At a look
Knowledgeable’s Score
Professionals
- Unimaginable digicam efficiency
- Glorious display screen
- Strong battery life & quick charging
- Silky efficiency
Cons
- Some design backsteps
- Not the very best Android pores and skin
- Blended bag of AI options
Our Verdict
The Xiaomi 15 Extremely is one other glorious flagship smartphone and comes with plenty of upgrades on the similar value as its predecessor. It’s one other images wizard and this ought to be the principle purpose to purchase it over the likes of Samsung, Apple and Google. It’s not all plain crusing with some questionable design modifications and software program points. Nonetheless, once you issue the Images Equipment, that is nonetheless the very best digicam telephone you should purchase.
Worth When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Greatest Pricing At present
Xiaomi’s top-of-the-line smartphone as soon as once more will get a worldwide launch and the 15 Extremely claims to be the top of cell images.
It has quite a bit to stay as much as following the wonderful Xiaomi 14 Extremely, in addition to sturdy competitors from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely and Apple iPhone 16 Professional Max.
Like many 2025 flagships, it’s not an overhaul in any method in comparison with its predecessor, however the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is likely one of the finest telephones you should purchase, and never simply when it comes to images – and whether or not you resolve to purchase the optionally available Images Equipment, which is its superpower.
These refinements on an already sensible telephone come on the similar value, £1,299 with double the storage by default than key rivals.
Design & Construct
- New colourway
- Nonetheless a beast
- Non-compulsory Images Equipment
On the entire, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely seems to be and seems like its predecessor. Like plenty of rivals, a case of small tweaks quite than a design overhaul.
As you’ll count on, the design revolves across the large round ‘volcano’ digicam module on the again. Basically, I favor a smaller digicam bump however actually the entire level of this handset is its images prowess, so it will get a free go.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The digicam bump itself, aside from being huge, is one piece of Gorilla Glass 7i surrounded by a nano-texture bezel and a pink ring. No less than that’s the case on my black mannequin. The white choice and the brand new two-tone Silver Chrome colourway don’t have a pink ring.
Nonetheless, I’d wager the nano-texture, watch-like bezel can have the identical challenge, which is attracting and trapping tiny bits of dust. I additionally favor the trapezoid structure of the lenses on the 14 Extremely however this can be a minor gripe.
Whereas I believe the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is one other hanging wanting telephone, I’m not so eager on the black or white colors this yr. The black of my pattern is a tad sparkly and the brand new glass fibre floor is extraordinarily slippery.
It’s a disgrace after the superior, camera-like vegan leather-based of the 14 Extremely, which you’ll solely get on the two-tone mannequin this time. Even then, a former colleague who’s testing that mannequin experiences that the silver part feels very plasticky.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
The chance of customers maintaining it in a case appears excessive although, and elsewhere, issues are as high-end as you’d count on. I just like the cross-hatched energy key, the matt black aluminium body (silver on the others) with its beveled edges avoiding the pattern of utterly flat sides, which I’m not so eager on.
In case you’re questioning if the 15 Extremely has some form of built-in digicam button just like the iPhone 16, it doesn’t. It’s because Xiaomi affords a Images Equipment. This yr it’s a ‘Legend Version’ – extra on this later.
You get Xiaomi Defend Glass 2.0 on the entrance and an IP68 mud and water resistance ranking. Total, the telephone feels well-made and really sturdy. A transparent silicone case is included within the field.
In fact, it’s a little bit of a beast at 226g (or an additional 3g for Silver Chrome) so maintain this in thoughts.
Display screen & Audio system
- 6.73-inch AMOLED
- 1-120Hz refresh fee
- All Round Liquid Show
- Stereo audio system
The show within the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is successfully the identical as its predecessor. You get a big 6.73-inch AMOLED panel with a 3200×1400 decision (making it 522ppi), a 1-120Hz dynamic refresh fee and loads of different spectacular specs.
A small improve this yr is a better peak brightness of 3200 nits however that’s up from 3000, so it’s not noticeable.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s hardly a shock Xiaomi has caught with this glorious show although, and I nonetheless love the All Round Liquid Show which basically means the glass on the entrance is curved on the edges, however the panel beneath is flat, providing you with the very best of each worlds.
It’s crisp as you want with punchy colors, glorious distinction and baggage of brightness. I’d say the principle factor to ask your self is whether or not you desire a display screen this massive. If not, the Xiaomi 15 may swimsuit higher with its extra manageable 6.36-inch show.
One key improve to the telephone is the addition of an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. I discovered the 14 Extremely’s superb already, however the 15 Extremely’s is undoubtedly tremendous fast and dependable.
