Smartphone review
Xiaomi 15T Pro blurs the line between mid-range and flagship
Powerful, elegant, and fast, yet just expensive enough to make you think twice.
Top Line
The Xiaomi 15T Pro is a capable, well-built device that punches above its price in many respects - performance, display, and camera quality among them. Yet, at roughly $900, it sits in an awkward middle ground: too expensive for the mid-range, but without the prestige or ecosystem of a full flagship.
For those who want near-flagship quality without paying Apple or Samsung prices, and who don’t mind a heavier device, the 15T Pro is one of Xiaomi’s best-balanced offerings yet. For those looking to spend a bit less, there’s also the standard 15T (without the “Pro”), starting at around $600 and offering only slight differences from the Pro version.
The 15T Pro stands out with a larger screen than most direct competitors and generous specs for its price. Comparable devices like Samsung’s S25 or Google’s Pixel 10 offer just 256GB of storage at the same price point. The Xiaomi delivers strong cameras, an excellent display, and a refreshingly clean software experience with minimal preinstalled apps and ads, a rarity for the brand.
Still, the price may give some buyers pause. For roughly $150 more, you could step up to a Samsung or Apple device. And if you’re already considering Xiaomi, you could save significantly by choosing a POCO model, though you’d compromise on camera performance. Against that backdrop, the 15T Pro may struggle to find its sweet spot.
Build and Design: Big, Heavy — but Elegant
The 15T Pro is large and solidly built. With a 6.83-inch screen and a weight of 210 grams, it feels noticeably heftier than the Xiaomi 15. The screen is wider than most rivals, and while the weight is felt, the design itself is elegant: a flat, edge-to-edge display with barely visible bezels.
The review unit’s gold finish added to its premium appearance, even when enclosed in the included silicone case. The camera module maintains the square arrangement seen in the 14T Pro, with slightly protruding lenses that remain neatly integrated into the body.
The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 7i, typically found on mid-range phones, while the glass back and IP68 certification ensure dust protection and water resistance. Xiaomi claims the phone can withstand immersion up to three meters for 30 minutes, exceeding the usual 1.5-meter standard.
Hardware: Powerful and Fast
Under the hood, the 15T Pro runs on MediaTek’s Dimensity 9400+ processor, theoretically slower than flagship chips, including Xiaomi’s own. It comes with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, with the option to expand virtual memory up to 12GB more.
In practice, performance feels fast and smooth, whether for daily use, multitasking, or gaming with advanced graphics. The bright, high-quality display performs well even under sunlight.
Xiaomi also includes support for eSIM alongside two physical SIM slots and retains its trademark infrared blaster, allowing the phone to double as a universal remote.
Powering it all is a 5,500mAh battery, easily lasting a full workday or more. Charging supports up to 90 watts, though the review unit lacked a compatible charger. According to distributor Hamilton, retail units will include one at no extra cost. Wireless charging at 50 watts is also supported for compatible accessories.
With a 65-watt charger, the phone charged from 15% to 50% in 35 minutes, reaching full capacity in just over 90 minutes.
Xiaomi also touts a new feature: device-to-device wireless communication within the 15T series across a range of over one kilometer, even without reception. This couldn’t be tested with a single unit, but it’s an intriguing addition.
Software: Lighter, But Not Pure
The 15T Pro runs Android 15 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS skin. The interface hasn’t changed much, apps populate the home screens by default, with gesture-based navigation (buttons can be re-enabled).
Unlike cheaper Xiaomi models, bloatware and ads are minimal, though not absent. Pre-installed apps include LinkedIn, Spotify, TikTok, Netflix, WPS Office, and a few Xiaomi utilities.
AI integration is everywhere: Google’s Gemini is built in, along with an auto-transcription tool (no Hebrew yet) and a writing assistant that can rephrase or expand text. When prompted to “write a Xiaomi 15T Pro review,” it confidently generated one, but with incorrect specs, proving that some tasks still require a human touch.
Camera: Leica Partnership Still Shines
While it looks like a quad-camera setup, the 15T Pro actually features three active lenses: a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultra-wide. Xiaomi continues its collaboration with Leica, improving both image quality and usability.
Users can easily toggle between Leica’s “Authentic” and “Vibrant” photo styles before each shot, a usability upgrade from earlier models. A range of Leica-inspired filters are also included.
Image quality is excellent: photos are sharp, richly colored, and retain clarity even at maximum optical zoom. Low-light shots are bright and detailed, capturing ambient light effectively even in darker environments.
