Xiaomi's latest flagship smartphone has officially launched in China, with a global debut scheduled for this weekend at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The new Xiaomi 15 Ultra builds upon last year's successful camera-centric model with significant upgrades to its photography capabilities, particularly in low-light conditions.
Camera System Receives Major Upgrades
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra features a substantial camera upgrade with its new 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, utilizing Samsung's ISOCELL HP9 sensor. This represents a significant improvement over last year's model, offering a 4.3x optical zoom with a larger sensor and faster aperture. Xiaomi has equipped this periscope camera with specially designed 24-layer ultra-low reflection glass that reduces reflectivity to just 1.5%, enhancing image quality while improving scratch resistance. The company reportedly codenamed the device Night God internally, highlighting its focus on low-light photography performance.
Quad Camera Array Maintains Premium Design
The phone maintains the distinctive circular camera module design that resembles Leica's dedicated camera hardware, continuing the photography partnership between the two brands. While the periscope camera sees the biggest change, the other three rear cameras all feature 50-megapixel sensors. Notably, the main camera has abandoned the variable aperture technology from the previous model in favor of a fixed but fast f/1.63 aperture. The 1-inch type main sensor, a hallmark of Xiaomi's Ultra series, returns in this iteration, promising excellent image quality.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Key Specifications:
- Main Camera: 50MP with 1" sensor, fixed f/1.63 aperture
- Periscope Camera: 200MP Samsung ISOCELL HP9 sensor, 4.3x optical zoom
- Additional Cameras: Two 50MP sensors (ultrawide and short-range telephoto)
- Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Display: 6.73-inch, 1-120Hz variable refresh rate, 3,200 nits peak HDR brightness
- Battery: 6,000mAh
- Charging: 90W wired, 80W wireless
- Water/Dust Resistance: IP68 rating
- Starting Price: CNY 6,499 (~USD $893), Expected European price: €1,500
- Colors: Black, White, and Silver/Black two-tone
Performance and Display Specifications
Powering the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, ensuring top-tier performance. The device features a 6.73-inch display with a variable 1-120Hz refresh rate and increased brightness, now reaching 3,200 nits at peak HDR. Battery capacity has been significantly improved to 6,000mAh, though charging speeds remain unchanged at 90W wired and 80W wireless. The phone maintains an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.
Photography Kit Accessory
Alongside the phone, Xiaomi has announced the third generation of its Photography Kit accessory. This optional extra includes a case and camera grip, now available in a new red finish. The kit features a larger 2,000mAh internal battery that can double as a small power bank for the phone. It retains the dedicated camera controls from previous versions, including a shutter button, video button, zoom lever, and exposure dial, enhancing the device's capabilities as a photography tool.
Pricing and Availability
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has launched in China with a starting price of CNY 6,499 (approximately USD $893). It comes in three color options: a two-tone silver and black finish with a compact Ultra corner logo, plus simpler black and white models. The global launch is scheduled for March 2nd at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, where European pricing is expected to be around €1,500. The standard Xiaomi 15 will also receive its international unveiling at the same event, with an expected starting price of €1,000.
Market Positioning
Xiaomi continues to position its Ultra line as camera-focused devices that compete directly with Samsung and Apple's top models. While the 15 Ultra represents a somewhat iterative upgrade over last year's highly regarded 14 Ultra, the significant improvements to the periscope camera and low-light photography capabilities could help it maintain its position as one of the premier smartphone cameras on the market. As with previous models, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is not expected to be officially released in the United States.