Xiaomi 15 Evaluation: Its comparatively compact measurement will appeal to consideration, and its cameras made in collaboration with the legendary Leica would possibly seize headlines, however there may be a lot extra to the Xiaomi 15. The telephone packs in sufficient to be among the best worth for cash flagships available in the market, no matter measurement and sensors.
Xiaomi 15 Evaluation: Fast Pointers
What we love:
- Compact, elegant design
- Clean flagship-level efficiency
- Cameras with typical Leica tuning
- Good battery life with quick charging
What we don’t:
- The design is just too much like the Xiaomi 14
- Ultrawide and selfie cameras not in the identical league as the primary and telephoto/portrait
Appears like Xiaomi 14, which isn’t problematic
The Xiaomi 15 seems to be precisely like its predecessor, the Xiaomi 14. Which is sweet and dangerous, relying in your perspective. These anticipating one thing new will really feel somewhat dissatisfied, however of us like us who favored the modern, compact really feel and chic end of the Xiaomi 14 will likely be comfortable to see that Xiaomi has not tried to repair what was not damaged.
You continue to get a refreshing compact type issue that’s solely 152.3 mm tall, making it smaller than the 152.8 mm of the Pixel 9, though taller than the 146.7 mm of the iPhone 16e. The telephone is simply 71.2 mm huge (the iPhone 16e is 71.5 mm) and is impressively skinny at 8.08 mm.
It appears somewhat heavy for its measurement at 191 grams, however has a really strong really feel to it with Xiaomi’s personal Defend Glass in entrance and an aluminium body and a glass again, with IP68 mud and water resistance making certain it stays protected even after a dunking within the water. The entrance is a tall, flat AMOLED show, the again is flat with a protruding, square-ish digital camera unit with Leica branding, whereas the perimeters are straight however curve barely in direction of the front and back to make sure that they don’t really feel ‘sharp.’
We bought the black mannequin, and it had wonderful handfeel, because of its compact measurement and clear end. In design phrases, the Xiaomi 15 is extra of a tuxedo swimsuit than an IPL jersey – it’s unlikely to scream for consideration or flip heads, however those that have a look at it are prone to nod in approval and respect.
Correct flagship spec sheet
Inside that compact and slim body lies some significantly formidable {hardware}. The Xiaomi 15 ticks just about each premium flagship spec field on the market – the 6.36 AMOLED show is likely one of the smallest in its section, however has a 2670 x 1200 decision, 120 Hz refresh charge and a peak brightness of 3200 nits.
The telephone runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, much like the one seen on the Samsung Galaxy S25 sequence, and is accompanied by 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage. Like its predecessor, it too boasts cameras designed in collaboration with the legendary Leica.
There are three 50 megapixel cameras on its again – a 50 megapixel fundamental digital camera with a LightFusion 900 sensor and OIS, a 50 megapixel floating telephoto with OIS and a pair of.6x optical zoom, and a 50 megapixel ultrawide.
A 32 megapixel digital camera in entrance handles selfies. Additionally on board are stereo audio system with help for Dolby Atmos, NFC connectivity, and Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2 on prime of Android 15, with a big selection of AI instruments.
The actual shock package deal for us, nevertheless, is that this reasonably compact and slim telephone really packs in a large 5240 mm battery with help for 90W wired and 50W wi-fi charging, with a 90W charger within the field. Only for context, the Galaxy S25 Extremely comes with a 5000 mAh battery.
Sometimes Leica Cameras… & The Telephone’s A Powerhouse Too
Many of the consideration on the Xiaomi 15, as within the case of its predecessor, has revolved round its Leica digital camera setup. The cameras ship a really spectacular efficiency. You may select between Leica Genuine for extra lifelike colors or make them pop somewhat in Leica Vibrant, and nonetheless be assured of photos wealthy intimately and with that barely exaggerated distinction that makes Leica images particular, irrespective of sunshine situations (we bought some tremendous low gentle snaps too).
The absence of autofocus within the ultrawide is a bit disappointing, however the primary sensor and telephoto ship excellent photos and movies as nicely (there may be help for 8K video).
There are particular Leica filters (together with these well-known black and white ones) and portrait modes, and also you additionally get 4 focal lengths for portraits – 23 mm, 35 mm, 60 mm and 75 mm – and whereas outcomes at 60 mm and 75 mm generally is a little inconsistent, the 23 mm and particularly the 35 mm ship among the greatest portrait images we have now seen.
You additionally get the particular watermarked Xiaomi frames, which stay the perfect implementation of the ‘body idea’ we have now seen on telephones but (OnePlus wants work on its Hasselblad-branded set, which is somewhat overwhelming by way of selection).
We anticipated a bit extra from the ultrawide and selfie sensors, which aren’t fairly within the league of the opposite two cameras by way of element, and extra zoom on the telephoto would have helped. You get lossless zoom as much as 5x, however digital zoom shouldn’t be the best except gentle situations are excellent. All stated and executed, the Xiaomi 15 cameras are simply the perfect of their section, particularly if you’re avenue and portrait images. There are additionally loads of AI and taking pictures instruments to allow you to do extra along with your content material.
The Xiaomi 15 turns in a correct flagship-level efficiency in non-camera fields too. That processor and RAM mixture make it excellent for high-end gaming – it may simply deal with Genshin Impression and Name of Obligation at maxed out settings. Severe avid gamers would possibly discover the show somewhat on the smaller aspect, however the mixture of a vibrant show and stereo audio system makes this an ideal machine for consuming content material and watching exhibits.
There are many AI instruments on board, starting from writing to look and enhancing, and so they all work briskly too, on prime of Xiaomi’s HyperOS which sails alongside easily on prime of Android 15. That bigger battery additionally implies that the Xiaomi 15 fixes the largest shortcoming of the Xiaomi 14 – the 5240 mAh battery will simply see you thru barely greater than a day of hefty use and the bundled 90W will get it absolutely charged from zero in about 45-50 minutes, and expenses it as much as 50 per cent in about 15-20 minutes. It is a correct flagship, with no compromises, and because of its measurement, it’s straightforward to make use of and carry!
Xiaomi 15 Evaluation: Closing Verdict
The Xiaomi 15 is obtainable in a single RAM and storage variant of 12 GB/ 512 GB for Rs 64,999, which is down from the Rs 69,999 worth of the Xiaomi 14, fairly an achievement.
At that worth, it’s a nice worth for cash for anybody in search of a high-end flagship available in the market, even in the event you ignore the Leica angle (why would you? However simply saying…).
It’s extra reasonably priced than even the OnePlus 13, which begins at Rs 69,999 for a 12 GB/ 256 GB mannequin. The Leica cameras would possibly get highlighted within the advertising and marketing, and they’re excellent performers too, particularly if you’re into avenue images and love the deep contrasts which are typical of the model, however we predict that they’re simply part of what’s an excellent flagship at a really aggressive worth.
The Xiaomi 15 is due to this fact a really compelling proposition for not simply anybody in search of a compact telephone with nice cameras, however really for anybody in search of a premium flagship on a comparatively tight price range. It’s pocket-friendly in each sense of the time period.
