Xiaomi launches $1,600 Samsung phone challenger as it rides 300% stock rally to record high

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, in the foreground, and the Xiaomi 15 in the background. "Xiaomi has been hugely successful of building its brand with affordable technology and but now it's moving up the value chain as it moves more into premium devices and that's well-suited to the European market where we see an affluent audience," Ben Wood, chief analyst at CCS Insight, told CNBC. Both devices are powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, one of the latest processors. The 15 Ultra model also comes with a higher spec camera and bigger display. The Xiaomi 15 starts at 999 euros ($1,047) and the Xiaomi 15 Ultra starts at 1,499 euros ($1,571). The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Ultra are the most recent pair of smartphones from the Chinese technology giant sporting the latest chips and boosted cameras. They were unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. BARCELONA — Xiaomi launched its latest flagship smartphone on Sunday continuing its push into higher-end devices as it seek ... Read full article.