The Pros and Cons of the Xiaomi 15T
The Xiaomi T Series is shaking up the mid-to-high-end smartphone market. In fact, its performance sometimes comes close to flagship-level phones. The Xiaomi 15T is a device worth considering, both for buyers and rival brands. It is the next version after the Xiaomi 14T, which was already a powerful phone.
As an upgrade, the Xiaomi 15T brings several important improvements. These include a bigger battery, better design, stronger durability, and improved performance. Here are some of its pros and cons.
Pros of Xiaomi 15T
1. Leica Camera Collaboration
One of the most interesting things about the Xiaomi 15T is its continued partnership with Leica for photography. The phone still uses Leica Summilux Optical lenses, just like the Xiaomi 14 and 15. This gives your photos a professional look with Leica’s unique style.
The camera setup is similar to the one on the Xiaomi 14T. On the back, it has a 50 MP main camera with a Light Fusion 800 sensor. This camera features an f/1.7 aperture, a sensor size of 1/1.55 inches, and OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) to reduce blur. There’s also a 12 MP ultrawide camera with an f/2.2 aperture that’s great for wide-angle shots.
For zoom, the Xiaomi 15T keeps its 50 MP telephoto lens with an f/1.9 aperture. It supports 2x optical zoom and has autofocus to maintain sharp details. Photos taken from a distance still look clear and rich with detail, perfect for users who enjoy different styles of photography.
One of my favorite camera features on this phone is Master Portrait. It can separate the subject from the background smoothly and naturally. The subject also stands out with strong detail and Leica-style colors.
The Xiaomi 15T also has some features for users who want to shoot videos like a pro. It supports 10-bit Log video at 4K 60 FPS, which gives you not only high quality but also easier editing with popular formats.
A Pro mode is available too, along with a wide selection of LUTs (Look-Up Tables) to help you add different visual effects or moods to your videos.
2. Slim and Premium Design with Water Resistance
At first glance, the Xiaomi 15T looks quite similar to the Xiaomi 14T. Both phones have a square-shaped camera module with four circles inside. Some people may not like this kind of design, but in my opinion, the Xiaomi 15T looks better than the previous one.
The camera module on the Xiaomi 15T has more rounded corners, which gives it a more elegant look. The body corners are also slightly curved that makes the phone more comfortable to hold. It doesn’t feel sharp in the hand.
If you look more closely, the camera circles are now flat and don't stick out from the module. This helps protect the cameras from direct impact. The phone is also thinner at 7.5 mm, compared to the Xiaomi 14T which is 7.8 mm thick.
The materials for the body and frame are still the same, and the back has a smooth matte finish. The Xiaomi 15T is available in three colors; Rose Gold, Black, and Gray.
The phone is also water and dust resistant with an IP68 rating. What makes it better than the previous model is that it can survive in water up to 3 meters deep for 30 minutes. In comparison, the Xiaomi 14T could only handle 2 meters. This feature adds value, especially for a phone in this class.
3. Large AMOLED Screen with Lots of Features
The Xiaomi 15T has a large 6.83-inch AMOLED screen. The bezels on all sides are very thin, only 1.5 mm, so the screen feels wide and almost edge-to-edge. This design helps achieve a screen-to-body ratio of 90%.
The resolution is also high at 1.5K (1280 x 2772 pixels). This can give users a more satisfying viewing experience for watching videos or browsing social media. The screen supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and shows up to 12-bit color depth to make visuals more vibrant and detailed.
The screen refresh rate is 120 Hz, which makes scrolling and animations feel smooth. Even though it is lower than the Xiaomi 14T’s 144 Hz refresh rate, 120 Hz is still great for a phone at this price point, especially with other improvements it brings.
The screen can reach a peak brightness of 3200 nits, so it stays clear even under bright sunlight. It is also protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, which helps keep the screen safe from scratches or cracks.
For indoor use, the screen is easy on the eyes, even in low-light conditions. It has DC Dimming up to 3840Hz PWM, and it is certified by TUV Rheinland for being flicker-free, low blue light, and circadian-friendly.
4. Stereo Speakers with Dolby Atmos Support
To improve your experience when watching videos or playing games, the Xiaomi 15T comes with stereo speakers. The main speaker is placed at the bottom of the phone, and the second one is combined with the earpiece at the top. Because of this setup, the sound is louder from the bottom speaker, so it may not feel fully balanced.
But the Xiaomi 15T is not just about loud volume. The sound is also clear and rich in detail, thanks to Dolby Atmos technology. This creates a surround sound effect, so watching videos or listening to music feels more enjoyable, even without earphones or extra speakers.
Another good thing is the presence of four microphones. These microphones can capture sound from all directions (360 degrees), which makes the phone able to record spatial audio with a 3D effect.
5. Comes with Xiaomi HyperAI
The Xiaomi 15T includes Xiaomi HyperAI, a smarter and more flexible AI system than before. It offers at least three main functions; helping with daily tasks, working as an assistant, and supporting creative activities.
The first function is for everyday use. There is an AI Writing tool that helps with writing, brainstorming ideas, and checking spelling. You also get AI Speech Recognition, which can tell different voices apart while transcribing, along with AI Interpreter and AI Search to make tasks easier.
The second function works with Google Gemini. This is an AI feature that many phones in 2025 are expected to have. You can find tools like Gemini Overlay, Gemini Live, Image Generation, and Gemini Connected Apps. There is also Circle to Search with Google, which helps you find information quickly by simply circling it on the screen.
