Xiaomi 15 Full Review: A Compact Flagship with Maximum Performance

Introduction

The Xiaomi 15 is Xiaomi's latest compact flagship, released at the end of October 2024. Despite its small dimensions, this device is equipped with high-performance specifications, making it a "mini monster" in the era of large phones. It is suitable for users who want a premium smartphone that is easy to hold and comfortable for everyday needs.

Design & Display

The Xiaomi 15 features a 6.36-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1.5K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. This panel has a peak brightness of up to 3,200 nits and supports HDR10+, ensuring optimal visibility in all conditions. Its elegant design, with a matte aluminum frame and premium glass back, keeps it lightweight (around 190 grams) yet feels solid and comfortable in the hand.

Performance & Hardware

Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite (3nm) chipset, the Xiaomi 15 delivers superior performance for multitasking, gaming, and even demanding applications. Equipped with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 512GB or 1TB of UFS4.0 storage (depending on the variant), the read/write speeds are very fast. Antutu tests show scores of around 2.4–2.6 million, making it one of the fastest in its class.

Camera & Video

The camera department is also very strong: the Xiaomi 15 has a 50MP main camera, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP telephoto camera with 3× optical zoom and OIS. The 32MP front camera offers high-quality selfies. The device can record video at up to 8K 24fps or 4K 60fps with OIS + EIS stabilization. The combination of sharpness, focal length flexibility, and bright photos makes it ideal for photographers and creative content users.

Battery & Charging

The 5,240mAh battery (the Chinese version is slightly larger) shows impressive endurance. Internal testing recorded screen-on time of up to 18–20 hours depending on the refresh rate. Support for 90W wired and 50W wireless fast charging (including reverse charging) allows the device to be fully charged in no time.

Connectivity & Additional Features

The Xiaomi 15 is equipped with IP68 water and dust resistance, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and USB-C with 10Gbps USB video output capability. It runs the HyperOS2 operating system based on Android 15, offering lightweight performance, adaptive AI, and up to four years of updates.

User Experience and Pros & Cons

Pros:

Compact design yet high-quality build

Responsive 6.36" LTPO OLED display with stunning visuals

Snapdragon 8 Elite performance is very agile for gaming and multitasking

50MP all-round camera, including 3x telephoto and 8K video

Long-lasting battery and super-fast charging

Modern and comprehensive features for a premium smartphone

Cons:

Device can get warm during gaming or fast charging

HyperOS software still has notification stability issues and annoying system ads

No microSD slot and no charger available in some markets

Digital zoom on the main camera is less than optimal, but the physical telephoto makes up for it

Real-world experiences from Reddit users indicate that the Xiaomi 15 can get warm during heavy gaming or fast charging, but not to the point of severe overheating. Initial battery life does drop slightly during calibration. Some also complain of delayed notifications if apps are restricted in the background.

Is It Worth Buying?

If you want a compact phone with flagship performance, a premium display, a flexible camera, and super-fast charging—the Xiaomi 15 is a worthy choice. It's suitable for users who want high quality without having to carry a large device. However, if you're sensitive to heat or don't want the hassle of additional software optimization, consider other flagship alternatives.

Conclusion

The Xiaomi 15 proves that size isn't a barrier to a flagship experience. Its combination of high performance, a quality camera, a long-lasting battery, and modern features make it one of the best choices in the compact flagship category for 2025. Despite some minor shortcomings, overall, it offers exceptional value compared to its competitors.