Xiaomi 15 Ultra is out today, and let me tell you, I’ve been testing and using this phone for the past two months now, and it impressed me in so many different areas. But today, we’re going to be focusing on cameras only, so let me be the first one to show you how this phone performs in real life. Let’s go!
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Camera Test
This year, Xiaomi challenged me to write a blog about their latest flagship, testing low-light portraits and everything to see the limits of its cameras. The photo processing is so good on this phone! I tried its cameras in hot and humid tropics, and cold street photography missions, and tested the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in various extreme environments and lighting scenarios. A little spoiler: Xiaomi did its magic with the Leica color processing this year. This is truly a one-of-a-kind blog about the phone camera, and it might be just the best one I put on my website. Let’s begin!
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Main Camera Hardware
This year, Xiaomi put a 1-inch main sensor on this camera, and it’s a real large sensor with a large aperture, which is really important if you want to get more light into the sensor. Because of that, you can actually increase your shutter speed without sacrificing light. That’s not only useful for low-light shots but also for day photography when you’re taking photos of fast-moving subjects, which helps you avoid any motion blur in the shot. This is really good for action photography, as you will see further in this video.
70mm Telephoto Camera
If we move into the telephoto camera, we actually have a selection of two. One is 70mm, and it’s the most used lens for me, probably because I take a lot of portrait shots. I kind of like that close-up focal length. It also supports macro photography, which allows you to focus up to 10 cm on a subject.
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200MP Periscope Camera
Finally, there is a super telephoto lens, which is 200 megapixels. The sensor itself for the super telephoto lens is quite huge. Just visually, when I saw this phone for the first time, it was one of the first things that drew my attention. Just like the main camera, it allows you to capture more light compared to other competitors on the market, which is really important for night scenes.
Leica Photography Processing
With the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, not only do we have updated camera hardware, but there are also many changes inside the software experience. Right here, you see the photography mode with all auto settings. Just like on the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, we have the switch between Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic.
I get so many comments from you guys asking which mode I prefer. Let me tell you, sometimes I like to go with Leica Vibrant if I want punchy colors and more vivid contrast. But if I want more toned-down, neutral tones with rich contrast, I go with Leica Authentic. It all comes down to the results you want to achieve, and it’s great that we have quick access to that mode right in the camera app.
HDR Processing
If we press the button up here, we have the HDR switch, which is really nice. I like that it’s quickly available—you don’t have to dig deep into the settings. Sometimes, the phone can turn it on or off automatically when you take a shot of a backlit subject. The way it processes HDR doesn’t elevate the shadows too much, making the photo look natural rather than fake. It actually looks like a proper camera shot. I always prefer to keep it on auto, but if I see some odd HDR results, I disable it.
Street Photography & Fast Shot Mode
Xiaomi made the camera interface more accessible and easy to operate with just one hand, which I love for street photography. Have a look—if I swipe up, I get all the manual and creative modes. There’s also a fast shot option, which gives you access to a Leica-style interface. Imagine walking on the street, seeing something beautiful, and just swiping up to fast shot—ready to go. It’s highly customizable too. I like keeping my shot slightly underexposed for daytime photos to get that rich contrast.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 1-inch Camera & Leica Colors
The 1-inch main camera sensor brings tons of details and a wide dynamic range. Just look at the telephoto camera shot—the dynamic range is insane. The Leica photo processing is just the cherry on top, and we’re just scratching the surface here.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra Portrait Mode Test
Another mode I really use a lot on this phone is portrait mode. The color processing is amazing, just like in the previous Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which was the first Chinese phone I tried on my channel. I always took that phone with me and captured thousands of portrait photos. The portrait mode works with all focal lengths and lighting scenarios, even challenging backlit scenes.
The 70mm lens is perfect for that. However, it’s not limited to 70mm—you can also use portrait mode with the main camera, which creates real optical blur. When you combine the 1-inch sensor with portrait mode, the shots look like they were taken with a full-frame camera.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra 70mm Lens Super Macro Mode Test
Another reason why I think this is a perfect run-and-gun camera is macro mode for the telephoto camera, which doesn’t distort the subject’s proportions. Have a look—if I take a photo with the 1x camera, the shot looks cool, but when I switch to Super Macro mode, I can get really close to the subject and capture insane details without disturbing wildlife. I zoom in and see every tiny detail on an insect’s shell. Macro photography on this phone is probably one of my favorite features.
Wide Angle vs 70mm Macro Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison: macro shots with the super wide-angle camera vs. the 70mm macro. Same subject, same angle, but different results. And I have a cinematic video test coming up next!
200MP Super Telephoto Lens Photography
The 200MP super-telephoto lens is not only powerful for filming videos but also allows you to capture high-resolution shots. You can extract more details and crop images while retaining clarity. The camera setup makes this phone versatile, not just for photography but also for capturing incredible moments. Explore More
