REVIEW: Xiaomi 15's big battery, standout cameras raise the bar for compact flagships
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REVIEW: Xiaomi 15's big battery, standout cameras raise the bar for compact flagships
Arthur Fuentes,
ABS-CBN News
Published Mar 11, 2025 08:15 AM PHT
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Updated Apr 23, 2025 07:46 PM PHT
The Xiaomi 15 compact flagship. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
The Xiaomi 15 compact flagship. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — The Xiaomi 15 is a phone that packs almost all the features you want in a flagship in a compact form factor, and then some.
MANILA — The Xiaomi 15 is a phone that packs almost all the features you want in a flagship in a compact form factor, and then some.
It has the latest and fastest chipset, generous amounts of memory and storage, a bright and vibrant screen, a large capacity battery, and excellent Leica-branded cameras--all in a package that's easier to hold than a typical midrange range or even entry-level phone.
It has the latest and fastest chipset, generous amounts of memory and storage, a bright and vibrant screen, a large capacity battery, and excellent Leica-branded cameras--all in a package that's easier to hold than a typical midrange range or even entry-level phone.
If you need details, here you go:
If you need details, here you go:
- • Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset,
- • 12 GB of RAM
- • up to 512 GB of storage
- • 6.36 AMOLED screen, with 3200 nits ultra-bright, 2670 x 1200, 460 ppi (1.5k resolution) and a 120Hz refresh rate
- • 5,240 mAh battery
- • Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset,
- • 12 GB of RAM
- • up to 512 GB of storage
- • 6.36 AMOLED screen, with 3200 nits ultra-bright, 2670 x 1200, 460 ppi (1.5k resolution) and a 120Hz refresh rate
- • 5,240 mAh battery
I like how "big" the battery is on this phone. Compact phones always seem have this problem of not having enough power to last through the day. I know, because I've been using one for several years now -- I like how easy it is to put in a pocket. But the Xiaomi 15 seems to have solved this problem with a high capacity 5,240 mAh battery.
I like how "big" the battery is on this phone. Compact phones always seem have this problem of not having enough power to last through the day. I know, because I've been using one for several years now -- I like how easy it is to put in a pocket. But the Xiaomi 15 seems to have solved this problem with a high capacity 5,240 mAh battery.
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Leica-branded cameras on the Xiaomi 15 compact flagship. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Leica-branded cameras on the Xiaomi 15 compact flagship. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN NewsTo give you an idea, the much larger Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra only has a battery with a 5,000 mAh capacity. And just to be clear, the battery is not itself physically big, the silicon carbon battery is just able to store more power.
To give you an idea, the much larger Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra only has a battery with a 5,000 mAh capacity. And just to be clear, the battery is not itself physically big, the silicon carbon battery is just able to store more power.
A higher-capacity battery coupled with a smaller screen that needs less power means the Xiaomi 15 can last much longer without needing to be recharged.
A higher-capacity battery coupled with a smaller screen that needs less power means the Xiaomi 15 can last much longer without needing to be recharged.
I've been using this as a daily driver for the last few days, and I've been unable to kill it with normal use. Shooting photos and videos, browsing social media, watching videos, listening to music, using several messaging apps, and even using it as a wifi hotspot for several hours-- I did all of this in one typical day and the phone still had more than enough juice at the end of the day to keep going.
I've been using this as a daily driver for the last few days, and I've been unable to kill it with normal use. Shooting photos and videos, browsing social media, watching videos, listening to music, using several messaging apps, and even using it as a wifi hotspot for several hours-- I did all of this in one typical day and the phone still had more than enough juice at the end of the day to keep going.
The other secret weapon of this compact phone is its imaging capabilities. Compact phones, even flagship series compact phones, are sometimes kitted with lower-spec cameras. But on the Xiaomi 15, the cameras are just excellent.
The other secret weapon of this compact phone is its imaging capabilities. Compact phones, even flagship series compact phones, are sometimes kitted with lower-spec cameras. But on the Xiaomi 15, the cameras are just excellent.
If you need the details, here you go again:
If you need the details, here you go again:
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- • 50 MP Leica main camera, f/1.6 with OIS, 23mm equivalent focal length
- • 50 MP Leica 60mm telephoto f/2
- • 50 MP Leica ultra-wide camera f/2.2 14mm equivalent
- • 50 MP Leica main camera, f/1.6 with OIS, 23mm equivalent focal length
- • 50 MP Leica 60mm telephoto f/2
- • 50 MP Leica ultra-wide camera f/2.2 14mm equivalent
Yes, all those cameras are 50 megapixels and all were co-developed with Leica.
Yes, all those cameras are 50 megapixels and all were co-developed with Leica.
Here are some sample shots.
Here are some sample shots.
Pasig River Espalanade photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Pasig River Espalanade photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Pasig River Espalanade photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Pasig River Espalanade photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Intramuros photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Intramuros photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
UP Diliman photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
UP Diliman photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Sunset photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Sunset photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Macro photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Macro photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Cat photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Cat photo taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Selfie taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News
Selfie taken with the Xiaomi 15. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN NewsI was surprised at how good the photos came out, especially the night shots. Even the 5x zoomed shots of the Binondo welcome arch captured from the Pasig River Esplanade were good. Xiaomi also packed in a lot of photography presets like 'long exposure' and 'supermoon' to make shooting more fun.
