The Xiaomi 15 Ultra stands out in smartphone photography with its impressive 200MP periscope camera and a medium-range telephoto module, complemented by a 1” main sensor. As an all-around flagship, it features a bright display, the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite running HyperOS, and loud speakers. The 5,410mAh battery delivers exceptional endurance with fast charging capabilities. Despite some weaknesses, such as a lackluster selfie camera and video processing benefits, its camera system ranks among the best. Priced at CNY 6,500 in China for the base model, it competes well against other flagship devices like the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Honor Magic7 Pro.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra enters the smartphone photography arena with a remarkable 200MP periscope lens. In contrast to its competitors from vivo and Honor, this model also features a medium-range telephoto module. Additionally, the 15 Ultra boasts a main camera integrated with a 1” sensor.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Although this device clearly excels in photography, it also serves as a comprehensive flagship. It features a vibrant display with excellent image quality, powered by the speedy Snapdragon 8 Elite running the robust HyperOS. The audio performance from the speakers is impressive as well. The 5,410mAh battery offers exceptional longevity, and the charging capabilities are quite rapid (although optimal results require the appropriate charger).
Returning to the camera, the 1” sensor is a notable highlight in 2025. The vivo X200 Ultra uses a 1/1.28” sensor (in contrast to the X100 Ultra), the Honor Magic7 Pro is nearby with a 1/1.3” sensor, while the Oppo Find X8 Pro has a smaller 1/1.4” sensor.
vivo X200 Pro • Honor Magic7 Pro • Oppo Find X8 Pro
The Galaxy S25 Ultra features a 200MP sensor (1/1.3”) for its main camera, distinct from its periscope lens (the 111mm variant has a 50MP sensor), making it not a direct rival to the others in this group. Notably, Apple and Google have yet to incorporate 200MP sensors in any of their cameras.
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra • Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max • Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
The camera system of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra does have some shortcomings — the selfie camera could benefit from enhancements, and video processing can be refined — but it remains one of the finest options available in the market. Currently, we only have pricing information for China, set at CNY 6,500 for the base 12/256GB model, mirroring the price of last year’s Xiaomi 14 Ultra. This raises hopes that global pricing will not fluctuate, but we must wait for confirmation (the global event is scheduled for March 2).
So, will you opt for this model, or do you lean towards one of the other premium camera flagships currently available?