Latest news with #15Ultra
The Verge
2 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
May 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM EDT
Xiaomi is moving upmarket. Never mind its growing EV business, the world's third biggest smartphone manufacturer is trying to reposition itself as a premium brand to rival Apple and Samsung, and it seems to be working. In its latest earnings report Xiaomi notes its 15 Ultra flagship has sold 90 percent more than last year's 14 Ultra during its first month or so on sale, and the company now has almost ten percent of the flagship market share in China.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Yahoo
Top tech of MWC 2025: the best gadgets we saw on the showfloor
Mobile World Congress 2025 has taken the tech world by storm, with major brands choosing the huge trade show to reveal all-new mobile products, hardware that's just around the corner, and exciting concepts which give us a glimpse of the future. Digital Trends has been covering MWC 2025 on the ground and remotely, getting hands-on time with the latest tech, and interviewing key figures in the industry. After much writing, testing, and deliberation, we have settled on a final list of the best tech at MWC 2025. Is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra the best camera phone of the year? It's definitely a very strong contender, and we gave it a highly respectable 8/10 in our comprehensive review. The 15 Ultra has a multi-lens camera system designed to replicate the array of lens options a professional photographer would keep in their bag, just all wrapped up in a pocketable package. It even looks like a camera from the back. Xiaomi came to MWC 2025 with a wide array of new mobile products, including the standard Xiaomi 15, the Xiaomi Watch S4, and even a concept device where camera lenses can be magnetically attached to the back of a smartphone. Interestingly, it wasn't the only one with such a crazy concept, as you'll see shortly. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro is arguably the star device at MWC 2025 because of its general affordability, as it costs less than half the price of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and it'll be sold in the U.S. too. The great thing is, the phone looks and performs brilliantly, and it has proven to be a rock solid partner in Barcelona, capturing the event and city on its excellent camera. It's joined by the Nothing Phone 3a, which doesn't have quite the same crazy design on the back, and the camera isn't as versatile either. However, the rest is very similar including the software, which is a real Nothing phone benefit. There's some AI added in, of course, but it's intriguing and useful. Whether you choose the Phone 3a or Phone 3a Pro, we think you're going to be very happy with your decision. The Lenovo ThinkBook Flip concept is one of the most unique takes on a folding laptop design. Rather than the book-style foldable that phones and Lenovo's folding laptop have taken, it uses a vertical design that is essentially two 13-inch screens stacked on top of each other. When folded backwards, the outer display can be used to mirror the other screen, which makes it perfect for meetings and presentations. There's a few nifty software tricks, including being able to display the outer display and swiping across the hinge to 'fling' content to the outer display. The trackpad is also one of the most unique I've ever seen, as it features three different modes that offer access to a number pad and quick settings. – Nirave Gondhia The Realme Ultra concept phone is exactly the kind of madness we want at MWC. At first it's a normal looking smartphone, but attach an adaptor plate to the camera module and it'll accept a normal camera lens, creating a crazy phone/camera hybrid like nothing else. It's as unwieldy as it is impressive, and it actually works too. We took some pretty remarkable photos with the Realme Ultra concept, but it was a challenge getting to grips with the manual focus and back-to-basics stabilization. However, just the fact it exists at all means it belongs on this list, but we'll have to wait and see whether it ever becomes a product we can buy or not. Could the HMD Fusion X1 be the first smartphone tech fans will want to buy for their kids, and that your kids will be satisfied with? That's HMD's goal, and it's working with online safety experts Xplora to help create a safety-first environment that is only as restrictive as you want it to be, letting your child grow with their phone, and avoiding pointless bans or content blockers. The Fusion X1 is just the first step in a wider strategy for HMD too, which is far more than just a project to grab headlines and appease concerned parents. It's not a flagship to rival the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, but it's arguably the device which will pave the way for younger generations to own a full flagship phone in the future, and understand much more about maintaining a safe and healthy relationship with mobile tech along the way. TCL's Nxtpaper 11 Plus tablet isn't on the list because it's a tablet, but because of the screen technology it uses. The Nxtpaper panel is designed to minimize eye strain and make extended use more comfortable, which it does by switching between full color and e-paper-style monochrome, getting rid of damaging blue light in the process. TCL has