Xiaomi 15 Review: The Best Compact Smartphone of 2025 – A User’s Perspective After 2 Months
Introduction
Hello, friends! Today, I’ll be reviewing the Xiaomi 15, a compact smartphone that has been my daily driver for the past two months. I’ll cover all its strengths—and there are plenty—as well as its flaws, which, unfortunately, are also present. Without further ado, let’s dive into the review!
Unboxing and Build Quality
The Xiaomi 15 comes in a large white box with standard accessories:
- User manual
- SIM ejector tool
- Opaque silicone case
- USBC charging cable
- 90W fast charger
The build quality is flagshipgrade, featuring:
- Metal frame
- Frosted glass back with minimal curvature
- Flat glass that sits flush with the body
- Camera module on a raised platform (slightly protruding but wellprotected by the included case)
The phone is available in four color options, though the silver variant (shown in renders) is rarely seen in stores.
Display: Strengths and Weaknesses
The 6.36inch AMOLED LTPO display has a 1.5K resolution and supports:
- DCIP3
- HDR10+
- Dolby Vision
- Xiaomi Shield Glass for protection
- Refresh Rate & Brightness
- Adaptive 60Hz/120Hz (with perapp customization)
- LTPO technology (drops to 1Hz in static scenes for battery savings)
- Five color temperature modes
- Adjustable font size and weight
However, the display has some drawbacks:
- Peak brightness:
- 650 nits (manual)
- 900 nits (outdoor mode)
- 1,100 nits (autobrightness with extra light)
- No PWM dimming, leading to high flicker (1120%)—not ideal for sensitive eyes
Final Thoughts on the Display
While the screen is good, it doesn’t quite meet flagship expectations in brightness and flicker control.
Performance & Cooling
- Processor & Benchmarking
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 (3nm process) – powerful but powerhungry
- 2 highperformance + 6 efficiency cores
- AnTuTu score: ~2.5M (but prone to overheating and app crashes)
- GeekBench results (see onscreen for details)
Thermal Throttling
Initial tests showed significant throttling, but postupdate performance improved slightly—still not ideal for a flagship.
Memory & Storage
- LPDDR5X RAM
- UFS 4.0 storage
- No complaints here—toptier specs
Gaming Performance
The Xiaomi 15 isn’t a gaming powerhouse due to thermal constraints, but it handles most games well:
- World of Tanks Blitz: Capped at 90 FPS (not 120)
- PUBG Mobile: Stable 120 FPS (optimized well)
- Honkai: Star Rail: Struggles at max settings (~53 FPS avg), better at medium
Gaming Mode
Basic options:
- Performance mode toggle
- No bypass charging
Max recorded CPU temp: 76°C (case stays around 45°C).
Battery & Charging
5,240 mAh battery (small for the chipset)
Charging speeds:
- 36% in 10 min
- 70% in 30 min
- Full charge in 50 min
- 50W wireless charging
Battery Life:
- YouTube playback (200 nits): ~17 hrs (excellent)
- Gaming drain:
PUBG: 24%/hr
Honkai: 27%/hr - Screenon time: ~5.5 hrs (mixed usage, mobile data)
Software & AI Features
- HyperOS (Android 15) – smooth, no lag
- Update policy: 4 years of Android updates, 5 years of security patches
- AI tools (mostly unused):
Speech recognition
Translator
Subtitles - Photo editor AI (sky replacement, object removal, photo expansion)
Connectivity & Extras
- Dualband GPS (fast, accurate)
- NFC, 5G, WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
- eSIM support
- MHL (HDMI output)
- Physical proximity sensor (works flawlessly)
Audio & Haptics
- Stereo speakers (good bass, Dolby Atmos support)
- Tactile linear motor (premium haptic feedback)
Cameras: Minor Upgrades Over Xiaomi 14
- Hardware:
- Main: 50MP (Samsung GN5)
- Telephoto: 50MP (5x optical zoom)
- Ultrawide: 12MP
- Front: 32MP
Photo Modes:
Vibrant (saturated) vs. Authentic (natural)
Portrait mode: 23mm, 35mm, 60mm, 75mm
Max zoom: 60x digital (AI stabilization kicks in at 30x)
Video:
4K/60fps on all cameras (including front)
Smooth switching between lenses
Good stabilization
1920fps slowmo
Final Verdict: Who Should Buy It?
Pros:
- Compact size (6.36")
- Flagship performance (Snapdragon 8 Gen 4)
- Great cameras (versatile zoom)
- Fast charging (90W wired, 50W wireless)
- IP68 rating
Cons:
- No PWM dimming (bad for sensitive eyes)
- Average battery life
- Overheats under heavy load
Alternatives:
- Samsung Galaxy S25
- Vivo X200 Pro Mini
- OnePlus 13T
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 15 is an excellent compact flagship, ideal for those who prioritize portability without sacrificing performance. However, its battery life and display flicker may be dealbreakers for some.
Would you buy it? Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading, and see you in the next review!