The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was one of many finest telephones of 2024, thanks in no small half to an superior digicam system that took a number of the finest photographs I’ve ever seen from a digicam telephone. At the center of this was its 1-inch sort picture sensor ,which is bodily bigger than the sensors present in nearly every other telephone. The end result? Great-looking photographs in quite a lot of situations.But it is 2025 now and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is right here to try to tempt extra photographers away from Apple’s clutches. The telephone has had quite a lot of updates, together with the highly effective Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a number of recent AI expertise — as a result of apparently all telephones have to have AI inbuilt whether or not you prefer it or not. And whereas the digicam hasn’t seen many updates, there are a couple of tweaks to maintain photographers . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra world model was introduced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It goes on sale within the UK and wider Europe later this month for £1,299 with 512GB of storage or £1,499 if you would like 1TB. As with different Xiaomi telephones, the 15 Ultra is not going to be in the stores within the US however for reference that base UK worth converts to $1,630 or AU$2,630.Here are crucial issues to know concerning the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with 4 generations of OS updates together with six years of safety assist. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe digicam hasn’t modified a lot, but it surely’s nonetheless goodI was stunned by the huge picture sensor contained in the 14 Ultra’s principal digicam, so I suppose I ought to be happy that the 15 Ultra has saved it. But I’m a bit dissatisfied that it is actually the identical mannequin — the Sony LYT-900. Sure, it is an incredible sensor and never that outdated, however I had hoped to see Xiaomi take its successful system from final 12 months and make it even higher.
I Took Hundreds of Photos With the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. These Are My Favorites
See all photographs Maybe the lens is healthier? On paper, I’d really argue there’s been a downgrade. The 14 Ultra had a uncommon variable aperture, which went from large open at f/1.6 and will shut all the way down to f/4. It allowed for engaging star-burst results when capturing factors of sunshine at the hours of darkness. The 15 Ultra has gotten rid of this and as a substitute has a set f/1.6 aperture — Xiaomi says it could actually obtain the identical results “through software optimization and algorithm updates.” Sigh.Read extra: Best Android Phone of 2025When you can regulate the depth of subject power (the quantity of background blur behind your topic) within the portrait mode, I’ve discovered a few issues flawed. First, the picture with the blur would not save while you take it, so it seems to be the identical it doesn’t matter what faux aperture you set it as. This might be simply early software program issues and I’m certain they will be mounted. But the dearth of actual adjustable aperture additionally means you aren’t getting the great star bursts on avenue lights at evening anymore. Here’s the 15 Ultra’s digicam app. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThose starbursts are in all probability a distinct segment factor to be enthusiastic about, however they honestly remodeled the look of evening photographs and the impact was one among my favourite issues about capturing with the 14 Ultra. To see this type of innovation chucked out in favor of a software-based “solution” is irritating. It’s additionally precisely what I complained a lot about final 12 months, with AI being the one space the place corporations are innovating now. Ironically, in that article, I applauded Xiaomi for the 14 Ultra, however I will not be capable to with this new mannequin. It’s additionally odd to see that the ultrawide digicam’s aperture has been dropped from f/1.8 to f/2.2. The solely precise improve to the cameras I can see is that the telephoto zoom decision is increased for better-looking zoomed-in photographs. It’s nonetheless a robust digicam setup although and I’ve taken some photographs in my testing that I like. As with the 14 Ultra, the digicam is licensed by Leica, and there are some Leica-approved shade types to select from, my favourite of which stays the excessive distinction black and white mode. It’s nice for punchy monochrome avenue images. You can see a choice of my check photographs right here, but additionally try my longer gallery of examples when you’re eager to see extra of this digicam in motion.
