Xiaomi 15T review: Quality without innovation

Best Prices Today: Xiaomi 15T

Xiaomi’s latest sub-flagship series is here, and it promises to match flagship features with more reasonable prices.

I tested the Xiaomi 14T last year, and it made a great impression, so I had high hopes for the new models.

On paper, the 15T doesn’t disappoint. It features a newer, faster processor, a larger battery and a bigger display with a slimmer bezel. It also has a fetching new look and some novel software features.

It’s not all good news, though. The display isn’t as bright, and it has a slightly lower refresh rate as well. It doesn’t seem as though the camera hardware has had upgrades either.

So, is the Xiaomi 15T worth considering, or do you need to shell out for the 15T Pro to see real benefits? I’ve been testing it to find out and you can compare my findings to our review of the Xiaomi 15 T Pro.

Design & Build

• Glass back, plastic frame
• 194g, Corning Gorilla Glass 7i
• IP68 rated

The Xiaomi 15T looks almost completely identical to its Pro sibling. It’s exactly the same size and shape, except that the LED flash unit is in a different position. On the 15T, it’s part of the camera island, while on the Pro, it’s off to one side.

Despite looking the same, the two phones feel different. The Xiaomi 15T Pro has an aluminium frame, while the standard 15T has a plastic frame. This means you don’t get that cold-metal feel when you pick it up, and it also means the phone is significantly lighter. It weighs 194g, compared to 210g.

Personally, I don’t mind a plastic frame. Sure, it doesn’t feel as premium but, as I said, it’s lighter. Plus, typically, the frame stays cooler when gaming, which is a plus.

It’s worth noting that this is a fairly large phone, and its boxy, iPhone-like design makes it feel larger

You still get the same IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, the same Gorilla Glass 7i coating on the screen, and the same glass fibre rear panel. In terms of durability, I wouldn’t expect there to be a massive difference between the two models. Both get a very similar black TPU case in the box for added protection, too.

The Xiaomi 15T comes in three metallic colour options, in spite of their plastic elements: Black, Gray or Rose Gold. I have the Gray model in for testing, and while it doesn’t make too much of a statement, it looks very slick and professional.

It’s worth noting that this is a fairly large phone, and its boxy, iPhone-like design makes it feel larger still. I have big hands, so it wasn’t an issue for me, but if you don’t, this phone might feel a little unwieldy.

Screen & Speakers

• 6.83-inch 1280 x 2772 OLED 120Hz
• 3200 nits peak brightness, 3840Hz PWM dimming
• Stereo speakers

The display is a definite highlight of this phone. It’s massive, fully flat, and has a slim, symmetrical bezel on all sides. It’s an OLED panel with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, and it boasts the same 3200 nits peak brightness as its Pro counterpart. It can’t match the Pro’s 144Hz refresh rate, but in reality, I don’t think most people are going to notice that.

If you’re sensitive to screen flicker, a bigger difference is that the Pro model has DC dimming, while the 15T uses PWM. In theory, the Pro should be more comfortable to look at with low brightness levels, but as I’m not sensitive to flicker, I can’t really comment.

In any case, the 15T still offers high-frequency 3840Hz dimming, so it’s a cut above most when it comes to eye protection. It has also been awarded TUV Rheinland’s Low Blue Light, Flicker Free and Circadian Friendly certifications.

The panel looked great, no matter what I was viewing, and HDR10+ and Dolby Vision content only made it look better. The dark areas are deep and detailed, while the highlights are dazzling and lifelike. There are loads of options for customising the colour reproduction too.

The phone has dual stereo speakers, with one firing from the earpiece and the other from the base of the phone, next to the USB-C port. They sound almost identical to the 15T Pro. The soundstage is decent, and they can get astonishingly loud, but the bass reproduction isn’t the best.

Specs & Performance

• MediaTek Dimensity 8400-Ultra
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB / 512GB storage

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is powered by the Dimensity 8400-Ultra, the same 4nm chip we’ve seen in devices like the Poco X7 Pro. It’s not quite flagship-level performance, but for most people’s needs, it’s more than powerful enough.

To sweeten the deal, you get a generous 256GB of storage as standard, and 12GB of RAM for all your multitasking needs.

