Xiaomi 15 Ultra rumours: It could be the best camera phone of 2025

the Xiaomi 14 Ultra It was one of the most exciting phones launched in 2024 thanks to its impressive camera setup that allowed it to take stunning photos. It had a 1-inch type image sensor, which is physically larger than almost any other smartphone camera sensor, and it made a huge difference. This larger size, combined with the wide, variable aperture, allows more light to be captured to produce some light The best results I’ve ever seen from a phone camera.

It is also equipped with an advanced processor for blazing-fast performance, a vibrant display, and a battery that lasts for a good portion of the day. Overall, it was a groundbreaking Android phone and great for those of you who want to focus on taking photos.

But the world of technology does not stand still for long, and there are already rumors circulating about what we might see from its successor, Xiaomi 15 Ultra. So here’s what we know about this potential photography powerhouse. We’ll be updating this article over the coming weeks and months as more rumors emerge, so be sure to check back regularly to learn more about the phone.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra release date and price

The 14 Ultra was announced in China in February and was first shown off to the Western press – including CNET – in Mobile World Congress 2024 In Barcelona back in February. I wasn’t able to get it to test until later in March. While Xiaomi has yet to confirm the phone’s launch date, all indications are that the company is planning a similar time frame for the follow-up.

The flagship Xiaomi 15 and 15 Pro have already been taken off the covers for the Chinese market – again, following the same timeline as the 14 and 14 Pro last year. The 14 Ultra has gone on sale in the UK for £1,299, and while it’s not officially on sale in the US, that price equates to $1,640. There’s been no word on any significant changes to the company’s pricing, so we expect the 15 Ultra to sit in that ballpark.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra cameras

Xiaomi’s Ultra line has always been focused on photography, with the 14 Ultra packing not only a massive image sensor, but also a variable aperture and an impressive 5x optical zoom. We highly expect the 15 Ultra to be similarly aimed at photographers, and early leaks already back that up.

Well-known guide I mentioned Ice Universe The 15 Ultra periscope telephoto camera will have a massive 200-megapixel image sensor. This is a big step up from the 50MP sensor found on the 14 Ultra. Downside? Ice Universe also says that optical zoom will drop from 5x to 4.4x, though the extra resolution should allow for more digital zoom without a noticeable loss in quality.

This change in the telephoto camera module appears to be supported by leaks of the phone From Smart Brickswhich shows an off-center camera module at the top. Another leaked photo (Via GSM Arena) Showing the internals of the camera setup allegedly indicates that it is off-center to make room for its large periscope unit. The renders, if accurate, also confirm the ongoing relationship between Xiaomi and Leica, so expect high-quality lens optics and different Leica color presets to spice up your photos.

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

Xiaomi 15 Ultra processor, screen and battery

Because the 14 Ultra is equipped with the latest Qualcomm hardware Snapdragon 8 3rd generation Processor When it is launched, it is safe to assume that Xiaomi will equip its new model with next-generation silicon from Qualcomm. Qualcomm has removed the covers Snapdragon 8 Elite in OctoberWe expect to start seeing it in most of the flagship phones that will be launched within the next six months.

Aside from the expected overall increase in speed, the 8 Elite processor promises to improve web browsing speed and is specifically geared towards AI tasks, including running on-device AI tools like Samsung’s Galaxy AI. At its launch event, Qualcomm showed off an AI tool that adds artificial lighting to your selfies CNET’s David Lumb called “Delightfully interesting and useful” when he tried it himself. We expect to see a variety of AI tools on board the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, for image processing and virtual assistance.

Rumors initially suggest the 15 Ultra’s display will remain 6.7 inches, like the 14 Ultra, though the battery could be expanded to 6,000 mAh, up from 5,000 mAh. It remains to be seen if this is the case on models outside of China, as the 14 Ultra has a slightly larger battery size for models sold within China.

The phone is expected to continue offering 90W wired charging, though I’d like to see the company take this further. Some other Xiaomi phones — including the 11T Pro, released back in 2021 — offer 120W fast charging, and it’s disappointing not to see such speeds in the company’s flashier, more expensive model.