The Xiaomi 15 series has officially launched in India, starting at Rs 64,999. The lineup includes two models, the Xiaomi 15 and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, each catering to different user needs. The standard Xiaomi 15 offers a flagship experience at a more accessible price, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is designed for those seeking a true high-end flagship, complete with an advanced camera system. We spent a week testing the Xiaomi 15, and here’s our in-depth review of how it performs in real-world usage.
Xiaomi 15 design and display:
The Xiaomi 15 features a 6.36-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 1200 x 2670 pixel resolution, offering a compact yet premium visual experience. The LTPO technology ensures smooth refresh rate adjustments for better power efficiency, while the AMOLED panel delivers deep blacks, vibrant colors, and excellent contrast. Despite its smaller size, the display remains sharp and immersive, making it perfect for gaming, streaming, and daily use. With high brightness levels and great viewing angles, the Xiaomi 15’s screen is a standout feature, offering flagship-level quality in a more compact form factor.
The Xiaomi 15 immediately feels familiar, echoing the compact and premium design of its predecessor. Weighing just 191 grams, its aluminum chassis strikes the perfect balance between sturdiness and lightweight comfort. The matte finish not only enhances grip but also minimizes fingerprints, addressing a key drawback of the more slippery Xiaomi 14. The square camera module maintains a sleek, minimalistic look, though Xiaomi’s decision to position the flash separately on the rear panel slightly disrupts the otherwise clean design. Fortunately, the phone retains its IP68 rating, ensuring water and dust resistance without compromising on portability.
Xiaomi 15 camera:
The Xiaomi 15’s camera setup delivers impressive versatility, offering a well-rounded photography experience. The 50MP main shooter captures sharp and detailed images with excellent dynamic range, ensuring vibrant colors and balanced exposure. The 60mm telephoto lens allows for high-quality zoom shots, maintaining clarity even at moderate distances. Meanwhile, the 14mm ultrawide sensor is great for capturing expansive landscapes with minimal distortion. Selfie enthusiasts will appreciate the 32MP front camera, which produces crisp and well-balanced images, even in challenging lighting conditions. Overall, Xiaomi 15 holds its own as a strong camera phone, delivering flagship-level performance across different shooting scenarios.
Xiaomi 15 performance:
The Xiaomi 15 is a powerhouse, thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and up to 16GB of RAM. Whether multitasking, gaming, or handling intensive apps, the phone delivers smooth and responsive performance with minimal lag. The chipset ensures excellent power efficiency while maintaining top-tier speeds, making everyday use seamless. Gaming enthusiasts will appreciate the fluid gameplay, even in demanding titles, with no noticeable frame drops or overheating. With this hardware setup, the Xiaomi 15 stands out as a flagship performer, capable of handling anything you throw at it with ease.
Powered by HyperOS 2.0 (based on Android 15), the Xiaomi 15 guarantees four years of OS updates and six years of security patches, aligning with industry leaders. HyperOS 2.0 offers extensive customization options but comes with a few drawbacks, including pre-installed apps—especially Google’s—which cannot be removed. Xiaomi’s AI features, such as AI Writing and AI Interpreter, rely on cloud processing. While functional, they lack the seamlessness and refinement of Samsung’s locally processed AI, making them feel less intuitive in comparison.
Xiaomi 15 battery:
The Xiaomi 15 packs a solid 5,240mAh battery in the Indian variant, which, while slightly smaller than the 5,400mAh unit in the Chinese model, still delivers impressive endurance. The device easily lasts a full day on moderate to heavy use. The 90W wired charging ensures ultra-fast top-ups, reaching significant charge levels within minutes, while the 50W wireless charging adds convenience for those who prefer a cable-free experience. Overall, the Xiaomi 15 offers a reliable battery life with flagship-level fast-charging capabilities, making it a great choice for power users.
Conclusion:
At Rs 64,999, the Xiaomi 15 stands out as a top-tier compact flagship, offering a well-rounded mix of powerful performance, premium design, and versatile cameras. Its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, fantastic display and fast-charging capabilities make it a compelling choice for users seeking a high-end yet compact smartphone. While HyperOS 2.0 brings customization and longevity with software updates, the presence of bloatware and cloud-based AI features may not appeal to everyone. However, with its sleek build, IP68 durability, and impressive hardware, the Xiaomi 15 remains an excellent premium choice for those who prefer power in a smaller package.
