Xiaomi 15 Pro Design

The Xiaomi 15 Pro version is just as effective as the standard model, with the sole distinction being that the USB 3.2 Gen 2 offers increased speed. Many people are worried about the fogging lens problem seen in the Xiaomi 15 series. We conducted benchmarks to heat up the phone and then placed it in the refrigerator. We discovered that the

Xiaomi 15 series does experience fogging inside the lens; however, it wasn’t severe and cleared up after about 10 seconds. This is a specific issue with the Xiaomi 15, another phone with IP68 certification, which faced similar fogging lens problems. The entire Xiaomi 15 series does not consistently experience this issue but conclude that these models are not more susceptible to foggy lenses than others.

Display

The specifications of the Xiaomi 15 Pro’s display are outlined here, and there’s nothing particularly impressive about it. Although the 2K resolution should be a major selling point, Xiaomi has still set it to 1080p by default, so those who purchase the 15 Pro should remember to adjust the resolution in the settings first. The low brightness PWM frequency remains at 920 Hz, and due to the new technology, the screen appears noticeably greenish from the side. Peak brightness has not been enhanced with this new technology; it still sits at 600 nits in manual mode and 1,000 nits in hybrid mode, which is not even as effective as the more affordable Real GT7 Pro.

However, the display isn’t entirely subpar; for instance, when watching HDR content, the maximum brightness can exceed 1,700 nits and can be sustained longer than other devices. The average Delta E measures 0.8, and users can freely adjust the color temperature. Power consumption has decreased by 10%, but overall, the screen performance of the Xiaomi 15 Pro falls short of expectations and is not the finest display Xiaomi has ever produced.

Performance, Battery & Charging

The Snapdragon 8 Elite was already highlighted in our review of the Xiaomi 15. The pro version closely mirrors the standard version, and in terms of scores, they are nearly identical. Last year’s Xiaomi 14 pro was quite disappointing regarding performance; take a look at the frame rate curve for games—it can’t even surpass the standard version of the Xiaomi 14. It ended up throttling, while the Xiaomi 15 Pro is significantly ahead in power consumption, temperature, and average frame rates. Gamers currently using the 14 pro should consider upgrading to a new device.

What surprised me even more was the comparison with the Xiaomi 15 standard. It makes sense that the Xiaomi 15 Pro outperforms its counterpart, as the larger size does enhance the gaming experience. It is astonished by the remarkably low power consumption of the new 6.7-inch 2K display; for instance, the 14 Pro uses 0.6 watts more per second than the 14, but the Xiaomi 15 Pro uses 0.2 watts less than the 15. When combined with the largest battery ever in a Xiaomi phone, it makes the Xiaomi 15 Pro the device with the longest battery life in the brand’s history.

A fantastic gaming experience along with extended battery life seems to be the most significant upgrade for the Xiaomi 15 Pro. As we know, large batteries and fast charging can be at odds, which is why the 15 Pro has reduced its wide charging from 120W to 90W.

Xiaomi 15 Pro Camera

The main and ultra-wide cameras of the Xiaomi 15 Pro are equivalent to those in the non-Pro version in terms of both sensor model and photo tones. When compared to the 14 Pro, the findings remain consistent with the Xiaomi 15. In most scenarios, images captured in vibrant mode exhibit bolder colors and heightened exposures, while the authentic mode shows almost no difference from its predecessor, except for slightly increased saturation. Issues present in the previous generation have been addressed, as the Xiaomi 15 Pro has eliminated the variable aperture system.

There are two situations that are impacted by this change: first, if you prefer less background blur, then the Xiaomi 15 Pro may not suit your preferences, since even the extended depth-of-field feature is restricted to the telephoto lenses and is not available on the main camera; second, if you frequently shoot documents, the 14 Pro can produce superior image quality at the edges after adjusting the aperture, while the edge image quality of the Xiaomi 15 Pro is noticeably inferior. This is the advantage provided by the variable aperture.

The telephoto camera of the Xiaomi 14 Pro has a focal length of 67 mm but is cropped to 75 mm by default, whereas the Xiaomi 15 Pro boasts a native focal length of 120 mm. Therefore, the Xiaomi 15 Pro, equipped with a 120 mm telephoto camera, has a clear advantage for those who travel often. It appears that the 14 Pro is more suitable for everyday use, where its 3x telephoto can effectively capture food with a pronounced background blur, or if you were to photograph a sleeping kitten, the 75 mm focal length centers it perfectly in the frame, while the 120 mm can make the subject seem oversized.

Additionally, the 14 Pro is capable of taking macro shots, which the 15 Pro cannot, and the macro images produced by the 14 Pro tend to be significantly sharper. The closest focusing distance for the telephoto cameras on both the 14 Pro and the 15 Pro is 30 cm, which can be quite frustrating at times.

Therefore, if you spend a lot of time indoors, the 14 Pro may be a better option for you. In general, while the difference in image quality is minimal in most pictures, without zooming in, it may be challenging to distinguish the 15 Pro from the 14 Pro. Most users of the 14 Pro do not need to invest in the 15 Pro solely for the telephoto camera upgrade. The front camera remains unchanged, still featuring the same 32-megapixel sensor.

The 14 Pro tends to enhance dynamic range, while the Xiaomi 15 Pro focuses more on emphasizing light and shadow contrasts. Additionally, like the standard version, the Xiaomi 15 Pro exhibits improved intelligence, allowing for more precise keying than its predecessor. However, video recording capabilities have regressed; apart from HDR, which shows slight improvement over the 14 Pro, sharpness and purple fringing control have worsened. This is not the expected performance of a flagship device, and I hope a software update will rectify these issues.

HyperOS 2

The official version of Hyper OS 2 still hasn’t managed to provide all the features demonstrated during the launch event, and some functionalities do not perform particularly well, such as the AI Dynamic Wallpaper. It allows your static wallpaper to move, which is a nice touch, but there are limitations on the photos you can select. You may be familiar with AI Erase and AI Enhance, but AI Expand is something new. While some images might appear realistic, similar to those taken by a professional photographer, others can look artificial, with distorted fingers being the most noticeable issue.

Additionally, the new Mi AI hasn’t yet received an update. Regardless of the language you use to communicate with it, its responses can often be quite absurd. So, it’s best to consider Hyper OS 2 simply as a more refined version of Hyper OS.

Conclusion

Hyper is running quite smoothly now, but Xiaomi is likely to be less expensive and will offer a global version for purchase worldwide. This is the reason why many refer to Xiaomi as the king of flagship phones, at least until the Ultra version is launched.