Xiaomi 15 Ultra rumors: it could be the best camera phone of 2025

The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was one of the most exciting phone launches of 2024 thanks to its stellar camera setup that allowed it to take stunning images. It included a 1-inch image sensor, which is physically larger than almost any other smartphone camera sensor, and it made a difference. That larger size, along with the wide, variable aperture, allows it to capture more light to produce some of the best results I’ve seen from a camera phone.

It also included a high-end processor for lightning-fast performance, a vibrant display, and a battery that lasted most of the day. All in all, it was a great flagship Android phone for those who want to focus on taking pictures.

But the world of technology does not stay long and rumors are already circulating about what we could see from its successor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. This then is what we know about this potential photographic powerhouse. We’ll be updating this article over the coming weeks and months as more rumors emerge, so be sure to check back regularly for more information on the phone.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra release date and price

The 14 Ultra was announced in China in February and was first shown to Western press, including CNET, at Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona in February. It wasn’t until late March that I was able to get my hands on it to try it out. While Xiaomi is yet to confirm the phone’s launch date, all signs suggest that the company is planning a similar timeline for the follow-up.

It has already removed the base Xiaomi 15 and 15 Pro for the Chinese market, again, following the same schedule as the 14 and 14 Pro last year. The 14 Ultra went on sale in the UK for £1,299 and while it’s not officially on sale in the US, that price works out to $1,640. There’s been no word on any significant pricing changes from the company, so we’d expect the 15 Ultra to fall in that ballpark.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra Cameras

Xiaomi’s Ultra line has always been focused on photography, and the 14 Ultra includes not only a huge image sensor, but also a variable aperture and an impressive 5x optical zoom. We strongly expect the 15 Ultra to be similarly aimed at photographers, and indeed early leaks support this.

Known forecaster Reported Ice Universe that the 15 Ultra’s periscope telephoto camera will feature a massive 200-megapixel image sensor. That’s a big step up from the 50-megapixel sensor found in the 14 Ultra. The downside? Ice Universe also says that the optical zoom will drop from 5x to 4.4x, although the additional resolution will likely allow for greater digital zoom without a noticeable loss in quality.

This change to the telephoto camera unit is apparently supported by leaked renders of the phone. by SmartPrixshowing an off-center camera unit at the top. Another leaked image (via GSM Arena) that supposedly shows the inside of the camera setup indicates that it is off-center to make room for its large periscope unit. The renders, if accurate, also confirm the continued relationship between Xiaomi and Leica, so expect high-quality optical lenses and various color presets from Leica to bring your images to life.

So far there are a few more rumors about the rest of the cameras, including changes to the main camera and its 1-inch sensor. I certainly hope Xiaomi continues to use at least this sensor size, if not even larger, and maintain its variable aperture, which can range from wide open at f/1.6 to more closed at f/4, resulting in attractive starbursts. around points of light at night.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra processor, screen and battery

Since the 14 Ultra featured the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor when it launched, it’s safe to assume that Xiaomi will equip its new model with Qualcomm’s next-generation silicon. Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 8 Elite in October and we expect to start seeing it in most flagship phones that launch in the next six months.

In addition to an expected overall increase in speed, the 8 Elite processor promises improved web browsing speed and is particularly geared toward AI tasks, including powering on-device AI tools like Samsung’s Galaxy AI. At its launch event, Qualcomm showed off an AI-powered tool that adds artificial lighting to your selfies, which CNET’s David Lumb called “delightfully fun and useful” when he tried it out for himself. We expect to see a variety of AI tools on board Xiaomi’s 15 Ultra, both for image manipulation and virtual assistance.

Rumors tentatively suggest that the 15 Ultra’s screen will remain at 6.7 inches, like the 14 Ultra, although the battery may be expanded to 6,000 mAh, up from 5,000 mAh. It remains to be seen if this is still the case on models outside of China, as the 14 Ultra had a slightly larger battery size for models sold within China.

The phone is expected to still offer 90W wired charging, although I would like to see the company go further. Some of Xiaomi’s other phones, including the 11T Pro, released in 2021, offer 120W fast charging and it’s disappointing not to see such speeds on the company’s flashiest and most expensive model.