It’s only when playing a demanding game that you’ll really notice the difference between this and a proper flagship chip

Generally speaking, the phone feels lightning quick. I never noticed any stuttering or slowing when I was swiping around the OS, switching between multiple apps and scrolling social media.

It’s only when playing a demanding game that you’ll really notice the difference between this and a proper flagship chip. For example, I played a lot of Wuthering Waves on the Xiaomi 15T Pro, and I was able to max out all the settings without issue. However, on this phone, I needed to use the “Balanced” preset and play at 30fps for an optimal experience. It would still play at higher settings, but it would begin to stutter during intense scenes.

Of course, this only matters if you’re into graphically challenging titles or competitive games like PUBG Mobile. For more casual gaming, this phone is more than capable. Plus, it never got too hot, even when trying to run these difficult games, which is always a bonus.

Benchmarks

Cameras

• 50 Mp f/1.7 main camera
• 40 Mp f/1.9 2x telephoto
• 12 Mp, f/2.2 ultrawide
• 32 Mp, f/2.2 selfie camera, fixed focus

The Xiaomi 15T sports the Light Fusion 800 image sensor for its main camera; it’s the same one that the Poco F7 Ultra uses, so we’ve already seen that it’s capable of excellent results. However, it’s a smaller sensor than the Pro model, so it’s unlikely to match it in low-light situations.

You also get the same 12Mp ultrawide and 32Mp selfie camera as the Pro, but the telephoto is much less impressive, offering only a 2x optical zoom.

The Xiaomi 15T can still take great photos. It still benefits from Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica

The 46mm equivalent focal length of the telephoto is a useful one, and I often find it preferable to the relatively wide main camera. However, the shortcomings are plain to see. The minimum focus distance is pretty poor, and while the default camera app makes it look like you’re using the telephoto camera, if your subject is close up, it’s likely just cropping into the main camera instead.

The problem is compounded by the fact that the main sensor isn’t particularly great for macro shots, and the ultrawide doesn’t have autofocus. So, if you want to shoot macro, your only real option is a digital crop of the main sensor. It might not matter to everyone, but I found it disappointing.

The phone is also nowhere near as impressive as the Pro model for long-range zooms. It might look better at its native 2x, but the degradation is easy to see at 5x, and it only gets worse as you push towards the maximum 60x digital zoom.

That said, the Xiaomi 15T can still take great photos. It still benefits from Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica, and that means you get access to the same excellent Leica-tuned colour profiles and bokeh simulations as Xiaomi’s flagship devices.

There are still some surprisingly advanced video features, too. You can record in LOG when using the Pro video mode, and even apply LUTs within the camera app. This was present on the 14T as well, but it only worked on the main camera; now you can do it with all the rear lenses.

You can record at up to 4K 60fps on the rear trio, while the selfie camera supports up to 4K 30fps. Sadly, though, there’s no 4K 120fps mode – that’s only available on the Pro.

Battery Life & Charging

• 5500 mAh battery
• 67W wired charging
• No charger included

The Xiaomi 15T packs a 5500 mAh cell, just like the Pro variant. However, it doesn’t support wireless charging, and the wired charging speed is reduced to 67W. Neither model comes with a charger in the box, just a USB-C cable, so you might need to factor that into the price if you don’t have a suitable adapter already.

Our usual battery benchmark, the PCMark Work 3.0 Battery Drain test, shows that the Xiaomi 15T doesn’t last quite as long as the Pro, but a score of over 14 hours is nothing to be sniffed at. And honestly, in use, I barely felt the difference.

I was still able to achieve two days on a charge when I used it more conservatively. Otherwise, a day and a half seemed to be quite common. In any situation, the Xiaomi 15T will get you to the end of the day, and then some, which is all you really need.

Plus, while the charging speed may have been nerfed on this model, it’s still very quick. Half an hour on the charger takes you to around 65% charged, which is very easy to live with. Of course, I would have loved to see wireless charging added to the equation, but at this price, that’s still very uncommon.