The last function focuses on creative tools, especially for photos and images. You can use AI Erase Pro to remove unwanted objects from pictures, AI Image Enhancement to improve photo quality, and AI Image Expansion to extend photos beyond their original size.
6. Strong Signal and Offline Communication Features
As a mid-to-high-end phone, the Xiaomi 15T has got several useful features for better communication and stronger connections, whether you are close or far away.
One of them is the Xiaomi Surge T1S Tuner. This is a special chip that helps improve the phone’s signal strength. It makes the connection more stable when you are streaming, doing live broadcasts, or playing games. It also supports other functions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
Another helpful feature is the Super Antenna Array. It boosts network signal strength, especially when the phone is held upright or sideways. Xiaomi claims it can improve the signal by 49% when scrolling, 63% during gaming, and 26% when making calls.
The Xiaomi 15T also comes with a feature called Xiaomi Offline Communication. It lets you make calls without a signal within a distance of 1.3 km. However, this feature is not meant for emergencies, as it has some limitations.
To use this feature, your Xiaomi phone must have a SIM card, be signed in to a Xiaomi account, and have Bluetooth turned on. Calls should be made in open areas because buildings or other barriers can affect the connection. Also, not all countries support this feature.
7. Powered by Dimensity 8400 Ultra
The Xiaomi 15T runs on the Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset. This is one of the most powerful chips in its class and is also used in phones like the POCO X7 Pro, realme GT 7T, and iQOO Z10 Turbo. Its performance is strong enough to compete with phones in the same price range, or even above.
This 4 nm chipset uses only large cores, but it still works efficiently without overheating or wasting too much power. The Xiaomi 15T also includes the Xiaomi 3D IceLoop System to keep the phone cool and help it run smoothly.
The Dimensity 8400 Ultra uses an octa-core setup with Cortex-A725 cores. It has one core running at 3.25 GHz, three at 3 GHz, and four at 2.1 GHz. For graphics, it uses a Mali-G720 MP7 GPU with a frequency of 1300 MHz.
To support this powerful chip, the Xiaomi 15T offers 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM. You can also choose between two storage options: 256 GB or 512 GB, both using fast UFS 4.1 technology.
As for performance scores, according to TechTablets, the Xiaomi 15T reached an AnTuTu v10 score of 1.64 million. This is higher than the POCO X7 Pro, which scored around 1.5 million with the same chipset.
8. 5500 mAh Battery with Fast Charging
One of the complaints about the Xiaomi 14T was its battery life. Xiaomi seems to have listened to the feedback and made improvements. Now, the Xiaomi 15T comes with a 5500 mAh battery, bigger than the 5000 mAh battery in the 14T.
With this larger battery, the Xiaomi 15T is said to last longer. According to the official claim, it can run for up to 13.19 hours of continuous use. TechTablets also tested the battery and reported 11.12 hours of usage, which is close to the Xiaomi 15T Pro’s 12.35 hours.
For charging, it still uses 67W HyperCharge, just like the previous model. Xiaomi says it takes around 50 minutes to fully charge the phone. TechTablets also tested this and got a result of 48 minutes.
Cons of Xiaomi 15T
1. No MicroSD Slot
Source: west-games.comOne thing to note about the Xiaomi 15T is that it does not have a microSD slot. However, this is quite common for phones in the mid-to-high-end range. Many brands remove this slot to keep the phone’s performance smooth and stable, based on the original factory setup.
The good news is that the Xiaomi 15T already comes with a large amount of RAM and internal storage. This is usually enough to save many high-quality photos and videos.
2. No 3.5 mm Audio Jack
Another thing missing from the Xiaomi 15T is the 3.5 mm audio jack. Because of this, using wired earphones can be a bit harder. You will need a converter to connect them, or you can use earphones that have a USB Type-C plug.
A better option is to use wireless earphones or TWS (True Wireless Stereo). These are easier to connect and more practical. The Xiaomi 15T supports Bluetooth 6.0, so the connection is stable and the audio delay is very low, which makes it good for watching videos or playing games.
3. No Wireless Charging or Bypass Charging
The regular Xiaomi T Series models, including the Xiaomi 15T, don't support wireless charging. This feature is only available on the Pro versions, like the Xiaomi 15T Pro and the 14T Pro. This difference helps make the Pro model more attractive to some buyers.
The Xiaomi 15T also doesn't have Bypass Charging feature. Without this, it is harder to play games while charging the phone, because it may cause the battery to heat up or lose its power faster over time.
There is a Slow Charging feature on this phone. It lowers the amount of power going into the phone, which helps reduce heat when playing and charging at the same time. However, this is not the same as Bypass Charging, and it still may not protect the battery as well in the long run.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 15T continues the strong performance of the Xiaomi 14T as one of the top phones of the year. It delivers solid features in almost every area. One of its best parts is the camera, made in partnership with Leica, which brings a professional touch to both photos and videos.
The performance is also powerful with the Dimensity 8400 Ultra chipset. It can handle heavy tasks like multitasking, editing, and gaming without lag. The large RAM, strong cooling system, and bigger 5500 mAh battery also help the phone last longer during use.
The design has been slightly improved, especially in terms of water resistance. One small downside is that the screen’s refresh rate is now 120 Hz, lower than the previous model. The phone also lacks a microSD slot, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and does not support wireless or Bypass Charging.
So, what do you think? Is the Xiaomi 15T still the right phone for you?