As with the 14 Extremely, the stereo audio system are formidable with glorious readability and energy. They’re among the many finest audio system I’ve ever examined on a telephone and the 15 Extremely has Hello-Res and Hello-Res Audio Wi-fi certifications.
Specs & Efficiency
- Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB/1TB storage
- The newest connectivity
It’s no shock to see that the Xiaomi 15 Extremely comes packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset like different flagship Android telephones in 2025.
You continue to get a really wholesome 16GB of RAM and the selection of 512GB or 1TB of speedy UFS 4.1 storage, relying on the place you reside. I received’t be shocked if the UK simply will get the smaller storage choice once more.
You received’t be shocked once I let you know efficiency is top-notch and the 15 Extremely can deal with day-to-day duties with out breaking a sweat. All the pieces is silky easy and lightning quick.
The telephone has a RAM extension characteristic which may add, theoretically, a further 6GB. That is on by default on my pattern.
Chris Martin / Foundry
In fact, it’s centered on digicam skills however with the mix of its glorious display screen and highly effective core specs, the 15 Extremely is a wonderful gaming telephone as nicely. The primary draw back on this respect is the digicam bump getting in the way in which when holding it in portrait orientation.
The 3D Twin-Channel IceLoop cooling system does a very good job of stopping the telephone getting too scorching throughout demanding duties.
Remaining core specs are sturdy beginning with Wi-Fi 7, an improve to Bluetooth 6.0 and Twin-SIM which now contains eSIM (optionally for each).
You additionally as soon as once more get an IR blaster which I personally discover to be an actual boon for controlling my TV when distant controls are saved out of attain of a toddler or are merely misplaced.
Xiaomi 15 Extremely benchmarks
Cameras
- 4 rear cameras
- New 200Mp periscope telephoto
- 32Mp entrance digicam
- Images Equipment accent is a secret weapon
The camera-led design isn’t only for present, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely goals to be the top of cell images with its barrage of 5 cameras, 4 of that are on the rear.
All the pieces right here has as soon as once more been co-engineered with Leica, the long-lasting German digicam and lenses firm.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
True to 2025 flagship type, there’s not an enormous quantity of change from the 14 Extremely. The primary one is the brand new 200Mp periscope telephoto lens. It has a shorter 4.3x zoom than the 14 Extremely’s 5x however it’s bought a bigger sensor, a better decision and a quicker aperture. Xiaomi says the general result’s higher, significantly in low mild conditions.
The opposite three rear cameras stay at 50Mp, providing you the mix of a essential digicam, ultrawide and floating telephoto. They’re basically the identical as final yr, though the variable aperture of the principle digicam has gone, in favour of a set f/1.63.
The thought right here is to provide you a DSLR-like expertise the place you’ve bought a number of totally different focal lengths (or lenses) at your disposal however with out the effort (and price) of carrying all that equipment and swapping lenses over for various photographs.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
As soon as once more, Xiaomi has achieved a very good job with the digicam app, offering each a straightforward to make use of set of buttons and instruments and likewise a Professional mode for individuals who need to tinker. You don’t should be a images knowledgeable to get nice photographs from the 15 Extremely, simply mess around with the totally different accessible focal lengths relying on what you’re attempting to seize.
To some extent, the telephone will select the correct digicam for you. For instance, mechanically switching into macro mode so it doesn’t essentially matter in case you don’t know what the distinction between 23mm and 35mm means on the principle digicam when tapping the 1x.
Similar to the 14 Extremely, outcomes are very spectacular right here certainly. Xiaomi and Leica have achieved a very nice job of consistency throughout the 4 cameras, significantly with color accuracy which is a matter we’ve seen in varied telephones over time.
You possibly can snap away with any digicam with confidence you’re going to get an in depth, well-exposed picture with glorious dynamic vary – all with the choice of taking pictures in Leica Genuine or Vibrant modes.
I’d say the ultrawide is the weakest of the 4 however that’s unsurprising because it’s the one one with out OIS (optical picture stabilisation) and a few weaker specs once you dive into the small print. It’s under no circumstances dangerous, however the others are extra spectacular and are prone to get extra use anyway.
I personally discovered myself utilizing the principle digicam and 3x floating telephoto essentially the most, although I’m disillusioned that the variable aperture of the principle lens is gone. The f/1.63 aperture offers a particularly brief depth of discipline which may be overkill for lots of conditions. It does usually imply you don’t want to make use of a portrait mode, although, and in case you do there’s each Grasp Portrait and Leica Portrait with varied settings accessible.
As talked about, the brand new 200Mp periscope telephoto is the principle change this yr and although it affords 4.3x zoom quite than 5x, I didn’t discover this an issue. The element on provide is probably incredible (in case you can maintain the telephone nonetheless sufficient) and may be the distinction between getting a shot or not – eg, capturing wildlife.