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Vibrant colours and nice publicity and element from this out of doors shot taken on the principle digicam. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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I liked utilizing the Leica excessive distinction black and white mode for punchy avenue images in Edinburgh. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Taken in uncooked and edited in Lightroom, the digicam’s potential to seize stunning mild and shadow has resulted in a great-looking pic of my gorgeous ball of pleasant furry marvel. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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This evening time shot from the principle digicam seems to be superior, although I’d prefer it much more with a delicate star burst on the road mild. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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Using the telephoto zoom lens, I’ve been in a position to fill the body with the awkwardness of this avenue performer forcing two strangers to carry arms for an prolonged interval. Andrew Lanxon/CNET
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And right here the telephoto zoom has captured a pleasant pure bokeh round this couple. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe Photography Kit is a good additionYes, you should purchase the 15 Ultra with the identical Photography Kit that was provided with final 12 months’s mannequin. It features a case, a powered grip with shutter button and an attachable ring that permits you to use common 67mm images filters. The grip is superior. It clicks in neatly, provides some additional battery life to the telephone and the shutter button and settings wheel will let you shoot similar to you had been utilizing a compact digicam. It’s far more comfy than taking photographs with out it.It’s been up to date too, with a brand new thumb grip attachment to make it a bit simpler to carry. There’s additionally a soft-touch, screw-in shutter launch button, which is larger and simpler to shortly discover and hit than the unique button it screws into. If you are eager on utilizing your telephone for avenue or journey images, the Photography Kit is value getting. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra carrying its non-compulsory Photographer’s Kit. Andrew Lanxon/CNETThe processor is a powerhouseThe Snapdragon 8 Elite chip discovered contained in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has already impressed us on telephones just like the OnePlus 13 and its energy is noticeable right here, too. It put in notable scores on our benchmark exams, whereas on a regular basis operation is quick and lag-free. It’s nice for players, too, with demanding titles like Genshin Impact enjoying easily at max settings and at 60 frames per second. Qualcomm’s 8 Elite chip is not simply designed for uncooked energy although, it is constructed for higher AI processing. Which brings me neatly on to…There are a bunch of recent AI expertiseGoogle Gemini and Gemini superior are inbuilt as customary, together with the conversational Gemini Live and Circle to Search. But Xiaomi has thrown in a couple of of its personal options, too. There’s a generative textual content device to create blocks of textual content primarily based in your prompts, together with a useful device that creates textual content transcriptions from voice recordings — nice for a busy tech journalist.There’s additionally quite a lot of image-focused AI instruments for increasing a picture utilizing generative AI, eradicating issues in a scene or just sharpening the image. The AI instruments all work in addition to I’d hope, but it surely’s value maintaining in thoughts that each one of them require an web connection in an effort to use — together with the voice transcript device, for some purpose. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra runs on Android 15. Andrew Lanxon/CNETAn acceptable software program assist intervalThe 15 Ultra launches with Android 15 on board, and Xiaomi guarantees it will obtain 4 generations of Android updates together with six years of safety assist. It’s lower than what each Samsung and Google present for his or her flagships (seven years of each software program and safety assist) and I’d definitely have preferred to see Xiaomi match, and even beat its rivals right here, particularly contemplating the excessive worth of the telephone. Still, a shelf lifetime of six years is first rate sufficient (a 3rd of individuals maintain their telephones for 3 years or longer) and matches what OnePlus provides for its current OnePlus 13 flagship. The remainder of the telephone is stable tooBattery life is nice, however not excellent. On our demanding video streaming check it held out higher than the OnePlus 13 however did not do fairly in addition to the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You can safely count on a day of use however as with all telephones you will in all probability wish to give it a full cost in a single day. The 6.7-inch show is brilliant, vibrant and pin sharp. Videos look nice, as do colourful cellular video games. The telephone is IP68 rated to assist maintain it protected from spilled drinks, too. All in all, it is a telephone that ticks just about each field you’d count on from one among as we speak’s flagships. I simply want I’d seen extra innovation within the cameras for this 12 months’s mannequin. Still, there isn’t any query that it nonetheless takes very good photographs that rival any of as we speak’s flagships. If you are on the lookout for a high-performance Android telephone to make use of as your principal digicam in your travels, it is definitely value contemplating.
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