Xiaomi 15 Ultra leaks in hands-on image

24 January 2025
The camera island is unsurprisingly huge.

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Unpopular opinion but I really wish they would bring back the rear screen from 11 Ultra. Its way more handy that the gimmick critics say it is.

    Hart932, 31 Jan 2025My 13Ultra got the new updates to match my other 14Ultra in... moreNope. I've translated this from a recent comparison by one of the largest Chinese tech reviewers on Weibo

    'Briefly talk about the camera experience of Xiaomi's three generations of Ultra]
    Xiaomi 15 Ultra is coming next month according to the news. We also reviewed and briefly experienced the previous three generations of Ultra (Xiaomi 12S Ultra, Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Xiaomi 14 Ultra).

    Let's start with a set of 30x telephoto. Because the 13 and 14 generations have AI calculations (but the 14 Ultra has a larger aperture and a more advanced algorithm, so the picture has more details), the overall picture has less noise and a heavier sense of smearing. Which style do you prefer (Figure 1-Figure 3).

    If you only look at the watermark, the 13 and 14 Ultra will show a 30x equivalent focal length of 720mm, while the 12 SUltra shows a 5x equivalent focal length of 120mm, and the "XIAOMI" character does not use the same 200w logo as the Xiaomi 15, so you can only edit it further in the album (Figure 4-Figure 6).

    Through the analysis of the previous 6 pictures, we can find a "problem" with Xiaomi cameras, that is, new algorithms and new functions will only be in new phones and will not be delegated to old models (for example, the functions of the 15 series were not delegated to the 14U). In order to show you the changes in the camera software functions of the three generations of Ultra more intuitively, we have directly cut out a set of function comparison charts (Figure 7-Figure 9) for you to take a brief look at the differences (comparing 12SUltra, 13Ultra and the latest 14Ultra):

    1. The missing functions of 12SUltra include "super telephoto", metering weight, and main camera default focal length; 13Ultra lacks metering weight and main camera default focal length (depth of field extension is a hardware function, not a software function loss);
    2. The 12SU wheel zoom lacks the commonly used telephoto focal length gear (directly changes from 10x to 120x), and 12SU and 13U lack EV portable adjustment;
    3. The portrait mode of 12SU and 13U cannot call all focal lengths, and only has the switch for full-body mode;
    4. The professional mode of 12SU and 13U lacks "parameter presets" and "style presets"
    5. 12SU and 13U lack "Master Shooting", professional mode video recording lacks Master LUTs...

    After sorting out a set of things, we can see that the old version of Xiaomi Ultra is seriously lacking in software functions compared to the new phone. As a mobile phone with imaging as its core selling point, subjectively the old Ultra is not as good as the new mid-range in daily photo-taking experience. This is a problem that Xiaomi's camera software department has currently ignored. There may be many considerations for separating the system software department and the camera software department, but we still hope to ensure the software experience of the "Ultra" imaging flagship. What do you think of this? Welcome to comment and discuss rationally'

      Aierlan, 26 Jan 2025The biggest issue I feel with Xiaomi's flagship series... moreMy 13Ultra got the new updates to match my other 14Ultra in camera software feature. Especially in AI edititing which was not in the option when I first bought the 13U.

        Flat screen please, 27 Jan 2025How much longer will it take the Chinese producers to stop ... moreDunno what the big fuss when most people will slap on a cover or case irrespective of how the phones rear feels when naked.

          Anonymous, 24 Jan 2025No reasonable person would buy a 5 year old smartphone from... moreThey do buy, they do. Hence Samsung does not care improving at all.

            • F
            • Flat screen please
            • nGK
            • 27 Jan 2025

            How much longer will it take the Chinese producers to stop making slippery phones thanks to those annoying curved screens?

              • T
              • TechNerd
              • eCg
              • 27 Jan 2025

              You see, most innovations nowadays are from Chinese manufacturers like Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and ZTE. Special mention to ZTE's nubia as the brand with one of the most hardware innovations this year from their RedMagic lineup (Carbon Silicon, Liquid Metal cooling, UDC etc), as well as the unique camera sizes(35mm,70mm etc) on their Z60/Z70 Ultra series.

              There's less innovation on Western inspired brands like Samsung, Google and Asus as you can and they're charging overprices products too which is a shame.

                • W
                • WhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhy
                • 00$
                • 26 Jan 2025

                jiyen235, 26 Jan 2025they wouldn't even notice the 1 inch to 1/1.28" d... more
                Well, Samsung is still ahead in terms of device+OS support. Granted, the chinese brands are catching up in that regard as well though, and pretty fast too. And in terms of software features they always seem to be able to pleasantly surprise us. Gotta love e.g da Floss man's demonstration of Xiaomi's second space feature, a.k.a. thought protection. Use one finger(print) to unlock your main profile, and use another finger(print) on the lock screen to access your alternative profile, which completely lives in its own address space. Samsungs safe folder feature can't hold a candle to that, because you have to access the safe folder through the main profile |:( ..

                But in all honesty, I didn't know you'd get all antsy over the term "second fiddle phone", because, in case you didn't notice, ppl do get annoyed over the fact that several chinese brands have the nasty habit of keeping their Ultra (Leading) versions on the internal market (Looking at you Vivo, Oppo//OnePlus, ZTE being especially egregious with their differentiation between Ultra (international) and Ultra Leading (china)...). That will defo make ppl feel like they're being baited&switched.

