Hello, hello! I am Yuan Hehe, please follow me, more exciting content is waiting for you

The Mi 15 Ultra has a powerful processor and AI skills. Xiaomi wants it to be the champion of the photography phone world, but the camera hasn’t received many updates.

The Xiaomi Mi 14 Ultra is one of the best phones of 2024, thanks to a fantastic camera system that’s one of the best I’ve seen in a bunch of phones for taking photos. At its core is its 1-inch image sensor, which is physically larger than the sensors in almost every other phone.

⫸Direct Link to the Amazon Product – Click to Check It Out!

But it’s 2025, and the Mi 15 Ultra is here to try and lure more photographers away from Apple phones. There are multiple updates to the phone, including a powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and a host of new AI skills. Because apparently all phones need to have AI built in whether you like it or not. And while the camera hasn’t seen a lot of updates, there are still a few tweaks to keep photographers interested. Let’s take a look at them now.

camera

I was impressed by the huge image sensor on the Mi 14 Ultra’s main camera, so I should have been happy to learn that the Mi 15 Ultra has retained it. However, I was a little disappointed because it still uses the same lens, the Sony LYT-900 ultra-large bottom image sensor. Of course, this is indeed an excellent sensor.

Maybe the lens will be improved? But looking at the specs, I feel like it’s a step backward. The Mi 14 Ultra had a rare variable aperture that ranged from a wide open f/1.6 to a closed f/4, which captured light and produced a charming starburst effect when shooting at night. The Mi 15 Ultra abandoned this design in favor of a fixed f/1.6 aperture. Xiaomi claims that similar effects can be achieved through “software optimization and algorithm updates”, but I can only sigh.

⫸Direct Link to the Amazon Product – Click to Check It Out!

While you can adjust the intensity of the background blur (also known as depth of field) in Portrait mode, I found a few issues here. First, images with the blur effect cannot be saved, and no matter how you adjust the settings, the final effect is the same. This may just be an issue with early software, and I am sure it will be improved in the future. However, the loss of a truly variable aperture also means that you can no longer get that beautiful starburst effect when shooting street lights at night.

These starbursts may be a niche feature, but they really do make night photos look new and are one of my favorite features when using the 14 Ultra. It’s a bit disappointing to see this innovation abandoned in favor of relying on software-based “solutions”. It also reminds me of a point I made last year: AI seems to be the only area of ​​innovation for companies these days.

I also found it a little odd to see the ultra-wide camera’s aperture drop from f/1.8 to f/2.2. The only noticeable upgrade seems to be the increased resolution of the telephoto lens, which makes the zoomed-in picture look sharper.

⫸Direct Link to the Amazon Product – Click to Check It Out!

Still, this camera system is very capable. I took some really nice shots in my testing. Like the 14 Ultra, this camera is Leica-certified, with a few Leica-approved color looks. My favorite is the high-contrast black-and-white mode, which is perfect for powerful monochrome street photography.

Photography Kit

Yes, you can buy a Mi 15 Ultra with the same photography kit as last year’s model. It includes a housing, a power grip with a shutter button, and an attachable ring that lets you use regular 67mm photography filters.

It shoots neatly with the button, adds a bit of extra battery life to the phone, and the shutter button and settings wheel allow you to shoot like you would with a mirrorless camera. It’s much more comfortable than without it.

It’s also been updated with a new thumb grip attachment to make it easier to hold. There’s also a soft-touch screw-on shutter release button, which is larger and easier to find and hit than the original button that screwed in. If you’re keen on using your phone for street or travel photography, the Photography Kit is worth buying.

processor

The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, and the performance it brings is evident here as well. It achieved remarkable scores in my tests, and everyday operations were fast and lag-free.

It’s also great for gamers, and it’s great for demanding games like Genshin Impact. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip is designed not only for mobile power, but also for better AI processing.

at last

The Mi 15 Ultra’s battery life is good, but not great, but it outlasted the OnePlus 13 and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in our demanding video test.

You can expect to get a full day of use out of it, but like all phones, a full charge overnight is recommended. The 6.7-inch display is bright, vivid, and sharp, making it great for watching videos and colorful mobile games.

⫸Direct Link to the Amazon Product – Click to Check It Out!

The phone also has an IP68 protection rating, which means it can effectively resist splashes of drinks. Overall, the Xiaomi Mi 15 Ultra meets almost all the requirements of today’s flagship models.

Friends who like this article, please remember to reward it, and don’t forget to forward, like, comment and follow it.