Software & Apps

• Hyper OS, based on Android 15
• Xiaomi Astral Communication
• Xiaomi HyperAI

The Xiaomi 15T runs a heavily customised version of Android 15 called Hyper OS. It’s the same software that you’ll find on all recent Xiaomi and Poco handsets, and if you’ve used Hyper OS before, you won’t be in for too many surprises.

Hyper OS is a divisive operating system; it changes a lot of the Android fundamentals and takes a bit of inspiration from iOS, too. I’ll admit that it takes some getting used to, but once I did, I found it very easy to live with.

One criticism I fully understand though, is of the amount of junk that comes preinstalled

It has some of the most in-depth customisation options of any Android skin. So, if there’s something you don’t like in the default configuration, you can likely change it. I especially enjoy how many apps it lets me cram onto the homescreen.

One criticism I fully understand though, is of the amount of junk that comes preinstalled. There are folders full of recommended apps, and more first-party apps than any brand should really need. Thankfully, cleaning them up is easy, as Xiaomi allows you to select loads of apps at once, but it’s a hassle nonetheless.

As for what’s new, there’s something that Xiaomi calls Astral Communication. It allows you to make voice calls between two Xiaomi 15T devices without the need for cellular reception. I’ve struggled to meet up with people at festivals this year when the network gets overloaded, and this is a potential solution.

This phone should be able to make calls over distances of 1.3km when free from obstructions, but walls and trees will limit that distance. I gave it a quick try, and it works as advertised, but the fact that it only works on Xiaomi 15T devices will limit its appeal. I’m sure Xiaomi will roll this out to other handsets in the future, and when it does, it’ll likely make Xiaomi a very appealing option for hikers and explorers. In fact, here’s why we think it’s a game-changer.

Price & Availability

The Xiaomi 15T has the same MSRP as its predecessor. It starts at £549/€549 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, extending to £599/€599 for the 512GB model.

In either case, it’s about £100 cheaper than the Pro model. That said, the Pro justifies its price well, adding an aluminium construction, wireless charging, a more powerful processor and an impressive 5x telephoto to the equation. The right one for you will all depend on your personal needs and you can compare it to our top recommendations in our round-up of the best mid-range phones.

The Xiaomi 15T is available to order directly from Xiaomi’s official store or through a third-party reseller such as Amazon. It’ll be widely available in the UK and Europe, but as usual, you’re not likely to find it in the US.

If you get in early, Xiaomi has a range of special launch offers running until 31 October, including bundles that include a free 43-inch Fire TV and Xiaomi 90W fast charger.

Should you buy the Xiaomi 15T?

The Xiaomi 15T is a well-specced phone at a very affordable price, and for those reasons, I can see it being a popular option. I think the new design looks great, and if you can ignore the plastic frame, you could easily mistake this for a flagship handset.

The problem is that it doesn’t bring a lot to the table compared to last year’s 14T. Sure, there’s a newer processor, a bigger battery and the screen is larger, but the screen isn’t as bright or speedy, and the cameras haven’t seen much advancement. Comparatively, the 15T Pro has seen much more of an upgrade, boasting a fresh 5x periscope telephoto and 4K 120fps recording capabilities.

The base Xiaomi 15T is still a great phone, it’s just not as exciting, and owners of the 14T will likely see little reason to upgrade. That is, unless you’re interested in the new Astral Communication feature, which is currently unmatched in the market. It’s a very useful addition, but the fact that it only currently works between 15T-series devices will severely limit its appeal – hopefully we’ll see more Xiaomi devices adopt the standard in the future.

Specs

• Hyper OS, based on Android 15
• 6.83-inch 1280 x 2772 OLED 120Hz
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• MediaTek Dimensity 8400 Ultra
• 12GB RAM
• 256GB / 512GB storage
• Camera:
• 50Mp main sensor
• 12Mp ultrawide
• 50Mp 2x telephoto
• 32Mp selfie camera
• Up to 4K @ 60fps rear video
• Stereo speakers
• Dual-SIM + eSIIM
• Wi-Fi 6e
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 5500mAh battery
• 67W wired charging
• 163.2 x 78.0 x 7.50mm
• IP68 certified
• 194g
• Colours: Black, Gray, Rose Gold

Best Prices Today: Xiaomi 15T