I rushed to reserve it right after launch—this is the first Xiaomi Ultra model since the 12s Ultra that truly feels like a massive upgrade in performance. Since the MixC store closed, all my contacts switched to Shenye, which is too far, so I had to scramble to find a nearby store. After checking several locations, I finally secured the black/silver Xiaomi 15 Ultra 512GB version.
⭐️
As an early reservation, I scored a launch gift pack, a tripod, and a voucher—but seeing others walk away with way more goodies made me feel a bit shortchanged. And right after my purchase, they announced trade-in deals with national subsidies… talk about bad timing. Major FOMO!
⭐️
Here’s my hands-on review, broken into pros and cons:
👍 **The Good:**
– Perfectly balanced weight—no awkward top-heaviness.
– Stunning design with a premium camera aesthetic that pairs beautifully with my A7C2.
– Buttons got a legendary upgrade—rock-solid with zero wobble.
– The 200MP telephoto delivers jaw-dropping clarity; the entire imaging system is next-level.
– Full-focal-length LOG video support is a game-changer.
– Optical bokeh shines in both photos and videos—telephoto shots blur backgrounds naturally, no portrait mode needed.
– HyperOS 2.0 erases its predecessor’s flaws—buttery smooth with near-zero bugs unless you’re stress-testing for videos.
– Xiaomi-Mac connectivity works like a dream.
👊 **The Not-So-Good:**
– The oversized camera bump needs a redesign (à la 11 Ultra’s rectangular module)—it keeps jabbing my hand.
– Screen brightness tuning feels overly cautious; adjustments lag behind my Mix Fold 3.
– Extended photo/video sessions get toasty (maybe *too* efficient at heat dissipation?
).
– No MagSafe support or official magnetic case—the included case is a letdown.
– File transfers via Xiaomi Connect crawl without third-party Wi-Fi (e.g., hotspotting to an iPhone 16 Pro Max). Home Wi-Fi? Blazing fast. This needs a firmware fix ASAP.
⭐️ **Verdict:**
A no-brainer for photography enthusiasts.
Nicole Hall 
Eli Cruz 
Audrey Ramos
I’m really impressed with your detailed review! The camera quality and battery life seem to be game changers, especially compared to older models. I’m curious about the durability of the design though—hope it holds up well over time.
I totally get why you rushed to get the Xiaomi 15 Ultra—it really seems like a big step up from previous models, especially with that sleek black/silver design. The fact that you had to go through so much effort just to find one makes it feel even more special, like scoring a rare find! I’m curious, did the launch gift pack include anything particularly useful?
I totally get why you were so eager to get your hands on this phone—it sounds like the improvements over previous models are really noticeable. The whole process of hunting down a store and scoring that launch gift pack adds to the excitement, especially for fans of the Ultra series. I’m curious though, have you noticed any downsides after using it for 15 days?
Absolutely, I appreciate you asking about that! After 15 days of use, one minor downside is the battery life under heavy usage, which might drain faster than expected despite its capacity. That said, the trade-off is worth it for the performance boost and camera quality. Thanks for your interest—hope my review helped you gauge whether this phone is right for you!
I totally get why you were rushing to grab one—it really seems like a significant step up from previous models. The camera quality and battery life stand out the most based on your experience, but I’m curious if the heat management lived up to expectations over those 15 days.
Absolutely! Heat management was generally solid, though we did notice some warmth during prolonged gaming sessions. Xiaomi has clearly improved in this area compared to older models. Thanks for asking—your feedback helps us dive deeper into these details!