made switching between the screens simple with a new button, and the 4th generation screen is almost indistinguishable from a 'regular' OLED. It's an interesting device which could take the place of your laptop and e-reader for some trips or excursions, and we always love a multi-function product. I consider myself a bit of an audiophile, though not quite to the degree that makes me annoying at parties. I appreciate good sounding music and normally gravitate toward in-ear earbud designs for daily use. Having spent a time with the Honor Earbuds Open, I find myself mystified at how it gets so much of the sound right with its open-ear design. In terms of design they strike a balance between sleek aesthetics and practicality, while I'm still a bit surprised at how much I dig the sound considering the sit on the outside of the ear. – Jason Howell Samsung teased us with a tri-fold silhouette during the Galaxy S25 launch earlier this year, but Tecno isn't hanging around, showing off its tri-fold phone at MWC – the Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2. And it's certainly a head turner, with a super slim frame making it thinner than the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate (the only tri-fold you can currently buy – in China and Malaysia). Unfolded, it's also thinner than the supremely svelte Oppo Find N5 and Honor Magic V3 book-style foldables. If this has got you salivating for a foldable phone which can open out to a super slim 10-inch tablet, wait a moment. The Phantom Ultimate 2 is just a concept for now, with no word on when/if it will be commercially available. – Jason Howell
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
I Tested the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for 2 Weeks: Here's Everything You Need to Know
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was one of the best phones of 2024, thanks in no small part to an awesome camera system that took some of the best photos I've ever seen from a camera phone. At the heart of this was its 1-inch type image sensor ,which is physically larger than the sensors found in almost any other phone. The result? Great-looking images in a variety of conditions. But it's 2025 now and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is here to try and tempt more photographers away from Apple's clutches. The phone has had a variety of updates, including the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and a host of new AI skills -- because apparently all phones need to have AI built in whether you like it or not. And while the camera hasn't seen many updates, there are a few tweaks to keep photographers interested. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra global version was announced at Mobile World Congress" target="_blank in Barcelona. It goes on sale in the UK and wider Europe later this month for £1,299 with 512GB of storage or £1,499 if you want 1TB. As with other Xiaomi phones, the 15 Ultra will not be available to buy in the US but for reference that base UK price converts to $1,630 or AU$2,630. Here are the most important things to know about the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. I was bowled over by the massive image sensor inside the 14 Ultra's main camera, so I suppose I should be pleased that the 15 Ultra has kept it. But I am a bit disappointed that it's literally the same model -- the Sony LYT-900. Sure, it's a great sensor and not that old, but I had hoped to see Xiaomi take its winning formula from last year and make it even better. Maybe the lens is better? On paper, I'd actually argue there's been a downgrade. The 14 Ultra had a rare variable aperture, which went from wide open at f/1.6 and could close down to f/4. It allowed for attractive star-burst effects when shooting points of light in the dark. The 15 Ultra has gotten rid of this and instead has a fixed f/1.6 aperture -- Xiaomi says it can achieve the same effects "through software optimization and algorithm updates." Sigh. Read more: Best Android Phone of 2025 While you can adjust the depth of field strength (the amount of background blur behind your subject) in the portrait mode, I've found a couple of things wrong. First, the image with the blur doesn't save when you take it, so it looks the same no matter what fake aperture you set it as. This is probably just early software problems and I'm sure they'll be fixed. But the lack of real adjustable aperture also means you don't get the nice star bursts on street lights at night anymore. Those starbursts are probably a niche thing to be excited about, but they truly transformed the look of night photos and the effect was one of my favorite things about shooting with the 14 Ultra. To see this kind of innovation chucked out in favor of a software-based "solution" is frustrating. It's also exactly what I complained so much about last year, with AI being the only area where companies are innovating now. Ironically, in that article, I applauded Xiaomi for the 14 Ultra, but I won't be able to with this new model. It's also odd to see that the ultrawide camera's aperture has been dropped from f/1.8 to f/2.2. The only actual upgrade to the cameras I can see is that the telephoto zoom resolution is higher for better-looking zoomed-in shots. It's still a powerful camera setup though and I've taken some shots in my testing that I like. As with the 14 Ultra, the camera is