Announced at MWC 2025 , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra is Xiaomi ’s new camera - focused flagship . But how does it compare to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra , one of the most democratic camera earphone around ?
While both are clearly vying for a blot in ourbest television camera phonechart , the two extremist - flagships differ in various ways , from AI smarts to stamp battery life and charging , which could act upon your buying decision .
Here ’s how theXiaomi 15 Ultrastacks up against theSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultrabased on spectacles .
Pricing & availability
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra was unveiled at MWC 2025 and will shortly be available in the UK for a not - undistinguished £ 1,299 . It has 512 GB of store and will be available from retailers like Amazon .
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is slightly cheaper , at £ 1,249 , and has 256 GB of storage . It launch in January 2025 and is now pronto available at retail merchant worldwide .
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has more capable camera hardware
Both the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra have a special focus on camera capability , and the competition between the two is fierce .
For appetizer , both have a combination of a independent , ultrawide , telephoto and periscope lens , though the approach shot to photographic camera hardware is immensely dissimilar elsewhere .
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a high - res 200MP independent camera alongside a 48MP ultrawide , a 10MP 3x telephoto genus Lens , and a 50MP 5x periscope genus Lens , the latter of which can enable up to 100x digital rapid growth .
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra , on the other hired man , offers a 50MP main television camera , 50MP ultrawide , 50MP 3x telephoto , and 200MP 4.8x periscope . The periscope lens is one of the biggest climb this twelvemonth , boosting the phone ’s digital zoom capabilities .
It ’s not just about megapixel counting , though . It ’s worth noting that Xiaomi uses larger sensing element than Samsung in most of its lense , include a huge 1 - inch sensor powering the 50MP f/1.68 main genus Lens . The sound also has a be adrift telephoto camera design for boost stabilisation and macro capability .
Oh , and like previous Xiaomi headphone , it also features Leica - branded shooting modality and filter that resemble the brand name ’s most popular cameras .
The test copy will be in the camera ’ performance , of course of action – something we ’ll test for the full comparison coming soon .
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has Galaxy AI
Artificial tidings isthebig thing when it come to flagship smartphones in 2025 , so much so that most of Samsung ’s S25 proclamation focused on new AI features rather than ironware . Some might say that ’s because the hardware isverysimilar , and those citizenry might be correct , but that does n’t change the fact that phone manufacturers are going all in on AI .
That order , Samsung is leading the pack in the Android world with its swathe of genAI - powered features under the Galaxy AI umbrella . These feature range from handy feature like rewriting content in a different style or removing people from image to more powerful capabilities like yield fresh ikon free-base only on text andmuchmore .
New improver for the 2025 flagship also include the Now Brief , which direct to summarise information from various apps and resources in one place , and a smart Gemini that can do multi - app action mechanism .
That ’s not to say Xiaomi has n’t worked its AI - themed magic with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra , however . The competing flagship also has a orbit of AI feature including an alternative to Samsung ’s text rewriting feature , on - equipment transcription and translation capabilities and even AI - powered image enlargement tech .
It also have the ever - democratic Google Circle to Search , and for the hard of hearing , it ’ll automatically generate on - concealment subtitles for videos .
It ’s a healthy offer , but it ’s notquiteas talkative and feature - packed as the Galaxy S25 Ultra .
The Xiaomi 15 Ultra has a bigger battery and faster charging
When it comes to battery biography , neither smartphone should clamber to get you through a sidereal day ’s usage – though with a larger assault and battery found within , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra should lastslightlylonger than the Galaxy S25 Ultra .
That tell , there ’s not a world of a deviation when it comes to the milliamp 60 minutes enumeration , with the Galaxy S25 Ultra clocking in with the same 5000mAh cell as its forerunner while the Xiaomi competitor offers a 5410mAh cell .
The conflict is much more significant in some area , with the 15 Ultra merchant vessels with an even declamatory 6000mAh cell – but we do n’t get that in the UK or Europe .
Xiaomi also tucker Samsung in the charging department . The Xiaomi 15 Ultra pack 90W HyperCharge support and 80W wireless charging , equate to 45W wired and 15W wireless charging from the S25 Ultra .
However , you need a proprietary Xiaomi courser to achieve those speed , while the Ultra ’s 45W can be achieved by any sufficiently brawny USB - blow battery charger .
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a longer software promise
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra comes with Samsung ’s OneUI 7 based on Android 15 out of the boxful , while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra comes with Xiaomi ’s HyperOS 2 based on Android 15 .
Neither of these UIs are close to what we ’d account as stock Android . Both offer their own several spins on the Android experience with customised UI elements , extra feature and more .
Traditionally , OneUI has offered a sleeker experience than Xiaomi ’s rather bloated MIUI , but with the rebranded HyperOS , the company has cleaned thing up somewhat . However , whether this will make the experience more manageable for Western users is yet to be seen .
Regardless of OS style , the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra will get more type O upgrades than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra . That ’s mainly due to Samsung ’s dedication to seven years of oxygen upgrades , which is one of the best in the industry .
Xiaomi ’s compounding of four OS upgrades and five twelvemonth of security update is n’t quite up to inscribe in compare .
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has a nicer display
Though their overall specs are pretty exchangeable , Samsung ’s Galaxy S25 Ultra has a few extra shade that make it slightly more tempting than Xiaomi ’s 15 Ultra .
The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra frolic a 6.9 - inch AMOLED blind with an LTPO - enable 120Hz refresh rate and , with a QHD+ resolution , it ’s safe to say it ’s pixel - pack . Aside from being slightly pocket-sized at 6.73 inches , the Xiaomi 15 Ultra offers monovular spec .
However , look a little closer and the two set out to pull out from one another . The S25 Ultra has a completely matted silver screen while Xiaomi continue to utilise a quad - curved screen . Which you like will largely amount down to personal predilection , but the flat screen does negate those inadvertent taps you incline to get with curved CRT screen displays .
The S25 Ultra also has way thinner bezels than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra – surprising given the ultra - slim 1.38mm - thick bezel of the unconstipated Xiaomi 15 . The Galaxy ’s anti - contemplative coating is also a big incentive liken to Xiaomi ’s screenland , which should negate reflections way well in bright surround .
Xiaomi ’s blind does have some vantage : It offers a brighter acme brightness at 3200 nits and supports Dolby Vision HDR – area where Samsung ’s flagship is perceptibly wanting . Overall , however , Samsung might have the edge in the cover department .
Early Thoughts
Both the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra are mellow - death smartphones with specifications to match – although it seems that Xiaomi may hold the advantage in the crucial camera department , gasconade larger , higher - resolution sensors compare to Samsung ’s offering . Additionally , it have a larger battery and quick charging than Samsung ’s option .
However , the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has hatful to appreciate , include its 6.9 - inch ani - reflective organic light-emitting diode silver screen , Galaxy AI smarts , and industriousness - lead computer software promise . It ’s a elusive call , but one we ’ll waitress on fork up until we ’ve spend more time with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra . break back presently for our final verdict .
