also

Battery life is great, however not superior. On our requiring video clip streaming examination it held up much better than the OnePlus 13 however really did not do rather in addition to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You can securely anticipate a day of usage however similar to all phones you’ll most likely wish to provide it a complete cost over night. The 6.7-inch display screen is brilliant, vivid and pin sharp. Video clips look terrific, as do vibrant mobile video games.

The phone is IP68 ranked to assist maintain it risk-free from splashed beverages, also. In conclusion, it’s a phone that ticks basically every box you would certainly anticipate from among today’s front runners. I simply desire I would certainly seen much more advancement in the cams for this year’s design. Still, there’s no doubt that it still takes fantastic pictures that equal any one of today’s front runners. If you’re trying to find a high-performance Android phone to make use of as your primary cam on your trips, it’s absolutely worth thinking about.

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