Xiaomi 15T Pro Assessment – 5x zoom, 8K video, and nice value, however there is a catch 

As far as smartphones go, you must have heard of Xiaomi by now, because the Chinese tech large is the third largest model globally and continues to launch spectacular smartphones, a few of which even made it to our listing of one of the best digital camera telephones for photographers. 

At a look:

• Triple Leica Summilux-branded digital camera set-up
• 50MP principal digital camera ƒ/1.62, OIS, PDAF,  23mm equal           
• 50MP telephoto digital camera ƒ/3, 115mm equal. OIS
• 12MP ultra-wide digital camera ƒ/2.2, 15mm equal
• 32MP selfie-camera ƒ/2.2, 21mm equal
• 8K video at 30fps, 4K 120fps principal, 4K30fps throughout all
• 6.83inch 144Hz AMOLED show
• 5500mAh battery, 90W wired, 50W wi-fi

Xiaomi entered the market 15 years in the past with inexpensive smartphones that featured premium design and top-tier specs. The launch of their finances Redmi and later POCO collection additional cemented their success. In the higher midrange part, now we have the T-series with the most recent 15T Pro and 15T, topped solely by the flagship Xiaomi 15 Ultra. Although extensively out there in European and Asian markets and with bodily outlets set to open subsequent yr, sadly, Xiaomi shouldn’t be formally offered within the US.

Xiaomi 15T Pro – Features

As a part of their ongoing collaboration with Leica, the 15T Pro encompasses a Summilux imaging system with a triple lens digital camera setup alongside a set of Leica-inspired options. There are Leica Colour profiles, filters, a Portrait fashion and a complete new Leica Street Photography mode.

The largest improve over its predecessor is the 50MP telephoto digital camera, which now options 5x optical zoom (up from 2.6x) and a 10x digital enhanced zoom that’s mentioned to ship “optical level” high quality. Beyond that, readability is improved by AI, and you may zoom as much as 100x. It additionally acquired optical picture stabilisation, which is helpful for producing sharper handheld pictures and capturing at slower shutter speeds. Also, with an extended, 115mm focal size it’s now superb for telephoto portraits, compressing the scene and creating extra flattering outcomes.

While the utmost aperture has narrowed down from f/2 to f/3, this may be offset by the added OIS and improved computational images options introduced on by the most recent Xiaomi HyperOS 3.

The remaining cameras are inherited from the Xiaomi 14T Pro, so we get the identical high-performing 50MP f/1.6 principal digital camera backed by a big 1/1.3″ sensor with OIS and PDAF, a much less stirring 12MP ultra-wide digital camera and a 32MP selfie digital camera each with an ƒ/2.2 aperture.

The Xiaomi 14T Pro was already a video beast; the 15T Pro inherits the 8K30p video and additional improves 4K recording with a 120p choice out there on the principle sensor and 4K 60fps 10-bit Log recording with LUT import,  in addition to 4K 30fps HDR10+ for the remainder.

Xiaomi 15T Pro – Handling and design

Retaining some recognisable options from the earlier mannequin, the 15T Pro additionally introduces some refined refinements. The rear cameras sit flush with the digital camera island, which sits on a brand new, fully flat glass-fibre again panel. 

The entire look is complemented by an aluminium body. Overall, a sublime and polished design, with a modest shine to it, the Gray model I examined completely matching with a silver color MacBook.

The Corning Gorilla Glass 7i protected 6,83inch display screen is marginally larger than the 14T Pro was.And regardless of its decrease, 3200mAh peak brightness I’ve discovered it rapidly adapts to altering gentle and is simple to see even in vibrant daylight. 

Battery life had a great addition with a 5500mAh cell, and with out including further weight. The 15T Pro stays shut in measurement to its predecessor, measuring 162.7mm x 77.9mm, and seven.96mm thickness, and weighing 210 g.

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is equipped with a USB-C charging cable, a delicate plastic case and a primary display screen protector out of the field.

Xiaomi 15T Pro – Camera App

You get the same old Photo, Video, Portrait and Pro modes alongside a Document mode arrange by default, which I swapped round for Fastshot mode straightaway. Swipe as much as see the remainder of the capturing modes: Ultra HD, Slow movement, Time-lapse, Long-exposure, Panorama, and Supermoon. There isn’t any selectable Night mode because it robotically prompts in picture mode, whereas for movies, it may be toggled on manually. By default, the Leica Authentic color profile is chosen, which creates barely darker, moody pictures, whereas the Vibrant choice, as its identify suggests, makes colors pop.

In Pro mode, you possibly can set publicity compensation, shutter pace, ISO, white steadiness and whether or not you wish to shoot in JPEG or uncooked in 12.5 or 50MP decision. It consists of some helpful presets for gradual shutter pace or motion pictures in addition to letting you create and save your individual presets.

