Global versions of Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra with cut-down batteries unveiled

On the eve of the start of the annual MWC 2025 exhibition, the presentation of global versions of the flagship smartphones Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra took place. Both devices previously debuted on the Chinese market, and will soon be available for purchase in other regions of the world.

Image source: Xiaomi

The high-performance camera phone Xiaomi 15 Ultra debuted in China just a few days ago. The developers equipped the device with a 6.73-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 3200 × 1440 pixels, a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz and a peak brightness of 3200 cd / m². An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is integrated into the screen area. The body is made of metal and meets the IP67 dust and moisture protection standard. At the top of the display there is a hole in which a 32-megapixel front camera is located, built on the basis of the OmniVision OV32B sensor and optics with an f / 2.0 aperture.

The differences between the global version of Xiaomi 15 Ultra and the Chinese one are in the battery capacity. For the international market, the Chinese manufacturer cut the battery from 6000 to 5410 mAh. In addition, the color range was also reduced: only devices in black, white and black-gray versions will be available. The gray-green version will remain a Chinese exclusive.

The main camera combines four image sensors at once, placed in a massive round module on the back of the case. The main one here is the 1-inch Sony LYT-900 sensor with 50 MP and 23 mm Leica Summilux optics with an f / 1.63 aperture. Thanks to the wide dynamic range, the sensor is able to form high-quality images even in low light conditions. This module also allows you to choose the focal length (23, 28 and 35 mm options are available).

The main periscope camera is based on a 1/1.4-inch Samsung HP9 200 MP sensor, which is complemented by optics with an equivalent focal length of 100 mm, which provides 4.3x optical zoom. The high-resolution sensor and optics with an f/2.6 aperture not only provide 8.6x hybrid zoom, but also allow you to take better photos in low light.

In addition, there is a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera (f / 2.2) and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens (f / 1.8) with support for 3x optical and 6x hybrid zoom. The impressive configuration of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra cameras is complemented by software designed to improve the quality of photo and video shooting. The smartphone supports 8K video recording at up to 30 fps or 4K at up to 120 fps.

The camera phone’s hardware is based on the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite microprocessor, combined with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and a 512 GB or 1 TB UFS 4.1 storage device. A two-section cooling system with an evaporative chamber is provided to remove thermal energy. Autonomous operation is provided by a 5410 mAh battery with support for wired charging up to 90 W and wireless charging up to 80 W.

The more compact Xiaomi 15 was introduced in China in October last year. It boasts a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display with support for a resolution of 2670 × 1200 pixels, a variable refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz, and a peak brightness of 3200 cd / m². The screen is protected from mechanical damage by Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass. An ultrasonic fingerprint scanner is located under the screen.

The global version also had to cut the battery capacity. The Xiaomi 15 announced today will come with a 5240 mAh battery (the battery in the Chinese version has a capacity of 5400 mAh).

The hole at the top of the display houses the front camera, which is based on the 32-megapixel OmniVision OV32B40 image sensor. The main camera of the smartphone was created in collaboration with Leica. It includes three 50 MP sensors with Summilux lenses. The main 1/1.3-inch Light Fusion 900 sensor (f/1.62) with optical image stabilization is complemented by a wide-angle module based on a 1/2.76-inch Samsung Isocell JN1 sensor (f/2.2) and a 1/2.75-inch telephoto lens with a Samsung Isocell JN5 sensor (f/2.0) with floating focus and five-fold optical zoom.

The Xiaomi 15 is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, paired with 12GB of RAM and a 256GB, 512GB storage device. The power source is a 5240mAh battery with support for wired charging up to 90W and wireless charging up to 50W. In addition, support for magnetic wireless charging up to 50W is implemented.

Both smartphones run Android 15 with the proprietary HyperOS 2.0 user interface. Buyers will be able to choose between different color options for the case, and the retail price of the new products will depend on the configuration.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage will cost €1,499, while the 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage will cost €1,699. The third-generation Photography Kit accessories (camera, wrist strap, and removable grip with shutter button, video recording button, zoom and exposure control) for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will cost €199. The more compact Xiaomi 15 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage will cost €999, while the 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage version will cost €1,099.