                Thus, you can't put all of the blame for lack of foreign market penetration by the chinese brands solely on the ""normies"", because, ""normies"" and their associates read smartphone-focused news on websites as well. They know there are better specced Ultra versions out there, yet the chinese brands in general still are reluctant to release those globally as well, for some shortsighted PowerPoint-managers'//Spreadsheet-marketeers' BS reason, precluding any opportunity to build//strengthen their market clout with halo products in foreign markets. So, ""normies"" will be doing what they usually do then; between the next-to-best Pro version of any of the chinese brands or the best//Ultra version of the established bands, they'll choose the latter, despite the former phones still being damn good phones on their own.

                  DarlingYuck, 25 Jan 2025I see no different between this phone and xiaomi 12S Ultra.... moreYour life is a flop too, get off this site and the internet

                    YUKI93, 26 Jan 2025If this is real, then I'm totally excited with this re... moreAnd perhaps it'll be dual periscope on 16 ultra with ov50n 3x + hp9/hp5 5x, both with alop and main cam with ov50x

                      If this is real, then I'm totally excited with this release. Vivo already got things right with the X90 Pro+ before going for a single telephoto camera setup with the X100 Ultra. Meanwhile, Xiaomi is still keeping the dual telephoto camera setup since the 13 Ultra.

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • n12
                        • 26 Jan 2025

                        DLT 501, 25 Jan 2025Are you serious? Who uses a phone beyond 3 years. Max is 4 ... moreMe. I'm using a phone that's like 5 years old and it still works fine 👀

                          WhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhy, 25 Jan 2025 Or, maybe, those ""normies"" don'... morethey wouldn't even notice the 1 inch to 1/1.28" downgrade of the X200 Pro, they wouldn't even notice the UW cam downgrade either from the X100 Ultra. They wouldn't care about any of the differentiating factors, apart from design ones. Normies just want the latest and greatest BECAUSE it's the latest and greatest, not because they need one, but to prove a point to others for clout or to think they have the best so they don't need anything else, or some combination of both. This second fiddle phone you're talking about is better than the S25 Ultra. So i don't see why you're acting like it's a huge issue.

                          Besides, these "second fiddle phones" cost like the second fiddle if not a lower third tier phone, yet outclass/compete with the best of the best. So in terms of actual use cases, these are excellent phones. People don't buy them because they don't have the Samsung/Apple name and will use any number of excuses to justify their purchase.

                          "ooo China bad"
                          "oo bad camera, all hardware no software"
                          "omg the software is SO bad!"

                            • J
                            • John
                            • me9
                            • 26 Jan 2025

                            DarlingYuck, 25 Jan 2025I see no different between this phone and xiaomi 12S Ultra.... moreYeah, Chinese OEMs don't learn, that's why Samsung, Apple and some other "non Chinese" OEMs are implementing some of the innovations that these Chinese OEMs brought. Also, Samsung forgot to upgrade their camera the past 3 years. 🤡

                              • J
                              • John
                              • me9
                              • 26 Jan 2025

                              MBS, 25 Jan 2025More like camera continent >_Feel free to design a better device with those huge camera modules inside, Mr. Engineer....oh wait...

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • JyL
                                • 26 Jan 2025

                                Anonymous, 24 Jan 2025Why buy this if you can get the X8 Ultra or X200 Ultra for ... morex200 ultra won't be officially sold out of china, therefore won't get a warranty and won't support esim and android auto.
                                x8 ultra wasn't confirmed yet to be available out of china, but in case it does, it would be the better option. There are rumors either way.
                                at the moment, this Xiaomi is the only Chinese ultra flagship confirmed for non Chinese markets.

                                  The biggest issue I feel with Xiaomi's flagship series is updates. And I'm not talking about android updates here but the fact that they do not usually bring camera modes and freatures from future models to older flagship models. For example, just today a large reviewer in China compared the last 3 ultra models (14, 13, and 12s) and basically they had very different camera apps with none of the new software features being added to older models via update. The Xiaomi 14 last year also was launched with no master cinema mode for video and never got it despite lower tier models like the Civi which was launched 5 or 6 months later not getting it. This is a bit frustrating as they should really at least give good camera support to their flagship models in terms of updates. What's the point of an update if it doesn't actually bring anything useful and the main purpose of purchasing an ultra model is the cameras.

                                    I'm going to buy one of these

                                      • W
                                      • WhyWhyWhyWhyWhyWhy
                                      • iyT
                                      • 26 Jan 2025

                                      Hûh?... What in the, I don't even...What kind of stupid argument is thát? How often does it occur that a smartphone spontaneously dies within the 1 to 2 year timeframe? And why should one _not_ hold on to his//her device for more than e.g. 4 years, if it still fits the need?

                                      For example, mom is still rocking that SGS7 Edge of hers after 8 years already. Yeah, I know; plz keep the smartassery to yourselves because I can see the "old in the tooth" comments coming from a mile away. The phone still feels solid enough to not (physically) fall apart or softlock//brick itself at any random moment, and Facebook, WhatsApp, and Chrome are still working fine. Sorry scammers, no banking on her phone :P.

                                      Point is, smartphone HW can last for quite some time, and having official support for an extended period of time is therefore quite a nice thing to have, without having to deal with custom ROMming. That is however, reflected in the pricing. It's pretty much like the situation with//on Linux. Ppl tend to forget that HW//device manufacturers that offer good FOSS support do factor that into the pricing, because of the age-old but always relevant adage of TINSTAAFL.

                                        • M
                                        • MBS
                                        • n91
                                        • 25 Jan 2025

                                        More like camera continent >_

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