It’s equal to 100mm and you may digitally zoom quite a bit additional with usable outcomes if you should. Its low mild efficiency is superb, as proven within the examples the place I used to be standing behind a gig venue, but capable of get some nice snaps of band members.
As soon as once more, the entrance digicam is strong with numerous element, an automated crop relying on how many individuals are within the shot, adjustable portrait mode and extra. The telephone can be no slouch in the case of video, capable of document in as much as 8K/30fps and varied settings accessible to you. My check footage was extremely easy, detailed and vibrant.
A be aware on the Images Equipment, which I’ve briefly examined and can assessment individually quickly. This yr it’s referred to as the ‘Legend Version’ though there is no such thing as a common mannequin or in any other case, I’m instructed. It’s basically the identical because the 14 Extremely model and likewise is available in at £179.
You add a case to the telephone, then slide the digicam grip onto the top of the telephone and it plugs into the USB-C port. This provides not solely a correct strategy to maintain the telephone as if it have been a digicam however provides options like a spring-loaded zoom, two-stage shutter, customisable wheel and video document button.
There are additionally a collection of removable rings and this time round there’s additionally a removable thumb grip, two totally different optionally available shutter button add-ons and the battery which tops the telephone up is bigger at 2000mAh.
I had some small niggles with early testing such because the zoom management being a bit wobbly (which I didn’t discover on the earlier model) and the very fact it solely comes on this jazzy pink accent color.
Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless a standout characteristic which actually transforms the 15 Extremely into what seems like a correct digicam. And in case you’re not bothered, you then don’t have to purchase one.
Battery Life & Charging
- 5410mAh battery
- 90W wired charging
- 80W wi-fi charging
Issues are largely the identical in the case of this part of the assessment. The charging speeds at 90- and 80W for wired and wi-fi charging are equivalent to final yr’s 14 Extremely.
The battery itself is bigger at 5410mAh (up from 5000mAh) – although the Chinese language model has 6000mAh – and the PCMark battery check enchancment is healthier than that extra capability would recommend. It lasted a really spectacular 17 hours which is over 4 and a half hours greater than its predecessor.
It will be good, after all, to see Xiaomi utilizing extra silicon carbide (SiC) know-how to push the capability additional – just like the OnePlus 13 – however stamina is strong right here with the ten% included. I can simply get two days from the telephone if I’m not utilizing it excessively for demanding duties.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Again to charging and it’s comprehensible that Xiaomi has saved the speeds the identical. There are quicker telephones on the market for wired however 90W is lots quick sufficient for most individuals, and method forward of the likes of Apple and Google.
In my testing, utilizing Xiaomi’s 90W HyperCharge adapter, it went from lifeless to 42% in simply quarter-hour and to 72% in 30. Not as spectacular because the 14 Extremely however that has a smaller battery, after all.
There’s no charger within the field this time round, a minimum of not with my pattern. So an official 120W charger is £59 (90W mannequin is awol) whereas the 80W Adaptive Wi-fi Charging Stand is £79.
As soon as once more, keep in mind that the digicam bump might trigger a difficulty with non-Xiaomi wi-fi chargers.
Software program & Apps
- HyperOS 2
- Android 15
- 4 OS updates
With the Xiaomi 15 Extremely, you get HyperOS 2 – that is Xiaomi’s pores and skin excessive of Android 15 and is actually the brand new model of MiUI.
Total, the interface seems to be and feels the identical as the primary model of HyperOS. That is to say that it’s pretty clear wanting, operates in a short time and is usually intuitive relying on which OS you’re transferring from.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
In case you’re new to this UI you then’ll must spend some time getting used to issues just like the cut up notification and fast settings panes which sit both aspect of the punch gap digicam, like iPhones.
The current apps view can be various, with a grid and apps that should be flung sideways to shut quite than upwards. Xiaomi nonetheless provides a good bit of bloatware with apps like Spotify, Fb, AliExpress, LinkedIn, TikTok and others all pre-installed.
Xiaomi additionally has loads of its personal apps, a lot of which duplicate the Google suite, so really feel superfluous.
As you may count on, AI is the large information right here with a protracted checklist of options from assist writing, decoding, picture modifying and extra. My overarching drawback with these is determining the place and the way they work, and even realizing they exist.
There’s little in the way in which of steering from the software program and also you may not even see the HyperAI part of the settings menu. Even right here, there’s not likely sufficient rationalization of how you can use a few of the options, however happily, Google Gemini and options like Circle to Search are constructed into the telephone, so I unsurprisingly ended up utilizing these much more.