Macro mode is misplaced below the settings tab, for those who swipe down from the highest to you’ll discover it subsequent to facet ratio and HDR. It makes use of the 5x telephoto lens, and outcomes look identical to in Portrait mode at 5x. Although in Portrait mode, you possibly can alter aperture and bokeh for inventive results. In common Photo mode at 5x, you get a a lot smaller minimal focusing distance, so that you get nearer to your topic, although the background blur won’t be as easy. I ended up simply utilizing Photo mode at 5x for actually shut pictures, and Portrait mode at 5x once I needed extra freedom to experiment with bokeh and aperture.

Portrait mode enables you to alter aperture settings, whereas your chosen bokeh impact is added after the picture is taken. In the default enhancing app you can even blur the background of a photograph taken in one other mode and bokeh results too.

What is the Leica road images mode?

In two clicks, you possibly can seize a quickly unfolding scene with out lacking a beat. Built for pace and comfort, this mode is for fast, instinctive capturing. Open the Fastshot a.okay.a. Leica Street Photography mode by the digital camera app or by double urgent the amount button, maintain the cellphone regular, and it robotically takes a photograph on the pre-selected focal size. You can select between 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm. There are 15 filters, together with 6 Leica-inspired ones. My private favorite, Leica High Contrast, is nice for dynamic black and white road pictures. Set the digital camera app to “Preserve settings” for Fast shot mode so it remembers your filter selection and even your most well-liked focal size once you reopen it.

Xiaomi 15T Pro – Performance

In daylight colors seem well-matched between the three cameras, with the principle 1x digital camera resolving probably the most element. The telephoto performs very nicely up till the 10x mark, whereas above 20x with AI sharpening outcomes can generally look a bit overcooked. I discovered that topics like structure and static issues work greatest, whereas zooming in on a crowd would create much less interesting results. As anticipated, the ultra-wide digital camera is the weakest of the three with its 12MP sensor, however in good gentle, the variations are marginal, with barely softer outcomes.

The 1x and 2x portraits look good, however the place the 15T Pro actually shines is the 5x telephoto choice for portraits. This focal size compresses the background and creates a extra pure copy of face’s proportions, total a extra flattering look. Combine this with a f/0.95 aperture setting and a pleasant bokeh impact ang you bought your self a flattering portrait. You might want to transfer a bit additional away however the outcomes undoubtedly price it.
At the very best aperture setting edge detection could be a little hit or miss, as you see right here it struggled to separate small strands of hair. You can dial down the out of focus impact after the picture was taken, or for those who occurred to shoot in common picture mode you possibly can add it within the deafult editor later.

With the aperture slider included, you’ve got management over how blurred you need the background to be. When used for photographing objects particularly with a nicely outlined define it does a great job detecting edges, whereas with messy hair it’d want just a few makes an attempt to correctly detect edges.

The selfie digital camera places in a great efficiency, albeit with outcomes a bit of on the delicate facet. As there’s no autofocus, you’ll have to get within the “sweet spot” for the sharpest outcomes. Not a class-leading performer, however you may get good outcomes even in lower than superb gentle and for those who don’t push the aperture slider too far.

As I discussed, when macro mode is toggled on the minimal focusing distance will increase, however you continue to get very interesting close-up pictures. For greatest outcomes simply use the 5x lens, as it can allow you to focus a lot nearer.

Images taken at nightfall and in low gentle look good, with the 15T Pro primarily turning a a lot darker scene into an almost daylight one. However when photographing at evening, the ultra-wide 0.6x lens produces noticeably darker and softer outcomes, typically with a hotter tone, in comparison with the 1x and telephoto lenses.

Xiaomi 15T Pro – Value for Money

Starting at £649 for the 256GB mannequin, the Xiaomi 15T Pro stands out for providing double the storage of most rivals with related specs. The 512GB model is priced at £699 whereas the 1TB choice prices £799.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 begins at £799 for the 128GB model, with a triple lens setup, however with solely a 10MP telephoto digital camera. The
You can discover the older Google Pixel 9 on Amazon for £642 for the 256GB variant which competes head-to-head with the Xiaomi 15T Pro by way of value and storage, it additionally takes nice pictures from its principal digital camera, however the trade-off is that you simply gained’t get a telephoto unit.

On the upper finish, the Apple iPhone 17 is priced at £799 for the 256GB mannequin and when you get all of the bells and whistles, you’re nonetheless left with out a telephoto digital camera.

With the next base storage choice the Xiaomi 15T Pro undercuts its opponents on this value vary when you think about the quantity of reminiscence and succesful triple lens setup it provides.

Xiaomi 15T Pro – Verdict

The Xiaomi 15T Pro is a formidable upper-midrange smartphone that places images at its core. Its improved 5x optical telephoto attain, real inventive instruments mixed with 8K video choices, will enchantment to each informal shooters and extra critical lovers alike.

It’s not with out compromises – the shortage of autofocus on the ultra-wide and selfie cameras will likely be seen by some, and its absence from the US market is irritating – however in areas the place it’s out there, the 15T Pro provides excellent worth. With beneficiant storage at each tier and a function set that competes straight with pricier flagships, it stands out as one of the vital compelling selections for anybody who needs a succesful digital camera cellphone with out pushing into premium territory.

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