Importance Score: 6 / 100 🟠
For those prioritizing mobile photography, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra emerges as the best camera phone available, surpassing even top-tier rivals. This flagship device redefines smartphone photography with its unparalleled camera capabilities and powerful performance, making it the ultimate choice for discerning users seeking photographic excellence.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Redefining Mobile Photography
Advantages
- Unrivaled phone cameras
- Exceptional battery performance
- Rapid operational speed
Disadvantages
- Premium price point
- Noticeable camera protrusion
- Software requires refinement
When considering top-tier smartphone cameras, brands like iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel often come to mind. However, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, from a less universally recognized company, currently holds the title for the best camera on any phone in the UK market.
For users whose primary concern when purchasing a new smartphone is camera quality, and budget is not a constraint, the £1,299 Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands as the premier option.
Xiaomi, a Chinese manufacturer with a long history in the Android smartphone sector, has been offering devices in various markets for years, oscillating between flagship and budget segments. The previous model, the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, garnered significant praise for its camera, and now the 15 Ultra elevates that standard.
Superior Camera Technology: The Sensor Advantage
In an era where most smartphones boast competent cameras, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra distinguishes itself through sensor dimensions. Its primary camera features a 1-inch sensor, a rarity in phones and considerably larger than sensors found in competitors like the anticipated iPhone 16 Pro, Galaxy S25 Ultra, or Pixel 9 Pro. This larger sensor facilitates greater light intake and data capture, enabling natural depth of field, producing the bokeh effect typically associated with full-frame cameras, thus minimizing reliance on software-driven portrait modes prevalent in phones with smaller sensors.
Xiaomi emphasizes the Xiaomi 15 Ultra’s photographic prowess by offering an optional £179 Photography Kit. This kit includes a protective case and a grip that connects via the USB-C port, providing a shutter button, zoom control, an optional thumb grip, and supplementary battery capacity. It effectively transforms the phone into a dedicated point-and-shoot camera, enhancing the photographic experience. An included wheel for adjusting ISO levels, regulating light sensitivity, further underscores its camera-centric design.
While the Photography Kit is an engaging addition, shooting without it proved preferable in testing. Utilizing the kit deactivates tap-to-focus, and manual ISO adjustments were somewhat cumbersome. The inherent appeal of the 15 Ultra lies in its automated capabilities, characteristic of smartphone cameras. Employing the grip necessitates a greater degree of user involvement and photographic expertise.
Leica Collaboration: Authentic and Vibrant Imagery
In collaboration with renowned camera maker Leica, Xiaomi integrates ‘Authentic’ and ‘Vibrant’ filters for main lens photography, offering distinct tonal variations. These filters yield results comparable to DSLRs, exhibiting excellent warmth and depth of field. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra accurately renders shadows and darkness, contrasting with iPhones that often artificially brighten images and flatten depth. With the 15 Ultra, the captured image closely reflects the real scene.
Zoom Capabilities and Enhanced Lenses
Similar to the Galaxy S25 Ultra, the 15 Ultra incorporates an ultra-wide lens alongside dual optical zoom lenses for varying focal lengths. Notably, both outperform Samsung’s offerings. It features a 50MP 3x optical telephoto lens and a 200MP 4.3x optical periscope telephoto lens. The latter contributes to the distinct camera module, accommodating the necessary sensor depth and internal mirrors.
This periscope lens represents the primary enhancement over the Xiaomi 14 Ultra’s camera system and delivers exceptional performance. The 4.3x focal length is ideal for street photography and unique perspectives. The sensor quality supports foreground or background focus, while Leica color profiles foster creative expression, making the device feel more like a dedicated camera than a phone.
Additional Features and Performance
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra includes a range of supplementary tools such as super macro mode, up to 8K video recording, and a comprehensive Pro mode with RAW image capture, providing a well-rounded user experience. During testing, the device’s camera-centric nature often overshadowed its phone functionalities.
However, the software remains a notable drawback. While improved from previous Xiaomi phones, it still presents usability issues. Xiaomi‘s modifications to Android, aimed at emulating iOS, include limiting homescreen app columns and simplifying notification interactions. In dark mode, notification text readability is sometimes compromised due to similar text and background colors.
These minor software imperfections detract from the premium feel expected at the £1,299 price point, despite the exceptional camera. Internally, the phone features a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, IP68 water and dust resistance, eSIM, Android 15 with a promised four years of updates, and a high-capacity 5,410mAh silicon-carbon battery for enhanced efficiency and longevity. It supports 90W fast charging, although a charger is not included in the box, aligning with current industry trends.
Xiaomi 15: A More Affordable Alternative
For users seeking a more budget-friendly option, the standard Xiaomi 15 is available. It omits the 1-inch sensor, but its triple 50MP cameras still offer excellent performance with Leica filters and similar photographic styles, albeit with slightly reduced versatility and image quality.
The Xiaomi 15’s 6.36-inch AMOLED display is more compact than the Ultra’s 6.73-inch screen but has a lower resolution. Battery life impressed in testing, consistently lasting two days under moderate usage. Software-related reservations, including pre-installed bloatware and occasional in-software advertisements, persist in this model as well. These are particularly unwelcome given the £899 price of the Xiaomi 15.
The £899 price tag somewhat hinders the Xiaomi 15‘s recommendation. Despite its merits, it’s priced £100 above the Galaxy S25, which offers seven years of software support, comparable camera quality, and more refined software.
Conclusion: Camera-Centric Excellence
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is primarily a camera with integrated phone functionalities. For users prioritizing photographic capabilities above all else, it will not disappoint. For general consumers, alternatives from Apple, Samsung, or Google offer compelling options at lower price points.