Xiaomi 15 Ultra

[Mal Reynolds]

Tie in with Leica branding...looks like it uses the Leica Lux app - but for Android.

Four lenses:

• 1.0" 23mm/F1.63 50mp Summilux main lens
• 1/1.4" 100mm Telephoto
• 70mm/f1.8
• 14mm

https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15-ultra/

...and the Photography Kit with grip, shutter, ISO controls, filter ring.

https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15-ultra-photography-kit/

Hooo boy. Can't wait for the reviews & samples.

 

[Mark Sloe]

Kind of disappointing they dropped the main camera's variable aperture.

Basically, you get better super-tele at the cost of variable aperture on the main camera, and lower spec UWA with smaller sensor, 2mm narrower and 2/3 stop less bright.

Apart from that, there is a new processor, GPU and better battery. Considering how discounted the X14U is, it makes it a serious value proposition.

 

[breschdlingsgsaelz]

Looks interesting, but the gap between 23 and 100mm is really huge and unfortunately my most often used range. The 70mm with it's tiny sensor is not really useful IMHO.

The X200 Ultra is more interesting here but does not come to Europe it seems.

 

[Mal Reynolds]

Interesting review:

A bit weird the reviewer didn't talk about the grip attachment in use.

It is too bad about the variable aperture. I guess the lens is designed to have everything in focus all the time and bokeh is solely software driven.

Also yes a big gap from 23 to 100mm. Solution does appear to be again, software driven. Main camera at lower focal lengths does look good though, but so is my iPhone. I do wish my iPhone had a better sensor at longer focal lengths.

 

[André BARELIER]

Review is up at GSM Arena.

 

[Vermont3133]

And there is more!!

The phone / 'real camera' differences are getting blurrier! :-D

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Xiaom...or-and-fast-lens-to-smartphones.971102.0.html

 

[Mal Reynolds]

And there is more!!

The phone / 'real camera' differences are getting blurrier! :-D

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Xiaom...or-and-fast-lens-to-smartphones.971102.0.html

Yes. I think Sony is also working on something Xperia/phone-ish related...interesting times.

 

[breschdlingsgsaelz]

And there is more!!

The phone / 'real camera' differences are getting blurrier! :-D

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Xiaom...or-and-fast-lens-to-smartphones.971102.0.html

This looks very much like the same concept that the Sony QX100 had 12 years ago - and which flopped miserably.

I also fail to see much benefits in this kind of thing. Let's see.

 

[PHAER]

Just bringing a bit more comprehensive specs, from GSM arena:

Main camera = 1" type sensor, 23mm, f/1.6. Again the "type" word included, so probably a little less than 1" useful size, but still plenty good as main camera.

Tele 1 = 1/2.5" sensor, 70mm equiv., f/1.8

Tele 2 = 1/1.4" sensor, 100mm, f/2.6 (for me the most interesting feat.)

Ultrawide = 1/2.76", 14mm, f/2.2

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_15_ultra-review-2802.php

--

Paulo Henrique Pereira

Explore Paulo Henrique Pereira’s 950 photos on Flickr!

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[M SN]

For a Raw shooter having 70mm to 100mm modules makes no sense, no versatility there at all. It is almost a remnant module from the 14 Ultra where it was the same sensor but with a 75mm lens and a 125mm lens, just that he is 70mm now.

The UW is also now a larger sensor, using a 1/2.76", far from top what a top of the line phone should use.

The attraction is the 100mm lens with the 1/1.4" sensor because it is known to be very good from the Vivo series which used it before

 

[Mal Reynolds]

Comparison with iPhone 16 Pro:

My takeaway is the 15 Ultra looks better in some situations, 16 Pro more consistently decent shots. Feels like Xiaomi has some software work to do. I doubt Apple is standing still.

 

[Djingonthenet]

Tie in with Leica branding...looks like it uses the Leica Lux app - but for Android.

Four lenses:

• 1.0" 23mm/F1.63 50mp Summilux main lens
• 1/1.4" 100mm Telephoto
• 70mm/f1.8
• 14mm

https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15-ultra/

...and the Photography Kit with grip, shutter, ISO controls, filter ring.

https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15-ultra-photography-kit/

Hooo boy. Can't wait for the reviews & samples.

I won't be upgrading from the 14 Ultra, variable aperture removed from the main lens, lens and sensor remains untouched - ultrawide lens downgraded (7p-6p) as well as the sensor. Only reason to upgrade from a camera point of view is the telephoto.

 

[Djingonthenet]

Just bringing a bit more comprehensive specs, from GSM arena:

Main camera = 1" type sensor, 23mm, f/1.6. Again the "type" word included, so probably a little less than 1" useful size, but still plenty good as main camera.

Tele 1 = 1/2.5" sensor, 70mm equiv., f/1.8

Tele 2 = 1/1.4" sensor, 100mm, f/2.6 (for me the most interesting feat.)

Ultrawide = 1/2.76", 14mm, f/2.2

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_15_ultra-review-2802.php

The main is 1/0.98" in size and uses the whole sensor, the incoming Vivo x200 Ultra will have the same size as the iPhone 16 PM at 1/1.28", so this could be the only 2025 flagship with a 1" sensor on board (not heard about the X8 Ultra).

