The Xiaomi 14 Ultra's amazing camera setup meant it wasn't just one of the best camera phones of 2024, it was one of the best cameras I've ever seen on a phone. It achieved this primarily with its 1-inch type image sensor, which is physically larger than almost any other smartphone camera sensor. That bigger size, together with the wide, variable aperture, let it capture more light to produce some of the best results I've ever seen from a camera phone. It even blew us away when taking images during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.
It also packed a top-end processor for lightning-fast performance, a vibrant display and a battery that lasted the better part of a day. All in all, it was a superb flagship Android phone for those wanting to focus on photography.
But the tech world moves fast, and rumors are already swirling about what to expect from its successor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. 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 surface, so make sure to check back regularly to find out more about the phone.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra release date and price
The 14 Ultra was announced in China last February and was first shown off to Western press -- including CNET -- at the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona that same month. It wasn't until March that I was able to get my hands on it for testing. While Xiaomi has yet to confirm the launch date for the phone, all signs suggest that the company is planning a similar timeframe for the follow-up.
It's already taken the wraps off 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 equates to $1,640. There's been no word on any significant changes in the company's pricing, so we expect the 15 Ultra to sit in that ballpark.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra's cameras.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra cameras
Xiaomi's Ultra line has always focused on photography, with the 14 Ultra packing not just a massive image sensor, but a variable aperture and an impressive 5x optical zoom. We firmly expect the 15 Ultra to be similarly aimed towards photographers, and early leaks support that.
Known tipster Ice Universe reported that the 15 Ultra's periscope telephoto camera will have a whopping 200-megapixel image sensor. That's a huge step up from the 50-megapixel sensor found on the 14 Ultra. The downside? Ice Universe also says the optical zoom will drop from 5x to 4.4x, although the extra resolution will presumably allow for further digital zoom without a noticeable loss in quality.
Alleged leaked renderings of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
This change to the telephoto camera unit is backed up by leaked renderings of the phone from SmartPrix, which show an off-center camera unit at the top. A further leaked image (via GSM Arena) purportedly showing the internals of the camera setup indicates that it's off center to make room for its large periscope unit. The renderings, if accurate, also confirm the continued relationship between Xiaomi and Leica, so expect high-quality lens optics and various Leica color presets to spice up your images.
Internet tipster Kartikey Singh recently shared an image on X, claiming to show the back of the 15 Ultra and confirming its 1-inch-type image sensor and 200-megapixel resolution. The image matches the earlier renderings.
So far there are few other rumors about the rest of the cameras, including any changes to the main camera and its 1-inch type sensor. I certainly hope that Xiaomi continues using at least this sensor size -- if not going even larger -- and maintains its variable aperture, which can go 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, display and battery
Given that the 14 Ultra packed 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 took the wraps off the Snapdragon 8 Elite in October, and we've already seen the power this chip can offer in the OnePlus 13. It's also the same chip found inside Samsung's entire Galaxy S25 range.
Apart from an expected overall increase in speed, the 8 Elite processor promises improved web browsing speed and is particularly geared towards 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 helpful" when he tried it for himself. We expect to see a variety of AI tools on board Xiaomi's 15 Ultra, for both image manipulation and virtual assistance.
The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was a powerhouse, and the 15 Ultra is expected to follow suit, with the latest Qualcomm chips.
Rumors tentatively suggest that the 15 Ultra's display 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. Whether this holds true for models outside China is unclear, as the 14 Ultra had a slightly larger battery for its Chinese models.
It's expected that the phone will continue to offer 90W wired charging, although I'd like to see the company take this further. Some of Xiaomi's other phones, like the 11T Pro from 2021, offer 120W fast charging, making it disappointing not to see similar speeds on the company's flagship, most expensive model.