certified by Leica, and there are some Leica-approved color styles to choose from, my favorite of which remains the high contrast black and white mode. It's great for punchy monochrome street photography. You can see a selection of my test images here, but also check out my longer gallery of examples if you're keen to see more of this camera in action. Yes, you can buy the 15 Ultra with the same Photography Kit that was offered with last year's model. It includes a case, a powered grip with shutter button and an attachable ring that allows you to use regular 67mm photography filters. The grip is awesome. It clicks in neatly, adds some extra battery life to the phone and the shutter button and settings wheel allow you to shoot just like you were using a compact camera. It's much more comfortable than taking photos without it. It's been updated too, with a new thumb grip attachment to make it a bit easier to hold. There's also a soft-touch, screw-in shutter release button, which is bigger and easier to quickly find and hit than the original button it screws into. If you're keen on using your phone for street or travel photography, the Photography Kit is worth getting. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip found inside the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has already impressed us on phones like the OnePlus 13 and its power is noticeable here, too. It put in notable scores on our benchmark tests, while everyday operation is fast and lag-free. It's great for gamers, too, with demanding titles like Genshin Impact playing smoothly at max settings and at 60 frames per second. Qualcomm's 8 Elite chip isn't just designed for raw power though, it's built for better AI processing. Which brings me neatly on to… Google Gemini and Gemini advanced are built in as standard, including the conversational Gemini Live and Circle to Search. But Xiaomi has thrown in a few of its own features, too. There's a generative text tool to create blocks of text based on your prompts, along with a helpful tool that creates text transcriptions from voice recordings -- great for a busy tech journalist. There's also a variety of image-focused AI tools for expanding an image using generative AI, removing things in a scene or simply sharpening the picture. The AI tools all work as well as I'd hope, but it's worth keeping in mind that all of them require an internet connection in order to use -- including the voice transcript tool, for some reason. The 15 Ultra launches with Android 15 on board, and Xiaomi promises it'll receive four generations of Android updates along with six years of security support. It's less than what both Samsung and Google provide for their flagships (seven years of both software and security support) and I'd certainly have liked to see Xiaomi match, or even beat its rivals here, especially considering the high price of the phone. Still, a shelf life of six years is decent enough (a third of people keep their phones for three years or longer) and matches what OnePlus offers for its recent OnePlus 13 flagship. Battery life is good, but not outstanding. On our demanding video streaming test it held out better than the OnePlus 13 but didn't do quite as well as the Galaxy S25 Ultra. You can safely expect a day of use but as with all phones you'll probably want to give it a full charge overnight. The 6.7-inch display is bright, vibrant and pin sharp. Videos look great, as do colorful mobile games. The phone is IP68 rated to help keep it safe from spilled drinks, too. All in all, it's a phone that ticks pretty much every box you'd expect from one of today's flagships. I just wish I'd seen more innovation in the cameras for this year's model. Still, there's no question that it still takes superb images that rival any of today's flagships. If you're looking for a high-performance Android phone to use as your main camera on your travels, it's certainly worth considering.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a Leica-powered photo showcase
Practically every flagship phone can take a great picture. But that hasn't stopped Xiaomi from continuing its partnership with legendary camera maker Leica to produce a photo powerhouse in the new Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite chip with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, it goes without saying that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra has top-notch specs. It also has a huge 6,000 mAh battery, which is bigger than anything you get from Apple, Google or Samsung. Meanwhile, when it comes to charging, wired speeds go up to 90 watts or just a tad slower at 80 watts wirelessly, which is no mean feat. And unlike most phones sold in the US, it comes with a power adapter in the box. Elsewhere, the 15 Ultra sports a gorgeous 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 1-120Hz refresh rate and up to 3,200 nits of brightness. It's also available in three colorways: a white model with an etched back, black with an almost rubbery textured finish and a special Silver Chrome edition that draws inspiration from some of Leica's old-school cameras. I appreciate that the white model I tested features subtle swerves carved into its back that shine in the sunlight. But let's be honest, that two-toned metal and black one is easily the most attractive of the bunch because it really leans into what this phone does best. In back, there's