 

[Patrick T. Kelly]

Tie in with Leica branding...looks like it uses the Leica Lux app - but for Android.

Four lenses:

• 1.0" 23mm/F1.63 50mp Summilux main lens
• 1/1.4" 100mm Telephoto
• 70mm/f1.8
• 14mm

https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15-ultra/

...and the Photography Kit with grip, shutter, ISO controls, filter ring.

https://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-15-ultra-photography-kit/

Hooo boy. Can't wait for the reviews & samples.

I won't be upgrading from the 14 Ultra, variable aperture removed from the main lens, lens and sensor remains untouched - ultrawide lens downgraded (7p-6p) as well as the sensor. Only reason to upgrade from a camera point of view is the telephoto.

I agree but I'm waiting to find out more about the software improvements.

 

[Mark Sloe]

For a Raw shooter having 70mm to 100mm modules makes no sense, no versatility there at all. It is almost a remnant module from the 14 Ultra where it was the same sensor but with a 75mm lens and a 125mm lens, just that he is 70mm now.

Macro is dedicated to that 70/75mm tele on X14U/X15U with 10cm MFD vs 30 cm on the super-tele.

The UW is also now a larger sensor, using a 1/2.76", far from top what a top of the line phone should use.

It is actually smaller on the X15U from a 1/2.51" with darker lens (f2.2 vs f1.8 on the 14) and narrower at 14mm vs 12.

The attraction is the 100mm lens with the 1/1.4" sensor because it is known to be very good from the Vivo series which used it before

 

[JoeyJoJoJuniorShabbaDoo]

I won't be upgrading from the 14 Ultra, variable aperture removed from the main lens, lens and sensor remains untouched - ultrawide lens downgraded (7p-6p) as well as the sensor. Only reason to upgrade from a camera point of view is the telephoto.

Same, I made use of the variable aperture quite a bit. The "super tele" was my least used focal length, so the upgraded module of the 15U holds little excitement here.

I agree but I'm waiting to find out more about the software improvements.

I wouldn't 'hold yer breath' as they say; software updates aren't Xiaomi's forte Just looking over the GSM review, the camera UI is essentially unchanged and they've actually removed some options (night mode removed completely for example).

Also, based on the samples, it appears they may be going for the Vivo approach of higher sharpness but more smoothing. Looking at the night samples, the 15U looks quite "plasticky"; quite a bit of DNR being applied, possibly favoring high ISO, single captures with noise reduction as opposed to more stacking.

 

[PHAER]

Just bringing a bit more comprehensive specs, from GSM arena:

Main camera = 1" type sensor, 23mm, f/1.6. Again the "type" word included, so probably a little less than 1" useful size, but still plenty good as main camera.

Tele 1 = 1/2.5" sensor, 70mm equiv., f/1.8

Tele 2 = 1/1.4" sensor, 100mm, f/2.6 (for me the most interesting feat.)

Ultrawide = 1/2.76", 14mm, f/2.2

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_15_ultra-review-2802.php

The main is 1/0.98" in size and uses the whole sensor, the incoming Vivo x200 Ultra will have the same size as the iPhone 16 PM at 1/1.28", so this could be the only 2025 flagship with a 1" sensor on board (not heard about the X8 Ultra).

So on the case, the "1-inch type" is for the good haha. Doesn't the 14 ultra use the same sensor, tho?

 

[Sho-Bud]

At the end it's about image quality, which, when looking at comparisons with the 14 Ultra seems to have improved. However, my 14 Ultra is just 1 year old, I'll try to use it for a few years more. It's quality is still very good.

 

[Djingonthenet]

Just bringing a bit more comprehensive specs, from GSM arena:

Main camera = 1" type sensor, 23mm, f/1.6. Again the "type" word included, so probably a little less than 1" useful size, but still plenty good as main camera.

Tele 1 = 1/2.5" sensor, 70mm equiv., f/1.8

Tele 2 = 1/1.4" sensor, 100mm, f/2.6 (for me the most interesting feat.)

Ultrawide = 1/2.76", 14mm, f/2.2

Source: https://www.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_15_ultra-review-2802.php

The main is 1/0.98" in size and uses the whole sensor, the incoming Vivo x200 Ultra will have the same size as the iPhone 16 PM at 1/1.28", so this could be the only 2025 flagship with a 1" sensor on board (not heard about the X8 Ultra).

So on the case, the "1-inch type" is for the good haha. Doesn't the 14 ultra use the same sensor, tho?

Yes exactly the same as is the lens, minus the variable aperture which they had to remove as there wasn't enough physical space inside to fit it. Having seen the new telephoto module (which is massive) you can see why.

 

[M SN]

The UW is also now a larger sensor, using a 1/2.76", far from top what a top of the line phone should use.

It is actually smaller on the X15U from a 1/2.51" with darker lens (f2.2 vs f1.8 on the 14) and narrower at 14mm vs 12.

Sorry, I meant to say a smaller sensor.