Good news, Mi fan. Xiaomi 14’s successor has been announced. The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro, as they are so predicably called, are out, and they’re here to push some serious boundaries. The Xiaomi 15 packs all the high-end performance you’d expect but in a compact body that’s a direct jab at the iPhone 16 Pro, boasting a golden grip, Leica cameras, and long-lasting battery life. It’s available in four colors—White, Black, Grass Green, and Lilac Purple—with a starting price of 4499 yuan. But the magic is in the details.
Starting with the design, the Xiaomi 15 [CH] is crafted with a four-curve, wrap-around frame that keeps things smooth and round—no sharp edges here. It’s perfectly weighted at 191g, offering that 50:50 weight distribution sweet spot. For added grip, it even has a compact camera module, which leaves over 10cm of clear space on the back for an unobstructed hold. There’s also a special “Bright Silver” version with a shimmering glass back and aluminum frame that mimics the weight of stainless steel while being a third lighter.
The Xiaomi 15 flaunts a 6.36-inch ultra-bright 3200-nit display that reaches 1.38mm on all four sides. Using an innovative LIPO packaging process, Xiaomi pushed screen boundaries even closer, reducing the bottom bezel width. With Xiaomi’s custom M9 luminous material, this “Sunshine Display” is ideal for all lighting conditions and sips power sparingly. To keep things secure, the screen is protected by Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass, with durability up 10 times compared to the previous generation. The upgraded ultrasonic fingerprint unlock is also five times more accurate, so no more fussing with fingerprints on a rainy day.
Under the hood, it’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor—a 3 nm powerhouse offering a 45% boost in CPU performance and a 44% boost in GPU performance. Paired with Xiaomi’s own HyperCore system for deep software-hardware integration, it reaches an astounding 80 TOPS, easily making it the most powerful processor on Xiaomi’s roster. Plus, it features Xiaomi’s Wing-shaped Cold Ring cooling system, which boasts three times the efficiency of traditional vapor chambers. And for iPhone comparison fans out there, the Xiaomi 15 promises faster app launches, higher gaming frame rates, and better temperature management than the iPhone 16 Pro.
Battery life has received a nice upgrade, too. With a 5400mAh battery, it holds 790mAh more capacity than its predecessor while actually shedding a few grams off the total weight. The battery is supported by 90W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging, with optional MagSafe-like magnetic accessories for 30W charging compatibility.
Camera-wise, the Xiaomi 15 lineup doesn’t skimp. The Leica Summilux camera system combines a 50MP main camera with a Hunter 900 sensor, a 28mm high-dynamic telephoto, and an ultra-wide lens. Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s AISP 2.0 photography model processes an impressive 4.3 billion pixels per second, even making sunset portraits a breeze.
The Xiaomi 15 Pro takes it up a notch. It features the same Snapdragon 8 Elite processor but is optimized for heavier workloads with Xiaomi’s HyperCore kernel and “Wing-shaped Cold Pump” cooling system. On top of its 2K screen with 24% better energy efficiency, the Pro also houses a whopping 6100mAh battery without any added bulk, weighing 10g less than the previous generation. Durability hasn’t been sacrificed here either, with the new Dragon Crystal Glass 2.0 offering 25% better drop resistance. And with Xiaomi’s Star Communication, it boasts an industry-leading antenna design that promises reliable connectivity—even in far-off spots.
Photography fans will love the Leica Summilux lens trio, which spans from 14mm to 120mm focal lengths and features a periscope telephoto lens with 10x lossless zoom, reaching a 240mm equivalent. With the new AISP 2.0, it’s built to capture “moments in time” as close to reality as possible.
As for pricing, here’s the lowdown:
• Xiaomi 15 starts at 4499 yuan [CH] for 12GB + 256GB.
• Xiaomi 15 Pro starts at 5299 yuan [CH] for 12GB + 256GB.
That works out to be around US$631 and US$744 based on the current going rate. The new Xiaomi 15 Series smartphones are launched in China for now.
Images: Xiaomi [CH].
