Early this year, I reviewed the Xiaomi 15 Ultra for NXT Magazine and used it extensively during my Macau work trip in May. Then in early October, I brought the Xiaomi 15T Pro for my Japan vacation, and wrote a review article for NXT Magazine. On my blog here, I shall briefly share my opinions of these two smartphones.
Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Premium Leica
With a retail price of S$1699, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is the flagship that no one can deny. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite, the smartphone runs really smooth, its design is premium, the image tonality is well-balanced without too saturated. The camera system bulges and harder to handle, unless you fit the photography kit with the camera grip to improve the ergonomics. It is definitely the premium Leica co-brand smartphone to experience.
Xiaomi 15T Pro: Best Value Leica
At only S$799, the Xiaomi 15T Pro lets you own a Leica camera system without burning a hole in your wallet. The rear design is less stylish, more functional. The camera operations are not as nimble, but the camera department produces alluring images that trumps most smartphones of this price range.
Which One To Get?
If you just want a Leica-brand imaging device to flex, then the Xiaomi 15T Pro does its job brilliantly. The phone certainly feels more expensive than it seems, and the UI is smooth with fanciful animations, though I’m not a fan.
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra is an intruiging device if you are all for the style and the accessories, without which I find the camera system is too big. It is a great representation of the iconic camera brand in a smartphone form. In fact, it would be brilliant if the device can be configured to run in a “pure camera” mode, just like how some digital audio players (DAP) running on Android OS are doing. Food for thought, Leica?
