subtle improvements that refine a compact mobile that already shone on its own

Sometimes I wonder to what extent we are willing to sacrifice the comfort for having The most powerful mobile. It seems that the market has convinced us that “bigger” always means “better”, but not all manufacturers think the same. As we said a while ago: “small” mobiles are not finished. Xiaomi is part of this.

This Sunday, in the Mobile World Congress, the Chinese brand has revealed its new Xiaomi 15 family, with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra at the top and the Xiaomi 15 as a more contained alternative but equally promising. Although they have just been presented and are already available in Spain, I have had the opportunity to try the most “compact.”

Xiaomi 15 Technical Card

Small adjustments that lead a mobile already outstanding one step further

The first impression I had when I saw the Xiaomi 15 was that this year the company had not risked too much with the design. But, after thinking about it, I realized that it doesn’t have to be something negative. Many brands are committed to evolving their generation product after generation instead of reinventing it. Apple does it with the iPhoneFor example.

With that idea in mind, I decided to approach the device with more attention. Was it a discreet but well thought out or simply logical continuity? Sometimes, the most interesting details are not noticed at first glance, but jump when we see calmly. I also wanted to answer the big question: what has really changed on this mobile?

The feeling of being before a Premium product It is perceived as soon as you have it in your hand. The aluminum frame of “aerospace grade”, the rounded edges, its 8.08 mm thick and a weight of 191 grams contribute to a careful ergonomics. Xiaomi also ensures that he has distributed the weight in a balanced way to enhance this feeling.

In the back of the device we find a family design, without obvious changes with respect to the previous generation. The photographic module is still located in the upper left corner, housing three sensors. The novelty is in the flash, which leaves this module to be directly on the rear cover, inside a stylized elongated capsule.

Once again, Xiaomi is committed to collaboration with Leica, the legendary photographic firm that has long reinforces the visual section of its devices. As for hardware, There are no great revolutions: Again, three 50 MP sensors each. However, the AI ​​offers better both in the image processing section and in the zoom.

If we stop in the details, a change that is obvious is the finish of the rear. While the Xiaomi 14 opted for a brilliant and striking glass, the new Xiaomi 15 adopts a frosted glass With a more discreet matte finish. In addition, the subtle textured bezel surrounded by the camera module has disappeared in this update.

The matt rear and the aerospace aluminum edges not only provide elegance, but also a key advantage: they do not catch traces easily. For those who enjoy an always impeccable mobile, this finish is a success. Although at certain angles they can be marked, the difference with other models is remarkable. There are much more prone options to get dirty.

Xiaomi maintains the same color palette: black, white and green. However, The tones are now softerwhich slightly changes the perception of design. Personally, the green finish is the one that highlights in this model, while white, with its contrast marked in front of the black photographic module, I found the most attractive.

On the front we find, once again, with a 6.36 -inch OLED screen, resolution of 2,670 x 1,200 pixels and a refreshment rate of up to 120 Hz. The maximum brightness has risen from 3,000 to 3,200 nits, an interesting increase, although in my fast tests under direct sunlight still does not seem sufficient. We will check it in the Review complete phone.

News are also in the least visible details. Specifically those that inhabit under the screen. Xiaomi has left the optical footprint sensor behind and makes the leap to a ultrasonic sensorwhich promises a faster and more reliable unlock. In addition, it should work even with wet hands. All this without compromising the safety of the device.

The mobile also wins in autonomy. The battery rises from 4,610 mAh to 5,240 mAh without the weight. Quick cable charging remains at 90 W and wireless in 50 W. Of course, there is a negative point: the charger is not included in the box, which would lead us to make an additional investment to make the most of it.

Since the end of last year We knew that the Xiaomi 15 series would arrive With the new Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Qualcomm chip manufactured in 3 nanometers. The company presented it with great expectation, and now the promise has been fulfilled. This processor aims to squeeze the performance of the most powerful mobiles of 2025.

Xiaomi has also focused on the operating system of its new series. Hyperos 2based on Android 15, arrives refined to offer a stronger experience. Among its novelties, a IA writing assistant, a tool to eliminate reflexes in photos and the “HD Plus” function to improve old images.

It also adds the Creation of animated funds From photos, a recorder with transcription and translation, and the new Hyperconnect technology, which promises better integration with Apple devices. In addition, with Hyper Core it will be possible to capture simultaneous images from different devices, such as a tablet and a smartphone.

A mobile as excellent as continuist

The first contact with the new Xiaomi 15 leaves a clear message: it is an excellent mobile, with a compact design, quality materials and a remarkable power. However, its essence is not entirely new. At the aesthetic, follow the line of Xiaomi 13which already marked a before and after about Xiaomi 12 launched three years ago.

One point in favor is that prices are maintained No changes compared to last year. The version with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage costs 999 euroswhile the variant with 512 GB rises to 1,099 euros. In addition, as is tradition, those who buy in the official online store will receive a gift for a limited time: in this case, the new Xiaomi Pad 7.

Images | Xataka

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