a massive circular camera module that normally I'm not a huge fan of when used on rival devices like the OnePlus 13. However, on this device, it's more than just a showpiece because inside it is some serious photo hardware. The Ultra 15's 23mm equivalent main camera uses a massive 1-inch 50-megapixel Sony sensor. Then, for stuff like expansive landscapes, there's an f/2.2 50-MP ultrawide cam. But it doesn't stop there because there's not one but two zoom lenses: a 50MP midrange shooter with a 70mm focal length plus a super high-res 200MP periscope array with a 100mm focal length (which equates to a 4.7x optical zoom). See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Now, I haven't had a ton of time to fully put it through its paces, but from what I've seen so far, the Xiaomi Ultra 15 has one of the most well-rounded photo toolkits around. It's got Leica optics along with big sensors and lenses that cover pretty much every focal length you'd need on a daily basis. And on the software side, there are some preset Leica filters like Vibrant or Authentic to really drive home the collaboration between the two brands. That said, one of the things that impresses me the most is that Xiaomi even created a separate Photography kit that includes an add-on camera grip with a physical shutter button, an adjustable dial and a dedicated video button. There's also a case that allows you to attach a standard 67mm filter adapter. This means, assuming you have the right gear, you can take some of the same glass you use on your real camera and use it with the Ultra 15. And this isn't just some half-hearted afterthought either, as the kit also comes with bonuses like a hand strap, a decorative lens ring and two different removable caps for its shutter. Notably, unlike some Chinese phones like those from Huawei, Xiaomi handsets still have access to Google services, so you can download apps from the Play Store. Even the company's HyperOS 2 is a relatively minimalist Android skin that looks good and is easy to use. And while this model will be available globally starting at around €850, sadly there are no official plans to bring it to the US, which is a real shame because no one is really selling handsets like this in America anymore. (RIP to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-CM1.) Engadget will be reporting all the latest mobile and smartphone news from MWC 2025 as it happens the week of March 2.
WIRED
02-03-2025
- WIRED
Xiaomi Focuses on Photography With Its Top-End 15 and 15 Ultra
I'm a fan of Xiaomi's new 15 and 15 Ultra flagship phones—even if they only bring incremental improvements over their predecessors. The Xiaomi 15 is a classy, compact competitor to the iPhone 16 or Pixel 9, but the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is a photographer's dream. Both are extremely well-rounded smartphones with exceptional hardware, and Xiaomi has polished its HyperOS software and infused it with AI—just like everyone else in the market. But there's still room for improvement. Unwelcome bloatware feels cheeky on smartphones this expensive, the design of the 15 is downright dull and identical to last year's Xiaomi 14, and there's no Qi2 support, which is sad because we're craving magnetic accessories for our Android phones. Neither phone is officially sold in the US. Classy and Capable It's by no means unusual for the latest version of a phone to be indistinguishable from the one before. (Samsung and Apple, I'm looking at you.) But the Xiaomi 15 is identical. Even the colors are the same; I got a black review unit, but it also comes in white or green. That said, I do like the design. It's a compact phone that's easy to manage one-handed, the matte finish is fingerprint-resistant, and everything is gently rounded, making it very comfortable to hold. Xiaomi 15 (left) and 15 Ultra (right) Photograph: Simon Hill The 15 Ultra is an entirely different beast, dominated by that colossal camera on the back. It's top-heavy, and, as I found with the 14 Ultra, you need a case to avoid damage and scratches on that big module. It sometimes catches when you slip it into your pocket, and the bump makes using some wireless chargers tricky because the phone cannot lie flat. Thankfully, this is all justified for photography fans (more on that later). Pleasingly, Xiaomi has jazzed up the 15 Ultra finishes, leaning into its camera prowess and Leica partnership with a lovely two-tone silver chrome and fake black leather paint job. It also comes in black with a red highlight around the camera module. Sadly, I got the white model, which has a subtle marbled effect but is the dullest of the bunch. The 15 and 15 Ultra score an IP68 rating for water resistance and are protected by Xiaomi's Shield Glass, though the Ultra gets the enhanced version 2.0. The Xiaomi 15 has a 6.36-inch flat AMOLED screen at 3670 X 1200 pixels, and the 15 Ultra jumps up to a 6.73-inch at 3200 X 1440 pixels, with a very slight bevel at the edges. Both have a variable 1 to 120-Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and power efficiency, can hit 3,200 nits peak brightness, and support Dolby Vision and HDR10+. That's a slight brightness increase over last year's phones, and these are top-notch, sharp, rich displays, as good as any I've seen. The sound quality from the stereo speakers is above average. Xiaomi 15 (right) and 15 Ultra (left) Photograph: Simon Hill
