Xiaomi 15 vs Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Compare Xiaomi 15 vs Xiaomi 16 Ultra side by side: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite vs Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2, 50MP vs 50MP camera, 5400mAh vs 6200mAh…
Xiaomi
15
$749
3categories won
Xiaomi
16 Ultra
$1,299
14categories won
5 categories tied · 22 scored in total · add a third phone
Which one wins?
Xiaomi 16 Ultra takes the overall win
The Xiaomi 16 Ultra proves superior overall against the Xiaomi 15, outperforming on battery endurance and daily usability. In camera testing, the two devices offer similar flexibility, while battery endurance leans towards the 16 Ultra. Choose the 16 Ultra if you want the highest performance ceiling, or opt for the 15 if its lower retail price better fit your budget.
16 Ultra takes battery honors offering 6,200 mAh alongside 120W charging.
16 Ultra provides greater sustained gaming output with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 and 24GB RAM.
Both camera setups are closely matched for daily street photography and low-light shooting.
15 provides a sharper value proposition, coming in at $749 vs $1299.
Category verdicts are computed algorithmically from verified technical specifications and hardware benchmarks. Rows where neither figure is objectively better — screen size preference, operating system choice, aesthetic build materials — are displayed for direct reference without scoring bias.
15 vs 16 Ultra: specifications compared
Display
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 6.36" | 6.73" |
| Resolution | 1200 x 2670 | 1440 x 3200Winner |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 521 ppiWinner |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Peak brightness | 3200 nits | 3600 nitsWinner |
Performance
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 |
| Process node | 3 nm | 2 nmWinner |
| AnTuTu score | 3,120,000 | 3,200,000Winner |
| Geekbench multi | 9550 | 10800Winner |
| Maximum RAM | 16 GB | 24 GBWinner |
| Maximum storage | 1TB | 2TBWinner |
Camera
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Main sensor | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Rear cameras | 3 | 4Winner |
| Optical zoom | 3.2x | 3.2x |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Selfie camera | 32 MP | 32 MP |
| Max video | 8K at 30fps | 8K at 30fps / 4K at 120fps |
Battery and charging
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 5,400 mAh | 6,200 mAhWinner |
| Wired charging | 90 W | 120 WWinner |
| Wireless charging | 50 W | 80 WWinner |
Design
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 191 gWinner | 226 g |
| Thickness | 8.08 mmWinner | 9.2 mm |
| Water resistance | IP68 | IP68 |
| Build | One-piece aviation aluminum frame, Dragon Crystal glass front and back | Grade 5 Titanium frame, Ceramic Glass front and back |
Software and support
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 15 | Android 17 |
| OS updates | 4 years | 7 yearsWinner |
| Security updates | 5 years | 7 yearsWinner |
Connectivity and value
| Specification | 15 | 16 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| 5G | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be, tri-band 2.4/5/6GHz, 320MHz bandwidth) |
| Storage expansion | None | None |
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| Launch price | $749Winner | $1,299 |
Xiaomi 15
With Snapdragon 8 Elite raw power, an upgraded 5400mAh silicon-carbon battery, and Leica Summilux triple 50MP optics, the Xiaomi 15 dominates the compact category.
- Display
- 6.36"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 5,400mAh
Xiaomi 16 Ultra
Equipped with a second-gen 1-inch LOFIC sensor with 15EV dynamic range, stepless physical f/1.6–f/4.0 aperture, a mammoth 200MP 1/1.4" periscope telephoto, 120W wired and 80W wireless charging, and 6,200 mAh capacity, the 16 Ultra is a DSLR in your pocket.
- Display
- 6.73"
- Chipset
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2
- Main camera
- 50MP
- Battery
- 6,200mAh