I was surprised at how good the photos came out, especially the night shots. Even the 5x zoomed shots of the Binondo welcome arch captured from the Pasig River Esplanade were good. Xiaomi also packed in a lot of photography presets like 'long exposure' and 'supermoon' to make shooting more fun.
The rear cameras can also record 8K videos at 24fps for that cinematic look, or a more standard 30 fps. They can also capture 4K at up to 60 fps.
The rear cameras can also record 8K videos at 24fps for that cinematic look, or a more standard 30 fps. They can also capture 4K at up to 60 fps.
Up front meanwhile, is a 32MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and 21mm focal length. Selfie shots were also very good, even those taken at night.
Up front meanwhile, is a 32MP camera with an f/2.0 aperture and 21mm focal length. Selfie shots were also very good, even those taken at night.
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In terms of design, however, the Xiaomi 15 looks practically the same as the Xiaomi 14. This is not necessarily bad, as the previous generation was already a very good looking device. Samsung and Apple have also taken this path in their smartphone designs, opting to upgrade the innards and the software, while keeping the design similar to the previous generation.
In terms of design, however, the Xiaomi 15 looks practically the same as the Xiaomi 14. This is not necessarily bad, as the previous generation was already a very good looking device. Samsung and Apple have also taken this path in their smartphone designs, opting to upgrade the innards and the software, while keeping the design similar to the previous generation.
The biggest changes from the 14 to the 15 were the battery and the cameras. The Xiaomi 14 had a smaller capacity 4610 mAh powerpack. Xiaomi also switched from a 75mm telephoto lens with a 3x zoom rating on the 14 to a shorter 60mm lens with a 2.6x zoom rating on the 15. Despite this, the 5x zoom pics on the 15 still look very good.
The biggest changes from the 14 to the 15 were the battery and the cameras. The Xiaomi 14 had a smaller capacity 4610 mAh powerpack. Xiaomi also switched from a 75mm telephoto lens with a 3x zoom rating on the 14 to a shorter 60mm lens with a 2.6x zoom rating on the 15. Despite this, the 5x zoom pics on the 15 still look very good.
No phone in 2025 (or laptop for that matter) seems complete without packing something called AI, and the Xiaomi 15 is no exception.
No phone in 2025 (or laptop for that matter) seems complete without packing something called AI, and the Xiaomi 15 is no exception.
Aside from the usual Gemini features that all new Android phones have been shipped with, Xiaomi also touts its "HyperAI," which helps users write and generate text, transcribe audio into text, translate face-to-face conversations, interpret calls and conferences, generate subtitles, and much more.
Aside from the usual Gemini features that all new Android phones have been shipped with, Xiaomi also touts its "HyperAI," which helps users write and generate text, transcribe audio into text, translate face-to-face conversations, interpret calls and conferences, generate subtitles, and much more.
I honestly have not been able to find any occasion to actually test any of these features on the phone, as I prefer to use AI apps on the desktop. I don't really write anything on the phone or rely on it to transcribe interviews — I use Turboscribe for that.
I honestly have not been able to find any occasion to actually test any of these features on the phone, as I prefer to use AI apps on the desktop. I don't really write anything on the phone or rely on it to transcribe interviews — I use Turboscribe for that.
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However, many users will find the AI photo shooting and editing features in Xiaomi's HyperOS 2 useful and even fun.
However, many users will find the AI photo shooting and editing features in Xiaomi's HyperOS 2 useful and even fun.
I found the blur function, which lets you adjust the amount of background blurring on a portrait, useful. The sky function lets you change the sky into something more vibrant or add some wonky faux 'Milky Way' into your shot--yeah like you really could take something like that. The extend function, which lets you expand the frame of your photo, is useful for extending simple things like clouds and trees but could result in creepy stuff when you're extending hands, limbs and even people.
I found the blur function, which lets you adjust the amount of background blurring on a portrait, useful. The sky function lets you change the sky into something more vibrant or add some wonky faux 'Milky Way' into your shot--yeah like you really could take something like that. The extend function, which lets you expand the frame of your photo, is useful for extending simple things like clouds and trees but could result in creepy stuff when you're extending hands, limbs and even people.
For those who already own a 14, there is not much reason to upgrade to the 15. Sure, the 15 has a better processor and a beefed-up battery, but that's basically it. The Xiaomi 14 recently got software updates, and it now also has the AI goodies of the 15.
For those who already own a 14, there is not much reason to upgrade to the 15. Sure, the 15 has a better processor and a beefed-up battery, but that's basically it. The Xiaomi 14 recently got software updates, and it now also has the AI goodies of the 15.
People who are looking to get a new compact flagship meanwhile will have a lot to like about the Xiaomi 15. It's a great looking phone; it's light and compact but doesn't compromise on power and features. And the new battery also makes it a solid performer — you can use it all day and it won't die on you—unless maybe you're a hardcore gamer or you shoot hours-long videos.
People who are looking to get a new compact flagship meanwhile will have a lot to like about the Xiaomi 15. It's a great looking phone; it's light and compact but doesn't compromise on power and features. And the new battery also makes it a solid performer — you can use it all day and it won't die on you—unless maybe you're a hardcore gamer or you shoot hours-long videos.
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