Xiaomi 15 with Surge OS 2: Performance Exceeds Expectations, Smooth Experience Delivers Surprises

Xiaomi 15 with Surge OS 2: Performance Exceeds Expectations, Smooth Experience Delivers SurprisesWith numerous flagship smartphones recently released, the performance of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has become well-known. As the first device to feature this chipset, the Xiaomi 15 was overshadowed by its competitors, and its performance remained a mystery until now

Xiaomi 15 with Surge OS 2: Performance Exceeds Expectations, Smooth Experience Delivers Surprises

With numerous flagship smartphones recently released, the performance of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has become well-known. As the first device to feature this chipset, the Xiaomi 15 was overshadowed by its competitors, and its performance remained a mystery until now. Many users have criticized Xiaomi phones for their Surge OS, claiming it hinders the overall experience. Despite boasting impressive specs, these devices often suffer from lag and stuttering, affecting not only gaming but even basic UI navigation. Now, with the Xiaomi 15 retaining its compact size, a factor often associated with compromised heat dissipation, coupled with Surge OS, will this combination become the Achilles heel of the phone?

This article will delve into the performance of the Xiaomi 15, conducting in-depth analysis through stress tests, real-world gaming benchmarks, and system experience. We will investigate the impact of Surge OS 2 and its improvements.

01 Stress Test Demonstrates Unexpected Stability

The architecture of Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 has been extensively discussed, and you've likely read numerous reviews. Essentially, it incorporates Qualcomm's self-developed second-generation Oryon CPU, fabricated using a 3nm process, resulting in substantial performance gains and significant power consumption reduction. The microarchitecture has been refined, featuring 2 super-large cores clocked at 4.32GHz and 6 large cores at 3.53GHz. Combined with various power-saving technologies, the chipset boasts improved performance under high loads and idle power consumption.

In GeekBench6 benchmarks, the Xiaomi 15 achieved impressive scores of 3086 in single-core and 9508 in multi-core. These scores, although slightly lower compared to full-size phones with the same chipset, demonstrate Xiaomi's conservative approach to performance tuning, especially for a compact device. Similar trends were observed in 3DMark, where the peak performance average score was approximately 5% lower, which can be considered acceptable.

Interestingly, the Xiaomi 15 demonstrated remarkable stability during 20 minutes of intense stress tests, consistently achieving around 70% in multiple trials. This stability was evident in both WildLifeExtreme benchmarks and SolarBay ray tracing tests. We were surprised to find that the performance of this compact device was not impacted by thermal limitations. Let's move on to real-world gaming tests to see how it performs.

02 "Genshin Impact" Runs at Full Frame Rate in "Liyue Harbor"

First up, we have "Genshin Impact" at the highest settings. In the "Liyue Harbor" scenario, the Xiaomi 15 achieved a smooth frame rate of 59.1FPS, almost reaching the full frame rate, a result that exceeded our expectations. However, observing the frame rate curve, we noticed some slight drops to around 55FPS, but these were not perceptible in-game and overall gameplay remained buttery smooth.

For a more demanding game like "Tower of Fantasy," specifically the "Astral Plaza" scene, the Xiaomi 15 achieved an impressive 59.7FPS with near-perfect consistency, only experiencing slight drops but quickly recovering to a stable frame rate. This performance consistently impressed us.

Further analysis reveals that the Xiaomi 15 utilizes around 31% and 34% of CPU capacity in "Genshin Impact" and "Tower of Fantasy," respectively. The average operating frequencies of the six performance cores were 1GHz and 1.3GHz, leading to the observed differences in frame rates. Naturally, this resulted in slightly higher power consumption for "Tower of Fantasy."

Speaking of which, we must commend the Xiaomi 15, or rather, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's power consumption performance. Even with these demanding games, average power consumption was kept below 5W, demonstrating significant improvement. Notably, even with "Tower of Fantasy," the Xiaomi 15's body temperature remained around 43C, and even lower for "Genshin Impact," at slightly over 40C, a 2-3C reduction compared to the previous generation. This achievement surpasses many full-size phones, showcasing that the Xiaomi 15's performance did not compromise due to its compact design.

03 Low Power Consumption Maintained Under High Load

Some users may not be avid gamers, so we also tested the Xiaomi 15 with "Honor of Kings." Running the game at the highest settings, we achieved a steady 120FPS. To further challenge the phone, we initiated a simultaneous video call on WeChat, using the phone's small window feature. Despite this added burden, the Xiaomi 15 still maintained a smooth 120FPS, a remarkable feat. It's important to remember that this scenario demands resource allocation across gaming, camera, microphone, speaker, network, and various hardware and software components, placing high demands on the system's resource management and overall power consumption.

In this high-load scenario, the Xiaomi 15 maintained a power consumption of around 4.4W, and the body temperature reached only 42C, commendable performance. However, since "Honor of Kings" is played in landscape mode, and the phone's small window blocks a significant portion of the game interface, it's best suited for short calls to address "checks" but not recommended for prolonged usage. However, this doesn't affect gameplay in portrait mode, where the small window poses no obstruction.

This testing was designed to showcase the effectiveness of Surge OS 2 in optimizing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Even under high loads, the system manages to maintain full frame rate for the foreground game. Surge OS, previously known for its stuttering, has finally stepped up with the release of Surge OS 2.

04 Smoothness Uncharacteristic of Android

This level of smoothness can be attributed to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, but I believe Surge OS 2 deserves credit as well. During our experience, the Xiaomi 15 excelled not only in games but also in system performance.

One noticeable improvement was the significantly faster app launch speed. Using "Honor of Kings" as an example, the time from tapping the icon to fully entering the game interface was reduced to around 10 seconds, with rapid loading. Similar improvements were observed with games like "Genshin Impact," eliminating the dreaded "half-rock" loading issues. For everyday lightweight apps, loading times were even quicker. We tested 20 commonly used apps, clearing the background and running multiple rounds. It took approximately 50 seconds to open them consecutively, factoring in minor user errors and opening ad delays. Excluding these variables, we found numerous apps opened almost instantly, highlighting a significant improvement in app launch speed compared to the previous generation. Surge OS 2 truly shines in this area.

When receiving notifications and push messages, the Xiaomi 15 with Surge OS 2 responds instantly, seamlessly navigating to the corresponding app page for browsing without any delay.

It's important to note that Surge OS 2 is not just about raw speed. The new system introduces numerous animation effects, enhancing the overall visual experience. For instance, the negative one screen, control center, and other areas incorporate real-time rendered trailing effects, creating a smooth and visually appealing aesthetic. The interruption effect, a popular feature among users, is also well-implemented. For example, pulling down the search bar, folders, or apps results in instant interruption and return to the previous interface, offering a seamless experience.

Compared to the first generation of Surge OS, the new system boasts numerous improvements, particularly in smoothness. Combined with the powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Xiaomi 15 achieves a significant leap in gaming and overall system fluidity. Many performance issues users raised have been visibly addressed, demonstrating the positive impact of Lu Weibing's direct oversight.

Of course, the Xiaomi 15 and Surge OS 2 offer numerous enhancements, and we've only discussed performance and basic system experience, which are of great interest to users. We will continue to share more details once the phone is fully released, so don't miss out!