Where the reviewers agree
- The 5x periscope telephoto camera is a strong point, with several reviewers praising it as a clear upgrade. — Tech Advisor, TechRadar, Android Central, SmartWorld, Tweakers, PC-Welt, Trusted Reviews
- The ultrawide camera is the weak spot, described as weaker than the rest of the camera system. — Tech Advisor, Android Police, TechRadar, Android Central, SmartWorld, Tweakers, PC-Welt
- Battery life is long, with reviewers citing solid endurance and fast charging. — Tech Advisor, Android Police, Android Central, Tweakers, PC-Welt, SmartWorld
- The Dimensity 9400+ chip delivers fast, flagship-level performance. — Tech Advisor, TechRadar, Android Central, Tweakers, PC-Welt, Trusted Reviews, SmartWorld
Where they disagree
- Software support is a concern for some: Android Central and Android Police cite Android 15 at launch, while TechRadar says support is longer than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. — Android Central, Android Police, TechRadar
- Design earns praise from most, but TechRadar says it borrows heavily from Apple, while Tech Advisor and Tweakers call it premium and stylish. — TechRadar, Tech Advisor, Tweakers
- Reviewers differ on the 144Hz display: Tech Advisor, PC-Welt and SmartWorld praise it, while Trusted Reviews notes the non-LTPO panel and that full 144Hz is rarely reached. — Tech Advisor, PC-Welt, SmartWorld, Trusted Reviews
Bottom line: Suits buyers wanting flagship-level performance, a strong telephoto camera and long battery life at a lower price. Trade-offs include a weak ultrawide camera, HyperOS bloatware, a large, heavy body, and software update concerns.
Summarised with AI from the 8 reviews below — each one is linked in full.
What the reviewers said
Tweakers NL
No scoreDec 8, 2025A subtop phone that nearly matches flagships at its price. Fast chip, excellent battery and charging, good main and telephoto cameras, though ultrawide and selfie cameras disappoint and HyperOS is…
- Luxurious, waterproof design with thin symmetrical bezels
- Excellent battery life
- Good main and telephoto cameras
- Very fast chip (Dimensity 9400+)
- Very fast charging
- Ultrawide and selfie cameras are unimpressive
- Weaker user experience outside the camera app
- Vibration motor, speakers and fingerprint scanner less impressive
- HyperOS 3 still not a favourite
- Update policy average: 4 Android versions, 6 years security
PC-Welt DE
4.5/5Oct 21, 2025A flagship-level performer at a much lower price, with a strong display, long telephoto and excellent 4K 120 fps video, though the weak ultrawide and bloatware hold it back.
- Strong flagship-level performance from Dimensity 9400
- Large, bright 144 Hz OLED display
- Impressive five-times telephoto camera
- Long battery life and fast charging
- 4K 120 fps video from main camera
- Ultrawide camera is weak and lacks autofocus
- Heavy bloatware on Hyper-OS
- Large and heavy at 210 grams
- Only five years of security updates
- Speakers lack flagship-level sound quality
Trusted Reviews UK
4.5/5Oct 10, 2025A premium-feeling mid-range phone with flagship-level performance and cameras, held back by a non-LTPO screen and HyperOS.
- Strong 50MP main camera with good dynamic range
- Capable 50MP 5x periscope zoom for the price
- Premium design with matte finish and solid build
- Bright 6.82-inch AMOLED with HDR support
- Powerful Dimensity 9400+ performance
- Non-LTPO screen cannot drop below 30Hz
- Full 144Hz rarely achieved in practice
- Basic 13MP ultrawide, weak in low light
- Gorilla Glass 7i rather than Victus 2
- HyperOS feels far from stock Android
TechRadar UK
4.5/5Oct 10, 2025A welcome refinement over the 14T Pro, with a strong Leica-backed camera system, solid performance and excellent value, though its design and software borrow heavily from Apple.
- Refined, elegant design
- Great camera system overall with 5x periscope telephoto
- Solid performance from Dimensity 9400+
- Excellent value at £649 / €799
- Longer software support than Xiaomi 15 Ultra
- Battery life could be better in real-world use
- Ultra-wide camera lags behind the rest
- Unoriginal, heavily Apple-inspired aesthetics
- HyperOS is a little convoluted
Android Police US
7/10Sep 27, 2025A dependable, well-balanced phone with strong battery life, good camera and connectivity, but dated Android 15 software and poor timing ahead of the Xiaomi 17 series.
- Versatile camera with vibrant photos and Leica filters
- Two-day battery life with solid endurance
- Ergonomic, durable design with IP68 rating
- Strong cellular and Wi-Fi performance
- Smooth performance for everyday use and gaming
- Ships with Android 15 rather than Android 16
- HyperOS has pre-installed bloat and cluttered notifications
- Wide-angle and 5x zoom shots show exposure issues
- No charger included in the box
- Xiaomi 17 series release makes timing awkward
Android Central US
4/5Sep 24, 2025A well-designed, fast phone with strong cameras, long battery life and IP68, held back mainly by outdated Android 15 software and a missing charger.
- Much improved design with a polished, flagship-like look
- Dimensity 9400+ performance is fast and fluid
- Strong main and telephoto cameras
- Bright 144Hz AMOLED display
- Long battery life, over a day with heavy use
- Ships with Android 15 instead of Android 16
- No timeline given for Android 16 update
- No charger included in the box
- Not launching in all global markets
- Wide-angle camera is the weakest sensor
SmartWorld IT
8/10Sep 24, 2025The strongest T-series Xiaomi phone in a while: solid build, fast charging and a capable camera setup, though pricing and size may deter some buyers.
- Very fast 90W wired and 50W wireless charging
- Premium-feeling aluminium build quality
- Strong specs with 12GB RAM and UFS 4.1 storage
- Main and 5x telephoto cameras both 50MP
- Good 6.83-inch 144Hz AMOLED display
- Large and heavy at 210 grams
- Price of 799 euros is not low
- Few new software features beyond HyperOS
- Ultra-wide camera less convincing than main
- 5x telephoto softer and dimmer than main
Tech Advisor UK
4.5/5Sep 24, 2025Performs like a flagship at a lower price, with a strong 5x telephoto and 4K 120fps video, though the ultrawide and bloatware hold it back.
- Stylish, premium-feeling design with IP68 rating
- Massive, bright 144Hz OLED display
- Powerful Dimensity 9400+ performance
- Long battery life and fast charging
- 5x periscope telephoto is a strong upgrade
- Ultrawide camera is weak and lacks autofocus
- HyperOS is divisive and bloatware-heavy
- Software update promise is short compared to rivals
- Bass from speakers is lacking
- Heavy at 194g or 210g
Verdicts, pros and cons are short summaries in our words of each publisher's review; scores are as the publisher gave them. Specs are taken from the reviews' spec boxes — where they differ, we show the value most of them give; price is the US launch price of the base model. Read the originals for the full picture.
