The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has officially launched in China, giving a first look at what to expect ahead of its anticipated global release at MWC 2025. The flagship smartphone brings a series of hardware upgrades, including improvements to its display, performance, and camera system.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra features a 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200×1440 pixels. It supports a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz and boasts a peak brightness of 3,200 nits. Protection comes via Xiaomi’s Shield Glass 2.0. Colour options include Black and White, alongside a two-tone Silver Chrome Edition, which incorporates aerospace-grade glass fiber and PU leather. The latter is also the heaviest, weighing 229g, with a thickness of 9.48mm.
Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Elite chipset, the device is available with 12GB or 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and storage options of 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB of UFS 4.1. The battery capacity stands at 6,000mAh, supporting 90W wired and 80W wireless charging.
Running on Android 15 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 2, the 15 Ultra introduces refinements in system navigation, security, and AI-driven functionalities. HyperCore enhances performance across multiple fronts, while HyperAI integrates system-wide tools such as AI writing assistance, text summarisation, transcription, and translation capabilities. Xiaomi promises four generations of Android system updates and six years of security patches for the Xiaomi 15 series.
The camera system, developed in collaboration with Leica, retains a quad-camera setup. The primary shooter continues to use the 50MP 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor with a 23mm lens, though this year it adopts a fixed f/1.63 aperture instead of the variable f/1.6-f/4.0 aperture seen on the previous model. The mid-zoom module maintains the 1/2.51-inch IMX858 sensor but now features a 70mm f/1.8 lens instead of the prior 75mm focal length. The ultrawide camera shifts from a 12mm f/1.8 lens to a 14mm f/2.2 lens, retaining the 1/2.51-inch Samsung JN5 sensor.
The most notable upgrade is in the telephoto department, where Xiaomi introduces a 100mm f/2.6 periscope lens paired with a 200MP Samsung HP9 1/1.4-inch sensor. This marks a substantial improvement over the previous generation’s 120mm zoom camera, which used a smaller 1/2.51-inch sensor. On the front, the device includes a 32MP 21mm f/2.0 selfie camera.
Pricing for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in China, regardless of colourway, starts at CNY6,499 (~RM3,985) for the 12GB/256GB variant, CNY6,999 (~RM4,292) for the 16GB/512GB model, and CNY7,799 (~RM4,782) for the 16GB/1TB option. Xiaomi has also introduced a Photography Kit accessory, priced at CNY999 (~RM612), to complement the Ultra model’s imaging capabilities.
With MWC 2025 approaching, further details on the global release are expected soon. Meanwhile, Xiaomi Malaysia has confirmed that the Ultra will launch locally on 2 March 2025.
(Source: Xiaomi China [official website])