For my cash, contemplating the camera-forward design of the telephone, the AI instruments within the Gallery Editor are essentially the most helpful. Annoyingly, they require downloading plug-ins to work in addition to signing right into a Xiaomi account. As soon as the faff is out of the way in which, you get issues like improve, develop, erase and extra.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It’s a combined bag when it comes to usability and outcomes. The Erase plug-in, for instance, wouldn’t initialise correctly for starters. The Broaden choice accommodates usually AI errors in case you look carefully, whereas altering the sky (with a great deal of totally different choices) labored very nicely in my testing.
I think about, for most individuals, merely utilizing the Improve choice as a one-tap method of constructing snaps look higher would be the hottest. However just like the Gemini challenge, Google already has higher and extra refined AI picture modifying instruments accessible, to not point out the plethora of picture modifying apps on the market.
The state of affairs with software program assist stays at 4 years of OS updates and 6 years of safety updates. It’s a bit behind the likes of Samsung, Google and Apple so if that is essential to you then take into account choices with longer assist.
Worth & Availability
There’s excellent news right here as Xiaomi has saved the worth of the Xiaomi 15 Extremely the identical as its predecessor.
This implies you may get one from £1,299 in case you’re pleased with the 512GB mannequin, which I think about can be fantastic for most individuals. Nonetheless, in case you’re nervous about filling that with images – a authentic fear for this telephone – then you possibly can splash out on the 1TB mannequin for £1,499.
The caveat right here is that you should spend further to get the Images Equipment, although I believe that’s nicely value it in case you’re into the images aspect of issues – particularly since no rivals have something equal.
Evaluating the Xiaomi 15 Extremely to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Extremely and it’s slightly costlier, however the least expensive S25 Extremely at £1,249 solely has 256GB of storage. The 512GB is £1,349 so Xiaomi affords good worth right here.
The most cost effective iPhone 16 Professional Max is £1,199 however once more it’s bought 256GB storage and the 512GB is £1,399.
You should buy the Xiaomi 15 Extremely from the official Mi retailer and it’ll doubtless be accessible from the likes of Amazon, too.
Chris Martin / Foundry
Do you have to purchase the Xiaomi 15 Extremely?
On the entire, the Xiaomi 15 Extremely is one other glorious flagship smartphone, which arrives with plenty of upgrades.
It’s iterative in comparison with the 14 Extremely however that’s very a lot a pattern of 2025 flagships, so it’s no totally different in case you have a look at different Android rivals from the likes of Samsung.
The 15 Extremely is one other masterclass of smartphone images, now boasting a 200Mp periscope telephoto digicam together with three different glorious rear cameras – although it’s a disgrace the principle digicam has misplaced its variable aperture characteristic.
As soon as once more, the optionally available Images Equipment is the Extremely’s secret weapon in comparison with rivals. It actually does really feel like a DSLR and produces many outcomes to the extent.
Elsewhere, the 15 Extremely affords nearly every little thing you could possibly ask for from a flagship in case you’re happy with a chunky handset. The display screen is great, battery life is improved, charging remains to be speedy and efficiency is silky easy. Smaller particulars like an IR blaster and the most recent connectivity, together with Hello Res audio additionally add worth.
HyperOS isn’t the very best Android pores and skin and Xiaomi doesn’t provide assist so long as the likes of Samsung and Google, so bear this in thoughts. It’s additionally a disgrace to search out just one colourway with the vegan leather-based rear cowl.
Nonetheless, the 15 Extremely is a formidable and extremely fascinating flagship. I’d simply take into account getting a 14 Extremely at a lower cost contemplating how comparable the 2 are.
Specs
- Android 15 w/ HyperOS 2.0
- 6.73in WQHD+ AMOLED 1-120Hz show, 300Hz contact sampling, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, HDR10+
- In-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor
- Xiaomi Defend 2.0 glass entrance
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- 16GB RAM LPDDR5X
- 512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 non-expandable storage
- 50Mp, f/1.63 essential digicam with OIS
- 50Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide digicam
- 50Mp, f/1.8 telephoto 3x digicam with OIS
- 200Mp, f/2.6 periscope 4.3x cameras with OIS
- 32Mp, f/2.0 front-facing digicam
- Twin audio system with Dolby Atmos
- Hello-Res & Hello-Res Audio Wi-fi certification
- 5G
- WiFi 7
- Bluetooth 6.0
- USB-C port
- IR blaster
- NFC
- Twin-SIM (inc eSIM)
- 5410mAh battery
- 90W quick charging
- 80W wi-fi charging
- 10W reverse wi-fi charging
- IP68
- 161.3 x 75.3 x 9.35mm
- 236g
- Launch colors: Black, White, Silver Chrome