Xiaomi 15 Ultra Review: Casual Photographers Need Not Apply

CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 8.0 / 10 SCORE Xiaomi 15 Ultra Pros Powerful processor Camera can take amazing photos Six years of software support Cons Extremely expensive Useful camera grip is a pricey extra Camera's auto mode can be underwhelming The Xiaomi 14 Ultra was one of the best phones of 2024, thanks in no small part to an awesome camera system that took some of the best photos I've ever seen from a camera phone. The follow-up, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, has a lot to live up to, and in many ways, it does. It's an absolute powerhouse: It's got a gorgeous display, and its camera setup takes amazing images. You can still buy it with the photography kit that adds a grip and shutter button to effectively turn it into a compact camera, but there are some caveats holding me back from calling the 15 Ultra a total success. After taking over 1,000 photos with the phone, I've ... Read full article.