Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Global Debut at MWC 2025, Flagship Imaging Upgrade

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Global Debut at MWC 2025, Flagship Imaging UpgradeRumors surrounding the Xiaomi 15 Ultra have been swirling since mid-February 2025. The highly anticipated flagship phone finally revealed itself with Xiaomi's official announcement of its global debut on March 2nd, 2025, at Mobile World Congress (MWC)

Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Global Debut at MWC 2025, Flagship Imaging Upgrade

Rumors surrounding the Xiaomi 15 Ultra have been swirling since mid-February 2025. The highly anticipated flagship phone finally revealed itself with Xiaomi's official announcement of its global debut on March 2nd, 2025, at Mobile World Congress (MWC). Leaked renders showcase a new dual-tone design for the international version, cleverly combining glass and vegan leather for a premium feel. Previously leaked images showed a black vegan leather back, hinting at multiple back panel material options to cater to diverse aesthetics.

The phone retains Xiaomi's signature large circular camera module, but with a redesigned L-shaped arrangement. The module itself appears larger than its predecessor. Three cameras the main, ultrawide, and telephoto are arranged horizontally, with the periscope telephoto lens in the top right corner. The flash sits above the camera array, and the Leica logo is prominently displayed, underscoring its top-tier imaging capabilities.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra boasts a luxurious camera system. Previous leaks suggest a 32MP selfie camera, while the rear camera system is even more impressive: a 50MP Sony IMX900 1-inch main sensor with OIS; a 50MP Samsung JN5 ultrawide sensor offering both a wide field of view and sharp detail; a 50MP Sony IMX858 telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and OIS; and a 200MP Samsung HP9 periscope telephoto lens with 4.3x optical zoom. Notably, compared to its predecessor, the HP9 periscope telephoto camera in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers a 12% improvement in light sensitivity and significantly enhanced autofocus contrast performance, resulting in more vibrant colors and precise focusing.

To cater to professional photographers, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra continues the tradition of including a dedicated professional photography grip. This grip, which received MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology) wireless radio approval on January 10th, connects via Bluetooth, offering a more convenient and professional shooting experience. Leaked sample images demonstrate excellent clarity, color reproduction, and noise control, even in challenging low-light conditions. The watermark on a sample image, taken with a 100mm focal length at night, confirms the use of the 200MP periscope telephoto lens, further validating its powerful telephoto capabilities.

The international version of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, model number 25010PN30G, has received EMVCo certification (MTA_LOA_XICC_05291). The certification confirms it will run Xiaomi HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15 and support NFC. The Chinese market will offer two variants: the standard version (25019PNF3C) supporting China Telecom's BeiDou satellite communication service, and a top-spec version (25010PN30C) supporting both BeiDou and Beidou-3 short message functions, enhancing communication capabilities. Rumors suggest it might be Xiaomi's first "Ultra" phone to support eSIM, codenamed "xuanyuan."

Based on current information, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra measures 161.3 x 75.3 x 9.48mm and weighs 229g. It is expected to feature a 6.73-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 3200 x 1440 resolution and a 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate, along with an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. It will reportedly be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, offering robust processing power. A 5410mAh battery supports 90W wired fast charging, 80W wireless fast charging, and 10W reverse wireless charging. Additional features include stereo speakers, a dual SIM card slot, a Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and IP68 dust and water resistance. The international version will offer 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage (1TB may be region-restricted).

Regarding pricing, Lei Jun hinted during a Lantern Festival livestream that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra would be Xiaomi's most premium phone yet. He also acknowledged that rising R&D and component costs would necessitate a price increase compared to the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's starting price of 6499 Yuan. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is expected to offer significant upgrades across the board, potentially making it one of the most anticipated Android flagships of 2025. However, all information is based on online leaks and speculation; official confirmation is still pending. Lei Jun mentioned that the Chinese version will be released alongside the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra (mass production version) later this month, unveiling all remaining details. Stay tuned for further updates.